More people need to know about Jihaad Campbell's historic season

Alabama's defense this year has been far from what fans, and the rest of college football, had become accustomed to over the years of the Nick Saban era. In fact, this team currently ranks 34th in total yards allowed per game, allowing 342.6. That's the most by an Alabama team since the 2020-21 season when the defense ranked 29th and allowed 352.2 yards per game, and a long way off from the dominant defenses throughout the 2010s. Some of that can be attributed to injuries, some of it was happening before those injuries occurred. However, linebacker Jihaad Campbell has been a very good player this season, through it all.

So far through the 12-game regular season, Campbell has recorded 54 solo tackles and 52 assisted tackles for a total of 106. He has 12 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, 2 pass deflections, 1 fumble recovery, 1 interception, and 2 forced fumbles. He leads the team in solo tackles, assisted tackles, total tackles, tackles for loss, sacks, and is tied for the lead in forced fumbles. That's pretty good if you ask me. But that's not all. This could end up being a historic season for Campbell.

As I mentioned Campbell has 106 total tackles through 12 games. Some quick math will tell you that averages out to 8.83 tackles per game. Let's round up and call it 9 per game. Alabama will play at least one more game this season. Hopefully more than that, but at least one.

If Campbell were to match his average tackles per game in that one more game, he would move into a tie for the 8th most tackles in a season in Alabama history. Currently, Saleem Rasheed (2001) and Reuben Foster (2016) are tied for 8th with 115 total tackles in a season.

If Alabama were to pull things together and make a run to the National Championship, they would play another four games this season. If Campbell matched, or exceeded, his average then he would set the record for the most tackles in a season in Alabama history. That record currently stands at 134 tackles by Woodrow Lowe in 1973.

9 tackles per game for 4 more games would put Campbell at 142. Of course that would be over the course of 16 games. Lowe got his 134 tackles in just 12 games, which is insane. But a record is still a record. And if you've read anything I've written on this site before (which I greatly appreciate) you know I love taking some creative liberties with stats and what they could mean. In 1973, the year that Woodrow Lowe set this record, Alabama was the National Champion. Just saying.

On top of all of this Jihaad Campbell was somewhat thrown into being the leader of the defense after injuries to Que Robinson and Deontae Lawson, two of Alabama's top defensive talents. It is worth noting that Campbell would likely not be leading the team in sacks if Robinson had been able to play the full season. Robinson had 4 sacks through 9 games before his injury. But it's also worth noting that Robinson is primarily on the line as a pass rusher while Campbell is not.

Jihaad Cambell has gotten some recognition this year. He was named SEC Player of the Week after his incredible performance against LSU, and he was named a semi-finalist for the Butkus Award given to the nation's top linebacker. Deontae Lawson was also named a semi-finalist but it's unlikely he has any chance to win the award after his season-ending injury.

So yes, Campbell has gotten some recognition. And I was pleased to see that while searching around on Twitter people have been talking about him. But it still feels like most Alabama fans don't realize how good, and how important he is to this defense. And I would bet the large majority don't know he is on pace for at least a top-10 season in tackles. Possibly the best season of all time in tackles.

No, he hasn't had a season that is going to get him highlighted on all the sports talk shows every week. But I think he should be. He is a leader that has made some big-time plays this year. I've added a few of those here at the end for your viewing pleasure. If Alabama is one of the 12 teams that make the playoff, and if they are going to make any noise in said playoff, Campbell is going to have to be a major part of that effort. So do your duty as an Alabama fan and tell your friends about how good Jihaad Campbell has been this year. Or better yet send them this article and enjoy the clips below.