INDIANAPOLIS — Iowa defensive back Jermari Harris considers Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell one of the best to ever play at Iowa. Hawkeyes linebacker Jay Higgins echoed that, adding Campbell showed him how to be a leader.

"I learned a lot from Jack Campbell," Higgins said. "I think in college, you've got 90 percent of guys doing one thing, and the 10 percent that are going and they're trying to be great.

"Ever since I came into Iowa, Campbell was always in that elite group."

Campbell, the Lions' first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, developed into a role model for the program. In four seasons at Iowa from 2019-2022, Campbell notched 305 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 10 passes defended and earned the 2022 Butkus Award for best collegiate linebacker.

Two years ago, Campbell went through the same NFL Combine process several of his former Iowa teammates — and fellow 2019 recruiting class — completed in Indianapolis this past week ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Higgins, Harris, safety Sebastian Castro, tight end Luke Lachey and running back Kaleb Johnson were among the seven Iowa prospects at the 2025 Combine, hoping to mirror Campbell's impressive start to an NFL career. In two seasons with Detroit, Campbell has notched 226 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, eight quarterback hits and was a Pro Bowl alternate this past year.

Higgins, Harris and Castro were among the same 2019 recruiting class that featured Campbell and Lions tight end Sam LaPorta. Lachey, part of Iowa's 2020 recruiting class, overlapped with Campbell for three seasons.

"We were in the dorms together — me, Jack, Sam LaPorta, Sebastian Castro, Dane Belton, Tyler Goodson — we had a hell of a group in that 2019 class," Harris said. "We were a very close-knit class. That's a bunch of great guys."

Ahead of the Combine, Campbell texted Higgins to help him prepare for the event. Higgins was Campbell's protégé, learning the intricacies of the MIKE linebacker position before it became Higgins' turn to be the starter once Campbell left for the NFL in 2023. Higgins, across the two last years, recorded 125 tackles, three sacks and five interceptions, four of which came in the 2024 season.

"I'm grateful he allowed me to be under his wing, and I learned just how to operate, how to carry myself, what a leader looks like, what a MIKE backer in Iowa looks like," Higgins said of Campbell. "I'm really appreciative of him."

Lachey said he and Campbell spoke about a month and half ago and described Campbell as the 'Be all, lead by example' type player. When at Iowa, Lachey said he paid close attention to players like Campbell, LaPorta and current Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum as they were great leaders.

Lachey and Higgins were team captains for the Hawkeyes this season, following Campbell, who served as captain for his final two years.

"He's going to be the guy that pushes you to be great," Lachey said. "He's quiet, but he can get the best out of you."

Harris remembered the first fall practices of 2019 and took notice of how Campbell came into the program with a plan, the ultimate goal being the NFL. The main takeaway Harris recognized the most was Campbell's professionalism, something that Castro and Johnson took notice of too.

Castro said every little thing mattered to Campbell, and all he wanted to do was become a better football player.

"Jack Campbell, that man's cool too. He has a (demeanor) about him that he goes (with) and I love it," Johnson said.

Harris said he's 'blessed' to have seen so many of his former Iowa teammates go through the draft process as he begins his. Castro said Campbell told him to just be himself.

"He became a professional in the sense of everything matters. Either you're getting better or you're getting worse. You never stay the same," Castro said. "There's a reason he got picked in the first round. He was the 18th pick. He did a lot of things that right way just to give himself an advantage."