The offseason has already done wonders for Josephs stock, and by the end of the process, he could be a Round 2 selection. Fast in pursuit with the ability to catch ball handlers from the backside and gets depth on pass drops. Shows good range as a deep safety. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. After a breakout season in 2021, does Illinois safety Kerby Joseph have the momentum behind him to become an early NFL Draft pick? When playing the run, Joseph does a good job of reacting to what he sees, sometimes being overly aggressive to the run. Take your football knowledge to the next level. https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2022/04/13/lions-will-have-pre-draft-visit-with-illinois-safety-kerby-joseph/, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. The 2021 Illinois team had a mixed bag of success at essentially every position. The Illinois safety stands at around 61, 200 pounds. This list is headlined by Senior Bowl standout Kerby Joseph. I dont see a lot of explosive hits on his tape and his appetite to fill downhill and aggressively fit the run wasnt something I was able to get a good sense of. 257 overall pick. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. Sinks his butt, quickly pulls across the line of scrimmage, and gets out in front blocking in motion. Has some versatility and position flexibility. Functional Athleticism: Joseph is someone I would consider to be a sufficient-level athlete. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. The Kansas City Chiefs select Marshall Thundering Herd safety Nazeeh Johnson in Round 7 of the 2022 NFL Draft with the No. Should Aaron Rodgers decide to play in 2023, his former coach believes that he will playing at an MVP-caliber level. Hes a nice-sized pocket passer with a next-level arm who played in an NFL-style offense, but Peters must quickly impress in camp this summer. 6 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft due to the Matthew Stafford trade with the Rams Kerby Joseph NFL Draft Profile Position: Safety School: Illinois Current Year: Senior Height: 6'0 5/8 Weight: 200 pounds Wingspan: 79 5/8 Length: 33 1/4 Hand: 10 1/2 Kerby Joseph Scouting Report The secondary has always taken on great importance for NFL defenses. Still, he only started two games over that stretch, compiling 59 tackles, 4 pass deflections, and a forced fumble through his junior year. Copyright: ESPN Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. He has the strength, wingspan, and spatial awareness to make tackles in open space. He played the majority of his snaps at safety, where he was asked to cover slots and to be the deep safety. He takes a lot of reps at single-high, but he can also play two-high and in the box. Joseph sometimes loses his balance at the tackle point and lets players slip away, and he also freezes up occasionally. Joseph entered the season as a fringe starter for the Illini but by the close of the season, Josephs accolades were among the most impressive weve seen from an Illini safety in a long time. But his playmaking ability also steals the show. In Week 18, Joseph became the first player in NFL history to intercept Aaron Rogers three times in a season, as the Lions knocked the Packers out of playoff contention. Frequently Asked Questions about the NFL and Football, Pro-Football-Reference.com Blog and Articles, Subscribe to Stathead Football: Get your first month FREE. He was often used as a last line of defense and I think that role would serve him well. Often comes down out of control, leading to poor leverage. [4] He was named a starter going into his junior year and recorded 19 tackles in the Illini's COVID-19-shortened 2020 season. Heading into the 2023 NFL Draft, the Lions may be looking to add a top prospect to help add stability at the position. Quickly locates the ball handler, fires up the field in run defense, and wraps up tackling. Heres our expanded scouting report and draft profile: Kerby Joseph, Illinois S | NFL Draft Scouting Report. All Rights Reserved. Fires off the snap with an explosive first step, gets leverage on opponents, and works his hands throughout the action. Positives: Tough, physical cornerback with solid size. He looks to be a wrap tackler who rarely delivers a big blow. Featured in that group are Doug Kramer and Vederian Lowe. Kerby Joseph is 22 years old. The secondary has always taken on great importance for NFL defenses. Kerby Joseph (born November 14, 2000) is an American football safety for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). Illinois safety Kerby Joseph enters the 2022 NFL Draft as a big breakout performer of the 2021 college football season. Kerby Joseph was a bit overshadowed by Illinois' lack of success. Illinois 2022 NFL Draft Scouting Reports include Kerby Joseph, Vederian Lowe, and Brandon Peters. Joseph is a sufficient athlete for playing in the high post and I think hes certainly got appeal as a developmental player who, with time, could be a starter in the league. Marino had high praise for third-round pick Kerby Joseph's ball skills, thought fifth-round pick James Mitchell was an overlooked versatile piece that can be used all over the field, and felt . Watch CBS Sports Network; TV Shows & Listings; Bet. He can freeze in his stance when reading the QB and sometimes fails to recognize deep route concepts and anticipate angles. Here are the full scouting reports for the 2022 NFL Draft from those that once called Illinois home. Competitive Toughness: I can certainly appreciate the competitive toughness Joseph presents as a player in coverage, hes persistent to squeeze receivers and reduce throwing windows. Range: I wouldnt say that Joseph has dynamic range; hes not necessarily someone who flashes in the open field. Kerby Joseph was born in Orlando, FL. When filling the run, he comes down quickly; although often a bit out of control, losing leverage in pursuit and even ducking his head on contact. Keeps his head on a swivel and does a terrific job quarterbacking the offensive line. Some tightness at the top of routes. Find out more. Most encouraging is Josephs strong pre-snap and post-snap processing, as well as his ability to maintain space and adapt in zone coverage. Has to run around blocks and doesnt take them head-on. Joseph exploded onto the scene in the Big Ten, amassing 57 tackles, a sack, 5 interceptions, 2 pass deflections, and 2 fumble recoveries in 12 games. