Jihaad Campbell on comparing Nick Saban and Kalen DeBoer: ‘It’s not happening’

Jihaad Campbell was one of the most successful players on Alabama football’s roster through the transition from Nick Saban to Kalen DeBoer as head coach last offseason. He finished the year with 117 tackles, first-team All-SEC honors and is now a potential first-round pick in the NFL Draft.

On Wednesday, speaking to reporters at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Campbell was asked what it was like to stick around through the Crimson Tide’s first coaching change in 17 years, and what Saban taught him during his tenure.

“I feel as though Saban is different,” Campbell said. “When you really try to compare and contrast the coach like that, you can’t, it’s not happening.”

Campbell and his Alabama teammates had finished the 2023 season with a loss in the College Football Playoff’s Rose Bowl semifinal when Saban decided to retire. DeBoer came to Alabama from Washington, and brought Kane Wommack to Tuscaloosa as defensive coordinator, creating a system Campbell thrived in.

The New Jersey native, who spent two seasons playing under Saban, said he understood his old coach’s need to hang up the headset.

“He did his time at ‘Bama,” Campbell said. “I appreciate him for mentoring me and guiding me through a lot of different things for my two years that he was there, my freshman and sophomore year. And he had to retire, that was the best decision for him, and as his players and as a whole program, we definitely respected that and we appreciated it.”

Campbell is showing up in recent mock drafts as a late first-round pick. He and the other linebackers will go through combine drills Thursday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

The linebacker drills are scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. CT and will be aired on the NFL Network. The NFL Draft is scheduled to begin April 24 in Green Bay.