Could Parris Campbell Add An Explosive Element To The Redskins’ Offense?

Parris Campbell, WR
School: Ohio State | Conference: Big Ten
Experience: RS Senior | Age: 21
Height / Weight: 6-1 / 208 lbs
Projected Draft Status: Second Round
NFL Comparison: Curtis Samuel

College Statistics

Player Overview

Campbell, a product of St. Vincent-St. Mary (the same high school as LeBron James), came to Ohio State a consensus four-star prospect, with rankings as high as the No. 14 running back (Scout), No. 15 athlete (Rivals) and No. 19 wide receiver (247Sports). Born in July of 1997, Campbell was just 17 yrs old when he red-shirted his first season, and finished with zero catches or rushes during his first season of playing time. Campbell had his breakout year in 2017, after replacing Curtis Samuel, then surprised many by returning for his senior season.

For more on his backstory, click HERE.

Athletic Traits

A high school track star, in 2014 he set the state record in the 60-yard dash for the state of Ohio.

After NFL.com’s Chase Goodbread published a list of the fastest players in college football last summer, Campbell took to twitter to announce that he was insulted that he did not make the list. And after the list came out, OSU released a video showing Campbell running what appears to be a 40-yard dash in 4.26 seconds.

Later, Goodbread released another 18 for ‘18 list, where he ranks the 18 best athletes in college football. This time Campbell made the cut.

Goodbread explains “Even on a roster filled with top-notch talent, Campbell’s physical measurables stand above. The Buckeyes receiver can vertical-jump 40 inches and broad-jump 11-3 -- both results would typically place him very high among all participants at the NFL combine. He possesses blazing speed on a sturdy 208-pound frame, and has been clocked at sub-4.4 in the 40-yard dash, per Ohio State. Not surprisingly, he’s one of the nation’s most prolific kickoff returners with a career average north of 30 yards per return.”

The Film

In the Rose Bowl, Campbell caught 11 passes for 71 yards with a touchdown in a 28-23 victory over Washington. See a condensed version of the whole game here:

Against Michigan’s (then) top-ranked defense, Campbell converted just six touches into a career-high 192 combined rushing and receiving yards, with two fourth quarter touchdowns.

The Buckeyes utilize his speed primarily in the screen game, on jet sweeps, and reverses.

Strengths

• Explosive in the open field, with the contact balance of a running back
• Will bring yards after to catch to any offense
• Height/weight/speed prospect whose reported workout numbers are elite
• Very durable, with the body armor to absorb contact
• Can bring a missing dimension to an offense, with his effectiveness on reverses, jet sweeps, and various wide receiver screens
• Despite being a red-shirt senior, Campbell is still very young, just 21 yrs old on draft day

Weaknesses

• Not very nuanced as a receiver
• Routes are essentially run to the open space
• Will likely need to have touches manufactured for him
• Has not shown the ability to beat press coverage on the outside
• Floor might be Tavon Austin

What Others Are Saying

The Draft Network calls Campbell THE NEXT NFL X-FACTOR explaining ”I think the most easily translatable skillset for Campbell’s is how effective he can be as a slot player on crosser and drag routes over the middle. This is a route that can be successful against both man and zone coverages, and presents a ton of mismatch potential with slower players being forced to guard players like Campbell.”

Rob Rang - “What makes Campbell – NFLDraftScout.com’s top-rated senior receiver – different than some of the other speed merchants throughout college football is that he possesses a legitimate NFL frame to go along with his acceleration, checking in at a rock-solid 6-0, 208 pounds. Campbell’s greater body armor makes him much more likely to be able to withstand the punishment receivers face in the NFL.”

How Would He Fit On The Redskins

While the Redskins return Josh Doctson, Paul Richardson, and draft day steal Trey Quinn, they will likely lose slot receiver Jamison Crowder in free agency. Richardson had 20 catches in an injury plagued first season with the Redskins last year and Doctson has also battled injuries and inconsistency since arriving in Washington as a heralded first round pick. Campbell is different than any other receiving options on the Redskins’ roster.

He’s a shifty, quick-twitch receiver who can create underneath separation with ease. He gets a lot of touches in the screen game and on reverses. He’s at his best in catch-and-run situations, showing the burst and elusiveness to create big plays once the ball is in his hands. This is someone who is a truly a threat to score every time he touches the ball.

It’s not a lazy comparison to compare Campbell to former OSU receivers Curtis Samuel and Braxton Miller. Other than Percy Harvin, playing the H-back position in Urban Meyers’ offense has not been an effective launching point for the pro’s, but Samuel made a lot or progress in year two, after injuries derailed his rookie season. Campbell was used less in the backfield that his predecessors, and is further along in his development.