Coach | 2025 Notre Dame DL Target Isaiah Campbell Stands Out On, Off Field

Isaiah Campbell‍ already has dozens of offers from some of the top schools in the country, but Southern Durham High School head coach Darius Robinson doesn’t point to the 2025 North Carolina defensive lineman’s physical attributes first…or second.

“First of all, his character,” says Robinson. “The second thing is his academics. He can go and compete academically at any school in the nation. 

“He's also been blessed with a tremendous amount of talent for his position. I would say he's one of the most athletic defensive linemen. He can play anywhere from the nose all the way out to the five-technique and maybe a six because he's that athletic. Along with that athleticism, he has a tremendous amount of explosion and quickness. And he's smart. He can adjust to any type of defensive front. A four-man front is what he prefers, but he will play whatever you ask him to play.”

The 6-foot-5, 265-pounder’s offer sheet includes schools like Alabama, Georgia, Clemson, LSU, USC, Colorado, Florida, Florida State, Auburn and North Carolina among several others.

Campbell is set to visit Notre Dame this weekend and the reasons for the preliminary interest are obvious to Robinson.

“I would say definitely the academics and also I would say the culture that's there,” the coach says. “I would definitely say the relationship that he's already developed with the coaching staff.”

As much of a force as Campbell has been for Southern Durham on the field, his impact on the team runs deeper, according to Robinson.

“He's just a natural leader,” the coach says. “He's kind of changed the mindset. We already had a pretty good mindset in our program as far as culture, trying to work their way to get to the next level. But with the group that he's with now, he's really shown them what it really takes to be on the level that he is. 

“And it starts with the academics and also how you carry yourself in the building and treat others. So there's been a natural leadership. He's been an extension of everything that I've been trying to teach to our guys collectively as a group and that's what he brought to us this year.”

It’s still early, but Robinson doesn’t expect Campbell to let the recruiting process run all of the way to the end.

“I do know he's going to be an early entry. They always do everything together as a family. So it won't be a deal where he's just going to make up his mind and not consider what the family suggestion is. I would say anywhere between April and June of 24.”

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