Iowa’s Jack Campbell is consensus All-American

IOWA CITY — As Kirk Ferentz glanced to his left during a news conference last month at the wall with portraits of Iowa’s consensus All-Americans, he made a prediction about linebacker Jack Campbell.

“Jack is not up there yet, right?” the Iowa football coach said. “I'm going to go out on a limb and say he's got a chance.”

What Ferentz and others predicted is now official.

Campbell is a consensus All-American after receiving first-team honors from the Walter Camp Football Foundation, Football Writers Association of America and Associated Press.

It marks the fourth consecutive year Iowa has had a consensus All-American, and Campbell is Iowa’s eighth consensus All-American in the last nine seasons. In total, Iowa has had 29 consensus All-Americans now.

The Cedar Falls native also became the first Iowa player to win the Butkus Award, which goes to the top linebacker in college football, and the William V. Campbell Trophy, which recognizes excellence in athletics, academics and leadership.

The 6-foot-5, 245-pound Campbell also earned Big Ten defensive player of year honors from the conference and the Associated Press.

He led Iowa with 118 tackles, which ranked second in the Big Ten and tied for 13th nationally. He also had two interceptions, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble. He ranks 19th in program history with 295 career tackles.

Campbell was joined on the AP team by defensive back Kaevon Merriweather and punter Tory Taylor. Both earned second-team honors.

Campbell could become another unanimous consensus All-American if he receives first-team recognition from Sporting News (Tuesday) and the American Football Coaches Association (Wednesday).

Iowa (7-5, 5-4) will take on Kentucky on Dec. 31 in the Music City Bowl in Nashville, Tenn. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m.

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com