Jonathan Campbell

PLAYER PROFILE:  JONATHAN CAMPBELL

By: PXI STAFF (@ProspectXI)

Position: DEF
Primary Role: Central Defender
Height: 6’1””
Weight: 180
DOB: 06-27-1993
Nationality: United States
Preferred Footed: Right
Club: Chicago Fire (MLS)
Twitter: @J_Campbell2

No national team experience with the United States.

Drafted 12th overall by Chicago Fire in 2016 MLS Super Draft.

2008-2009: NC Fusion U16 (USSDA) – 31 games, 31 starts, 1 yellow
2009-2010: NC Fusion U16 (USSDA) – 28 games, 28 starts, 1 goal, 3 yellows
2010-2011: NC Fusion U18 (USSDA) – 20 games, 19 starts, 1 goal
2011: Carolina Dynamo (PDL) – 4 games, 300 minutes, 1 assist
2011-2012: NC Fusion U16 (USSDA) – 31 games, 31 starts, 1 yellow
2012: North Carolina (NCAA – D1) – 23 games, 23 starts, 1 goal, 1 assist, 5 shots on target, 1 yellow
2012: Carolina Dynamo (PDL) – 8 games, 706 minutes, 1 goal, 1 total shots
2013: North Carolina (NCAA – D1) – 18 games, 18 starts, 2 shots on target, 1 yellow
2013: Carolina Dynamo (PDL) – 8 games, 658 minutes, 2 total shots
2014: North Carolina (NCAA – D1) – 16 games, 15 starts, 1 goal, 2 assists, 3 shots on target
2015: North Carolina (NCAA – D1) – 20 games, 20 starts, 1 goal, 4 assists

Jonathan has been a fixture in North Carolina soccer since joining NC Fusion in the USSDA and playing high school soccer with Greensboro Day. He played 59 games at the U-16 level and an additional 51 games at the U18 for the Fusion, winning North Carolina High School Player of the Year. He also played in PDL prior to his first college with the Carolina Dynamo in the summer of 2011.

Campbell joined the University of North Carolina in 2012, in three seasons he has played 57 games, starting all but one, has scored two goals, added three assists and was named to ACC and National All-Freshman teams in 2012. Campbell has split time between being a center back and full back depending on the Tar Heels needs,  if needed he can play in the midfield and was forward in high school where he scored 53 goals and added 64 assists. 2015 saw Campbell earn First Team All-American honours and finish as a MAC Hermann Award Semi-finalist, but also saw his NCAA Tournament end early with a 1-0 loss to Creighton in the Third Round.

Marc Nicholls director at Campbell’s USSDA club NC Fusion said of Jonathan, “He is a very good on the ball and very good in the air, he reads the game extremely well and is blessed with terrific athleticism. He’s rangy with his passing, good with both feet and leads by example.”

Campbell versatility should make him a useful player in the MLS, but to be a starting centre-back he needs to improve his overall presence in the box. Although he’s an active player, he doesn’t have the speed or acceleration as other full-backs in his graduating group so he might find more opportunities as a pro in a midfield position. Campbell was drafted 12th overall by Chicago Fire in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft, joining the likes of Brandon Vincent and homegrown players like Joey Calistri and Drew Conner as big parts of a young core.

+ Four years in USSDA and four years of PDL
+ Plays multiple roles on the field
+ Four year starter at North Carolina University in NCAA Division 1
+ 2015 NCAA First Team All-American
+ Drafted 12th overall by Chicago Fire in 2016 MLS SuperDraft