LSU OT Will Campbell’s arm size scrutinized at NFL mix

INDIANAPOLIS — LSU offensive sort out Will Campbell was a consensus All-America choice final season, was a two-time first-team All-SEC choose in his profession with the Tigers, gained the SEC’s coveted Jacobs Blocking Trophy and is without doubt one of the highest-rated gamers within the NFL draft.

However on the scouting mix this week, he has been formally welcomed into the critique-filled world of the draft run-up with the truth that the size of his arms is all of a sudden a scorching matter.

“I feel I’ve proven every part that I have to, you realize, present that I can play sort out at an elite stage,” Campbell stated Saturday. “You possibly can go take a look at my tape, there’s not one play on there that once I get beat you say that is as a result of he has shorter arms. … Clearly I haven’t got stereotypical offensive sort out arms. I am conscious of that. Folks should nitpick one thing. I’ve heard all of it my profession. After I was popping out of highschool, the faculty coaches all stated the identical factor. I proved them fallacious. It is one thing I anticipate doing once more.”

Simply earlier than the offensive linemen’s on-field exercise Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium, Campbell’s arm size was measured at 32 5/8 inches. Campbell was measured in at 6-foot-5 7/8, 319 kilos general and he completed with the quickest 40-yard sprint (an official 4.98) among the many first group of offensive linemen within the on-field work.

Campbell additionally had the most effective standing broad leap (9 toes, 5 inches) among the many first group of linemen to work out Sunday.

Campbell, who’s the top-rated offensive sort out and No. 10 participant general on ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr.’s newest Huge Board, began all three of his seasons at LSU, 38 video games general. On Saturday, he estimated he has blocked towards “shut to fifteen guys who will go within the first or second spherical [of this draft]” within the powerhouse SEC.

However within the arduous technique of draft evaluation, as groups put collectively their boards, many NFL personnel executives need tackles to have sufficient attain to battle the league’s finest go rushers, usually with a 34-inch arm size because the minimal benchmark.

A number of scouting sources stated Saturday that Campbell’s arm had been measured at 33⅞ inches in spring 2024 at LSU. And Campbell, who was listed at 6-foot-6, 323 kilos at LSU, stated Saturday that groups have mentioned in his formal interviews this week how he adjusted his approach in any option to accommodate his physique sort and whether or not he could be keen to change positions to protect if requested.

“Should you instructed me I used to be going to start out at proper guard versus be a backup at left sort out, I will inform you to place me at proper guard,” Campbell stated. “… I will play something I have to, to get on the sector, however I really feel like I can play sort out … [but] I have been engaged on every part. I am a flexible participant. I can play wherever I have to play and do no matter I’ve obtained to do to get on the sector.”

Campbell stated his stage of play within the nation’s best soccer convention, in addition to the convention that routinely has probably the most gamers chosen within the NFL draft every year, ought to counter any questions on his arms. Campbell was a part of an LSU offensive line that allowed the fewest sacks within the SEC this season (14).

Kiper rated Campbell’s fellow LSU sort out, Emery Jones, because the No. 8 guard obtainable within the draft.

“Being within the SEC is the most effective factor and the closest factor to the NFL,” Campbell stated. “So I really feel like the fellows popping out of the SEC may have the closest grasp to [the NFL]. It’ll be an adjustment … however being within the SEC, I used to be lucky to see some these guys that at the moment are Professional Bowl rushers, so I sort of know what to anticipate.”