Falcons select former Gophers LB De'Vondre Campbell in NFL Draft
The Atlanta Falcons selected former Minnesota Gophers linebacker De'Vondre Campbell with the 115th overall pick in the fourth round of the NFL Draft.
Campbell played in 24 games the past two years at Minnesota and recorded 92 tackles as a senior. He will join former Gophers defensive lineman Ra'Shede Hageman in Atlanta.
"De'Vondre is a big, fast, athletic linebacker who can cover a lot of field and make plays," Minnesota coach Tracy Claeys said in a statement. "You cannot teach height and speed and he has plenty of both. His best football is still ahead of him and with the right fit he could have tremendous success at the next level."
Here is his pre-draft STATS Inc. bio:
Campbell is looking to follow in the footsteps of former teammates Damien Wilson and Cedric Thompson in becoming another defensive player from Minnesota to be selected in the draft. Campbell was the Golden Gophers' top returning tackler in 2015 following the graduations of fellow linebacker Wilson and Thompson, a defensive back. Wilson led Minnesota with 119 tackles before being selected in the fourth round by Dallas in 2014, while Thompson was second with 83 tackles before going to Miami in the fifth round. Campbell had 75 tackles, 2 1/2 sacks, an interception and three fumble recoveries as a junior and then stepped up with Wilson and Thompson in the NFL. He recorded 92 tackles as a senior to again rank third on Minnesota while finishing with a team-best four sacks. He began his career at Hutchinson Community College before transferring to Minnesota for the 2013 season. Campbell played in all 13 games that year and made 41 tackles before starting all 13 as a junior and 11 of 13 in 2015, when he also had an INT and a career-high three pass breakups to earn invitations to the East-West Shrine Game and NFL combine. He showed off his athleticism at the combine, finishing third among linebackers in the 40-yard dash (4.58 seconds), tied for ninth in the vertical jump (34.0 inches) and 15th in the broad jump (9 feet, 8 inches). A likely late-round selection, Campbell still needs some seasoning - especially in pass coverage - and is projected to begin his career as a backup and contributor on special teams.
