LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier battled an injury last season, much like ex-college teammate Will Campbell.
LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier battled an injury last season, much like ex-college teammate Will Campbell.Vasha Hunt/Associated Press
INDIANAPOLIS — LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier offered a full-throated defense of his ex-college teammate, Patriots left tackle Will Campbell, on Friday, saying Campbell is an “unbelievable player” who will have a successful NFL career.
Speaking at the NFL Combine, Nussmeier was asked about Campbell’s struggles down the stretch and into the postseason. Nussmeier, who fought through an abdominal injury last season, acknowledged that Campbell had to battle through a knee injury.
“Everybody’s on him about the tough finish,” said Nussmeier. “As I know very well, it’s hard to play when you’re banged up a little bit, especially as an offensive lineman, with the injury that he had.”
Campbell started the first 12 games this past season but suffered a torn right MCL Nov. 23 game against the Bengals. He had a four-game stint on injured reserve before returning just before the playoffs.
In the Super Bowl, Campbell — as well as the rest of the offensive line — struggled against the Seahawks’ defense. Two days after the game, Campbell said he wouldn’t use his knee as an excuse but acknowledged his health played a role.
“It obviously wasn’t 100 percent,” Campbell said. “When you tear a ligament in your knee, it’s not going to be like it was before. But I was healthy enough to go. I’m not going to say it held me back.”
“When he came back from that injury, I personally didn’t see the same level of lower-body strength that you saw before the injury. I think the film would attest to that,” Patriots executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf said this week. “He probably had three of his four worst games in the playoffs. Before that, I thought Will played really well all year.”
Nussmeier, who was a teammate of Campbell’s for three years, was upset with those who went after Campbell in the days after the Super Bowl.
“You know, honestly, it makes me pretty mad seeing the stuff in the media,” Nussmeier said. “Honestly, it just kind of shows me what I feel like people sometimes don’t really know what they’re talking about. [They] like to get on Twitter. They live in their parents’ basement, and like to say things that they have no idea what they’re talking about. They don’t know football.
“I’m not taking a shot at you guys,” he said, motioning to the media. “I’m more just speaking in defense of my boy here, because he’s a darn good football player. He’s going to play for a really long time in the NFL, and he’s going to be just fine.”
Learning opportunity
The biggest draw at the combine has been Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who met the media Friday morning.
The presumptive No. 1 overall pick, who led the Hoosiers to the national championship, appears ticketed for Las Vegas. The Heisman Trophy winner was asked about the possibility of working with former Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who is a minority owner with the Raiders.
“I mean, who hasn’t admired Tom Brady? More Super Bowl rings than anybody. That opportunity would be fantastic,” Mendoza said with a broad smile. “Tom Brady, I believe, is the greatest quarterback of all time, by a wide margin, and to be able to have the opportunity to be mentored by him, it would mean so much, especially to learn [from him]. And I’m all about learning.”
Mendoza said he had a chance to say a quick “hi” to Brady during his formal interview with the Raiders this week, as Brady was connected to the conversation by telephone.
“Look forward to meeting him in person, hopefully, one day, and learning from him,” Mendoza said. “It’s going to be a long journey. To have potentially a mentor like that would be pretty impressive and pretty meaningful.”
He’s got it covered
Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, who went from a walk-on to winning the Butkus Award and finishing fifth in the Heisman voting, projects as a coverage linebacker in the NFL who could be available in the second round.
Rodriguez is a high-motor overachiever with a nose for the football, intercepting four passes and forcing seven fumbles last season. A 6-foot-1-inch, 233-pounder, he initially was recruited as a quarterback at the University of Virginia before transferring to Texas Tech.
The Patriots struggled covering tight ends this past season, something Rodriguez has shown a knack. If the Patriots end up taking him at No. 62, he’d likely be paired with Robert Spillane, someone Rodriguez mentioned among his five favorite linebackers.
“Getting to watch tape of him back then is great,” Rodriguez said. “I think he’s playing great football.”
Rodriguez said his background as a former quarterback helps inform his work as a linebacker.
“It definitely helps,” he said. “I think preparation is the biggest thing. I think quarterbacks prepare in such a way that they have to know everything that’s going on on both sides of the ball. And so as a linebacker, I’ve just got to prepare the same way throughout the week, and be ready to play the game.”
Christopher Price can be reached at christopher.price@globe.com. Follow him on Bluesky at christopherprice.bsky.social.