For the sickos among us who are already looking ahead to the 2025 NFL Draft, LSU left tackle Will Campbell is widely expected to be the first tackle off the board next year. Understanding that there’s still a full season of football to get through, Campbell certainly didn’t hurt his stock on the squat rack.
In a video that dropped on Friday, many of Campbell’s teammates are gathered around to witness a feat of legs few of us could ever fathom: going up and down with 616 pounds on his back.
🤯
616 Pounds | @will_campbell66 pic.twitter.com/oWaD1mu0pI
— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) July 19, 2024
I know it’s the offseason and we’re still several weeks from football kicking off in earnest, but this got me fired up. Campbell spent the past couple years protecting the blind side of Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jayden Daniels, the Washington Commanders’ No. 2 overall pick in this year’s draft. Before long, it seems inevitable that Campbell will be a household name in his own right.
In fact, thanks to the revival of EA Sports’ famous NCAA gridiron video game franchise and the recent release of College Football 25, most gamers will be plenty familiar with him, considering he’s the No. 2 highest-rated player in the nation.
Four players ranked in the Top 100 of@EASPORTSCollege 25
No. 2 @will_campbell66
No. 31 @HP113k
No. 92 @Emeryjones50_
No. 98 @MasonTaylor52 pic.twitter.com/ZS7YGt9qqh— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) July 11, 2024
NEW: The best players in EA Sports College Football 25…
Ollie Gordon III: 96 OVR
Will Campbell: 96
Will Johnson: 96
Caleb Downs: 95
James Pearce Jr.: 95
Malaki Starks: 95
Mason Graham: 95
Quinshon Judkins: 95
Tate Ratledge: 95
Travis Hunter: 95 pic.twitter.com/WCwUfQGRaI— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) July 10, 2024
Already sporting a 6-foot-6, 320-pound frame at 20 years young, Campbell being able to squat basically two of himself should terrify any SEC defender who tries to come at him off the edge. On 1,036 pass blocking snaps in the past two seasons, he’s yielded only two sacks and zero in 2023, per Pro Football Focus. That’ll do just fine.
Like really, good luck getting through or around this dude.
Early favorite for OT1 in 2025 feels like LSU’s Will Campbell. Very impressive anchor and ability to counter pass rushers pic.twitter.com/EAUojkMC1f
— Joe DeLeone (@joedeleone) May 1, 2024
Taking over for Daniels at the controls of Brian Kelly’s offense is a tall order for Garrett Nussmeier, who’s waited in the wings for three years before getting his opportunity to be QB1. At least he shouldn’t have to worry much at all about Campbell holding up his end of the bargain in pass protection.
ICYMI, check out my top 10 rookie classes from the 2024 NFL Draft. A lot of draftniks loved what the Commanders did. Easy to arrive at that conclusion if you’re a Jayden Daniels believer, and while Washington did crack my top 10, I’m not quite as high on their group as most are.
