Every summer, we take an early look at prospects who could hear their names called in a future NFL Draft. Some players arrive with years of production and experience already on their résumés, while others are still trying to establish themselves as full-time contributors. Tennessee linebacker Amare Campbell falls into the first category.
After stops at North Carolina and Penn State, Campbell enters 2026 projected as Tennessee’s starting middle linebacker. His production has followed him across multiple programs, and his experience operating in different defensive systems gives evaluators plenty of tape to study as he enters the season.
Background Info
Notable Career Stats
2025 (Penn State)
2024 (North Carolina)
Notable PFF Numbers
2025
2024
Strengths
Player Summary
Campbell’s best trait may be his ability to process information before the play fully develops. Throughout the film study, he consistently communicated with teammates, identified motion, adjusted to offensive alignments and positioned himself to attack developing plays. His football intelligence shows up both before and after the snap.
In coverage, Campbell appears comfortable operating in space. He frequently keeps his eyes on the quarterback while dropping into zone responsibilities and shows awareness of route combinations developing around him. Tennessee should benefit from his experience here, as Campbell looks capable of handling multiple coverage assignments while remaining involved in the run fit.
Against the run, Campbell wins more with anticipation and movement skills than overwhelming power. He does an excellent job finding open lanes, slipping traffic and arriving at the football before blockers can fully engage him. His ability to wrap up and finish in space consistently showed up on tape.
The biggest question entering 2026 revolves around how he handles larger blockers once they establish contact. Campbell will battle offensive linemen and isn’t afraid to attack downhill, but he is more effective avoiding blocks than consistently disengaging from them. Even with that concern, his combination of experience, production, athleticism and football IQ should keep him firmly on NFL radars throughout the season.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: 2027 NFL Draft Summer Scouting Report: Amare Campbell, LB, Tennessee
Reporting by Mason Riney, Buccaneers Wire / Bucs Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Mason Riney, Buccaneers Wire | USA TODAY Network
