UM's Campbell remains upbeat

CORAL GABLES - As a defensive lineman, Calais Campbell can only think of one occasion where he will have to run 40 yards during a game. And it's a situation defensive players want to avoid.

"The only time you run 40s is when you're chasing somebody from behind for a touchdown," Campbell said.

It was Campbell's way of telling NFL scouts there is no reason for concern over his sub-par 40-yard dash times that have caused his draft stock to drop.

He once was considered a top-10 pick, but some analysts say he may not be the guy to continue Miami's streak of first-round picks in Saturday's NFL Draft. The Hurricanes have had at least one first-round selection in each of the past 13 years.

"Everybody has their own opinion," said Campbell, who left school after his junior season. "I think I'm a first-round guy. Some people think I'll go earlier than later. Some people think I'm close to the end. It all depends on the coach you ask. ... I'm hoping to show some people that I'm going to be one of the best players."

His 40 times at the NFL Combine and UM's Pro Timing Day caused the 6-foot-8, 283-pound Campbell to slip on most draft boards. He ran a 5.03 in Indianapolis and failed to improve on it in his second attempt. "I know my 40 is better than what I showed because I've always been a high 4.7, 4.8 guy," Campbell said. "I don't know what was the big difference. I just know if I keep working, I'll get my speed [time] back down."

Campbell said the five pounds he gained may have contributed to the slower times. He tried to add muscle to improve his strength, another area in which he tested poorly. At the Combine, he only did 16 reps at 225 pounds.

"On the field, you play with leverage," said Campbell, who benches 325 pounds. "It doesn't really matter how much you bench. It's all about playing with leverage and using your strength to its advantage."

It may be too late for Campbell to sway opinion. Draft experts are expecting him to fall from the first round. ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. said Campbell is a late first-round pick at best.

"Jacksonville at 26 would be a possibility, Tennessee at 24 and Pittsburgh at 23," Kiper said. "He has a chance to be picked in the early second round at worst."

The decline in interest is humbling considering Campbell was projected as a first-rounder had he left after his sophomore year. He drew comparisons to another towering Atlantic Coast Conference defender, Julius Peppers, who starred at North Carolina before being selected No. 2 overall by the Carolina Panthers in 2002. Campbell had 10.5 sacks and 20.5 tackles for losses in 2006.

Campbell chose to return for his junior season with hopes of breaking UM's single-season sack record and competing for a national title. Neither happened, with his statistics dropping drastically and UM (5-7) not qualifying for a bowl. Campbell had six sacks last season and rarely stood out.

"I'm going to work hard, and I'm going to show my work ethic," said Campbell, who will watch the draft in his hometown of Denver. "My work ethic and my athletic ability and my potential, I really think I could be a great player.

"A lot of people might think I'm raw. I think with me being coachable if I get a good coach to help me out and take me under his wing and work with me, then I think my potential is the sky. The sky is the limit."

(sun-sentinel.com)