2025 DL Isaiah Campbell Recaps Big Day, Notre Dame Offer
2025 Greene Central HS (N.C.) defensive lineman Isaiah Campbell had seen his recruitment take off this spring with several Power Five offers, but on Tuesday, the 6-foot-5, 265-pounder’s recruitment changed.
Georgia, Notre Dame and Penn State extended scholarship offers to Campbell and the North Carolina native was on cloud nine.
Notre Dame was a school the Greene Central star had quietly had his eye on as a friend had been offered by the Irish earlier in the spring.
“I was excited,” Campbell told ISD. “It’s been a big day. I got three scholarships, so it’s been a crazy day. I feel really great when Notre Dame offered me. Notre Dame offered one of my good friends, Gus Ritchey. It’s a really nice and prestigious school. I know Notre Dame has great academics, but I know it also has great football players. I’m just excited to have an offer from Notre Dame.”
In fact, Ritchey has been to South Bend twice in recent months and has given his visits to Notre Dame high remarks to Campbell.
“He’s been saying how the visit went and how Notre Dame is a really good school,” stated Campbell. “He really likes Notre Dame.”
Despite the big-time offers, Campbell is making sure he stays focused as he knows this is just the beginning.
“I’m blessed by God,” Campbell said. “Honestly, I’m not letting my head get big. I have to stay humble and get better as a football player.”
On the field, Campbell takes a great amount of pride in being able to be productive on the inside and outside of the defensive line.
“As a 5-technique, I can hold my gap and cover the edge,” explained Campbell. “I can also pass rush because I’m versatile. As a defensive lineman, I can play a 3-tech all the way to the 5-tech and end position. I think that’s something I’m good at right now.
“I need to work on getting more dominant as a 3-tech. I’m getting stronger and faster.”
Campbell knows his future will depend on how his body develops over the next few years and it’s very likely he continues to get bigger.
“It will be based on how I grow,” stated Campbell. “Right now, I’m standing about 6-foot-4, 260 or 265 and I’m 16 years old. What will happen when I grow older? Nobody really knows. I’m still teeter-tottering on the edge of how my body is going to develop and how I’m going to develop as a football player.”
It’s worth noting Campbell is more than open to playing inside or outside at the next level as he enjoys both positions.
“I don’t really have a preference,” Campbell explained. “I like all the spots. I like the physicality of the 3-tech and everything happens fast as an inside player. At end, I like rushing off the edge and giving a good long arm to that tackle. I like being able to work from different spots.”
The recent offers have also caused a good issue for Campbell as he and his family will now have to re-work some summer travel.
“This all messed up my plans,” laughed Campbell. “I had it narrowed down, but now I just got offered by Notre Dame, so I’m probably going to have to go there. I have most of it figured out, but now I have to figure out how I can get up there.”
Offers: Campbell, Charlotte, Colorado, Duke, East Carolina, Elon, Georgia, NC State, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Old Dominion, Penn State, Rutgers, South Carolina, Virginia and Wake Forest
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