Vosean

Joseph

Joseph (6’2/230) turned pro as a true junior after starting in each of his final two seasons, leaving school with 14 career TFLs, four sacks, and eight pass breakups while leading the Gators in tackles (93) in 2018. Joseph’s pre-draft workouts were limited by a hamstring injury, but his tape shows an explosive athlete with sideline-to-sideline range and dangerous blitzing skills. Joseph’s biggest knocks are out-of-control play and a tendency to overrun tackle opportunities. If harnessed, he has starting off-ball linebacker potential.

Miller has long been a fan of Joseph, noting previously that he’s a fan of the 6-foot-2, 226-pound linebacker’s “downhill” style. “Eye-popping athlete who closes on the ball in a hurry and with an explosive, violent striking mentality,” Miller also writes in his strengths. He does have concerns about his size, and that he can lose track of coverage. “Joseph is a great athlete with huge potential. He has some of the most fun tape to watch of any linebacker in the draft,” Miller writes. “With that said, his mental lapses and underdeveloped awareness could hold him back from living up to his high potential.” Sounds like Joseph is high-risk, high-reward.

Joseph (6'2/226) isn’t afraid to go hit someone but that playing style can come back to haunt him at times. Miller believes Joseph’s instincts and awareness need to be developed, but we aren’t sure if those traits really improve moving up another level. As a junior in 2018, Joseph racked up a respectable 93 tackles with nine tackles for loss. Clearly behind Devin Bush and Devin White, Joseph is on the Day 2/3 borderline.

“If you watch the LSU game, you’d think this guy could be a Top 50 pick,” writes Sikkema, “but then if you watch the Georgia game you’d think he’s nearly undraftable.” Joseph gets mixed review from NFL Draft pundits, and the inconsistent results likely have a lot to do with that. Sikkema does note, however, that you cannot deny Joseph’s mentality, as the 6-foot-1, 226-pound defender is out to hit you early and often. There’s definitely volatility -- and Sikkema also believes Joseph needs work in coverage -- but he should be a solid depth piece for a team that either comes off the board late on Day 2 or early on Day 3.

Over the weekend, Draft Analyst’s Tony Pauline reported that Joseph’s declaration would be forthcoming, so no huge surprise on this one. The 6-foot-1, 226-pounder led Florida with 93 tackles this past season, with nine TFL and five passes defended additionally part of his statistical body of work. He brings to the draft class a high-end motor, with The Draft Network’s Jon Ledyard noting that he excels when asked to blitz. As for demerits, Joseph’s size could be an impediment to his draft stock. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. ranks the Florida standout as his No. 6 inside linebacker prospect in the draft-eligible pool.

Joseph (6'1/226) has been a riser this season, and The Draft Network’s Jon Ledyard calls him “an excellent blitzer” with a “non-stop motor.” During his junior campaign, Joseph had 93 tackles, four sacks, and one forced fumble. In a huge game against LSU, Joseph earned Walter Camp Defensive Player of the Week honors after making 3.5 tackles for loss. If Joseph ultimately declares as expected, Joseph will be aiming for a Day 2 selection.

Joseph (6'1/226) “is an undersized linebacker with excellent athleticism and a non-stop motor” according to Ledyard. He “was encouraged to watch the smaller defender chuck a Georgia guard to make a tackle for a short gain. Joseph is also an excellent blitzer, with four sacks this season.” He was ejected two weeks ago against Vanderbilt for two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties but has otherwise done nothing but help his draft stock. He will likely declare if he can end his season on a high note.

A crazy sequence, as Derek Mason and Dan Mullen began screaming at each other following a viscous targeting penalty against Florida. Joseph earned his second on the play, leading to his ouster. A little earlier, he’d been flagged for a fifteen-yard penalty for, as Spencer Hall described it, “suplexing a dude after the play.” Joseph refused to leave the Florida bench after his ejected and had to be dragged to the locker room by Florida staffers.

Joseph (6'1/226) made a team-high 14 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss in the big SEC win over LSU. According to Draft Network’s Jon Ledyard, Joseph doesn’t look as big as he’s listed, but he notes how active and athletic the junior linebacker is. Joseph now has 42 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, and three sacks on the season.