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. Can be overly aggressive in the run. He can dish out hard hits, and hes a physical player, but there are times when he doesnt effectively carry his momentum. Just the fifth Illinois safety in the last half a century to be given First-Team All-Big-Ten honors, Joseph forged a reputation for impact plays in coverage thanks to an impressive five interceptions and proved to be quite the ball magnet. Joseph looked very smooth and displayed outstanding hands. As is often the case with game-changing prospects, their athletic traits are what set them apart. The headliner was safety Kerby Joseph, who stood on his time from the NFL Combine but looked terrific in position drills. He played college football at Illinois . Late with his hands on occasion. Looks to be a secure wrap tackler, but his blow delivery suffers greatly, 12 Games, 57 Tackles, 1 TFL, 5 INT, 2 PBU, 2 FR. In a way, that criteria is what separates ordinary safeties from the best of the best. Was not a factor for Illinois until last season. Analysis: Adams gets the most from his ability, yet he lacks next-level speed and must play in a system where he faces the action. You can often count on production as a strong indicator for future NFL talent, and thats especially true in the case of Illinois safety and NFL Draft prospect Kerby Joseph. He returned only a handful of kicks during his time with the Illini, too. Fluid moving laterally, breaks down well and takes proper angles. Football IQ: Joseph was able to grow into a featured role for the Illini this season. One of the rising names in the 2022 NFL draft pantheon is heading to Detroit for a pre-draft visit in the coming days. 256 overall pick. Expanding on Josephs length, the Fighting Illini product can use his length to stack and shed receivers climbing to block him. Joseph, for example, only contested two other throws this season in coverage and managed just six career PBUs. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. This is a solid pick for the Lions because it converges need, talent, and value. Hes not an overly active player but does his best when in deep center field, where he can read the quarterback and react to the ball in the air. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. Explosive and hard-hitting. Although Joseph has strong instincts and awareness, he is prone to slower reactions at times. Tracks the pass in the air, moves decisively to the throw, and quickly gets to the flanks. His lack of presence in the run game is also a concern. 255 overall pick. Hes shown he can process play fakes and react quickly. Follow full coverage of Kerby Joseph during the 2022 NFL Draft on ESPN.com. Youd obviously rather end on a high note than a low one. NFL Network's James Jones & Marc Ross discuss what moves teams made during the 2022 NFL Draft that left them scratching their heads. Versatility: As Josephs role grew, you did see his usage begin to expand and he started popping up in a number of different places. He can be a tick late responding to misdirections, and he can show better anticipation based on formations. Quickly reads and diagnoses the action, immediately picks up coverage assignment, and works hard. [3], Joseph played mostly as a reserve defensive back and on special teams in his first two seasons at Illinois. Join our linker program. Click Here To Find Out How To Test. Be the Expert Draft Day Every Day! Forceful up the field, sells out on the blitz, and shows himself to be a good pass rusher. He can also better quicken his strides to maximize his range in open space, and he can be a bit grabby in man coverage. Analysis: Joseph is a fast-rising prospect who turned in a terrific season and then showed well during Senior Bowl practices. Squares into ball handlers and wraps up. Take your football knowledge to the next level. Joseph displays some tightness in man coverage, where he rounds his breaks at the top of routes. He is generally projected as a Day 2 pick and has some experience playing in a split-safety scheme like the Lions deploy under defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn. 12 Games, 57 Tackles, 1 TFL, 5 INT, 2 PBU, 2 FR. Fires up the field and gives effort defending the run. In a similar vein, while Joseph can stack and shed receivers, he doesnt always drive through blocks, and he can be rerouted if hes not careful. Resilient, stays with plays, and easily changes direction. He was rated as a three-star athlete according to the 247Sports Composite. He processes well but does second-guess himself at times. The "NFL Total Access" crew break down which teams won the 2022 NFL Draft. Rookie seasons can be challenging for corners (if you aren't Sauce Gardner), and a major injury in year two is worth noting, but the Lions still need to . He also closes ground quickly when triggering downhill on ball carriers. He makes plays more with instincts and hustle rather than athleticism, and the injury makes it an uphill battle for Hansen. The Illinois safety can close in from sideline to sideline and erase space for offensive players. Follow full coverage of Kerby Joseph during the 2022 NFL Draft on ESPN.com. Positives: Former part-time player who pulled it all together last season. Hes strong and competitive in contested situations, and he has excellent ball skills, ball-tracking ability, and body control in midair. Sign up to receive all the latest news and annoucements. TDN Consensus: 72.75/100 (Fourth Round Value). Hes also produced excellent athletic workout numbers, including a 38.5-inch vertical jump. Five interceptions in a season is going to perk your ears up, for sure. Kerby Joseph (born November 14, 2000) is an American football safety for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). 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