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Julian Campenni Could Be a Steal in the NFL Draft

The NFL Draft is about two weeks away, and unlike years past the UConn Huskies do not seem to have many prospects with a shot at getting selected from April 28-30. However, one of the most established independent scouts in football has set his eyes on a certain mammoth defensive tackle as a possible sleeper.

Emory Hunt runs Football Gameplan, going by the “Czar of the Playbook” moniker, and he has the pedigree to back up that lofty title.

Hunt played college football at the University of Louisiana-Monroe in the early 2000s, sharing the field with future pros Charles Tillman and Ike Taylor. Hunt has cultivated a major following over the past few years, specifically gaining notoriety as a scout who sticks to his guns and finds diamonds in the rough.

One of his finds this year is Julian Campenni, who he devoted an entire video to breaking down.

In terms of strengths for Campenni, Hunt notes his ability to anchor at the point of attack and stoutness against offensive linemen. Despite his smaller stature, Campenni is able to use strong hands and leverage to beat bigger men off the snap.

Campenni may be on the lighter side, but he plays as big as any defensive tackle in the draft in this scout’s eyes. In the scouting video, Hunt compliments Campenni in this regard. “I’ve seen defensive tackles that are 6-foot-5 and 350, and they aren’t able to anchor at the line of scrimmage like Campenni does.”

Hunt also notes Campenni’s awareness, ability to be a one-gap pass rushing penetrator, and a knowhow for dictating the line of scrimmage. The last aspect is, in Hunt’s mind, “perhaps the strongest part of his game.” Campenni shows an ability to position offensive linemen in awkward positions, forcing them to occupy holes in the run game and minimizing space for opposing running backs. This nuance is valuable at the next level, and it shows in Campenni’s tape.

However, despite all of his strengths, Campenni does have some aspects of his game that he needs to work on. Most notably, he has some issues with balance. “At times, because he’s so strong, he will try to control offensive linemen by only using his upper body,” Hunt calls out in the video. Campenni did often trip over his own feet at Rentschler Field, especially when he would get over-extended on run plays. Still, this is something he can improve on over time, and if he does, he has the opportunity to become a really good professional football player.

Within the video, Hunt compares Campenni to current Washington Redskin Stephen Paea and bestows upon him a second round grade. Given how talented this defensive tackle class is, this is not light praise. If Emory’s evaluation is on point, Campenni could be a steal at some point in this draft.

Ethan Hammerman is a former radio sports director, sportswriter, and draft analyst who's work has been featured in the Sporting News, Optimum Scouting, and The Classical, among other sites.

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