He possesses the size and the ability to be used on the inside of a four-man front but must really get his game back on track. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. He possesses enough ability to be a traditional free safety once he polishes his game and comes with a large upside. Sifting through congestion, hes still able to read the field, stay square, and flow to the ball using his lateral agility. Tackling: Joseph was a sufficient cut-and-wrap tackler. Explosive, tough, and sells out to make plays. [11][12], In Week 9 against the Green Bay Packers, Joseph had 10 tackles, and intercepted quarterback Aaron Rodgers twice in the 15-9 win, earning him NFC Defensive Player of the Week as a result of his performance. Illinois 2022 NFL Draft Scouting Reports include Kerby Joseph, Vederian Lowe, and Brandon Peters. 97 overall pick. In a way, that criteria is what separates ordinary safeties from the best of the best. Explosive, tough, and sells out to make plays. 259 overall pick. Explosive and hard-hitting. Illinois safety Kerby Joseph enters the 2022 NFL Draft as a big breakout performer of the 2021 college football season. Jalen Carter Named Subject of Arrest Warrant After Fatal Crash That Killed Georgia Teammate, Seattle Seahawks 2023 NFL Draft Prospects To Target at the NFL Combine Include Brian Branch, Nolan Smith, 2023 NFL Draft Big Board: Top 25 Prospects Heading Into NFL Combine Include Jalen Carter, Brian Branch, and Bijan Robinson, Boston Colleges Jaiden Woodbey Is Less Tweener, More Swiss Army Knife. Playing as one of the deep safeties in a two-high look, Joseph had to drop back inside the 5-yard line with tight end Robert Tonyan running a deep skinny post up the middle. 120, while The Draft Network lists . He returned only a handful of kicks during his time with the Illini, too. All rights reserved. He isn't ruling out free agency or the draft to acquire that talent. Kicking off the Big Ten scouting reports for the 2022 NFL Draft is the Illinois Fighting Illini. April 19, 2022 5:25 pm ET. Most encouraging is Josephs strong pre-snap and post-snap processing, as well as his ability to maintain space and adapt in zone coverage. Joseph entered the season as a fringe starter for the Illini but by the close of the season, Joseph's accolades were among the most impressive we've seen from an Illini safety in a long time. Copyright 2019-2023. There are a few things to clean up with Joseph, but the upside is undeniable. Overmatched by taller receivers. But I wouldnt draft him to serve that kind of role early on coming out of Illinois. Positives: Former part-time player who pulled it all together last season. Keeps his head on a swivel and does a terrific job quarterbacking the offensive line. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. Has some versatility and position flexibility. He likely projects best as an exclusive back-end defender. Remains disciplined with assignments. All Rights Reserved. NFL Network's Brian Baldinger looks at NFL Network analyst Bucky Brooks' 'very strong' group of tight ends in the 2023 NFL Draft class. 10M; Range: I wouldnt say that Joseph has dynamic range; hes not necessarily someone who flashes in the open field. Has struggled with inconsistency and injury the past two years. A late riser and Senior Bowl standout, just how high is Josephs ceiling in the 2022 NFL Draft this coming April? The "NFL Total Access" crew break down which teams won the 2022 NFL Draft. Versatility: As Josephs role grew, you did see his usage begin to expand and he started popping up in a number of different places. Bucky Brooks explains why Boston College Eagles wide receiver Zay Flowers would be a perfect for tthe New York Giants in Round 1 of the 2023 NFL Draft. I didnt see a lot of instances of him negotiating blocks and uncovering in the box. Fires up the field and gives effort defending the run. Occasionally stands over tackle and easily gets down the line of scrimmage in pursuit. [1] NFL Network's Bucky Brooks breaks down his first 2023 mock draft on 'NFL Total Access'. Expanding on Josephs length, the Fighting Illini product can use his length to stack and shed receivers climbing to block him. The Kansas City Chiefs select Marshall Thundering Herd safety Nazeeh Johnson in Round 7 of the 2022 NFL Draft with the No. https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2022/04/13/lions-will-have-pre-draft-visit-with-illinois-safety-kerby-joseph/, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. He played the majority of his snaps at safety, where he was asked to . Dock Done Download Draft Fantasy Filter Forward 5s Forward 10s Forward 30s Full Screen Off Full Screen On Gamepass Games Insights Key Leave . [16], Joseph was named First-Team All Rookie by a number of publications, including The Athletic. Keeps his feet moving, fires his hands into defenders, and knocks pass rushers from their angles of attack. Tracks the pass in the air, moves decisively to the throw, and quickly gets to the flanks. Moreover, Joseph has room to be a bit smoother out of his backpedal at times. The Lions met with Joseph during his pro day at Illinois. He can leverage his hips on his backpedal to wall off routes coming downfield. Easily out-positioned from the action by opponents. Joseph put up some strong 2021 tape, but there are still a few areas where he can improve. Additionally, hes shown he can actively wrap up as a tackler with his long frame. He takes a lot of reps at single-high, but he can also play two-high and in the box. The Illinois safety stands at around 61, 200 pounds. The Illinois safety spent his first three years building up experience. Moreover, with his fluid hips, length, and short-range athleticism, he translates well in man coverage as well. Youve now completed your Big Board, but if you want to save it youll need to become a TDN Premium member. Quick to diagnose, fires up the field, and drives his shoulders through ball handlers. Sells out on the blitz. 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. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. The Arizona Cardinals select Penn State Nittany Lions EDGE Jessee Luketa in Round 7 of the 2022 NFL Draft with the No. Please check your email for a confirmation. Kerby Joseph, Illinois, 6-1, 200 pounds Couldn't crack the defensive lineup for two years before trying receiver and then having five interceptions as a single-high safety in 2021. GRADE: 6.4 (High-level Developmental Prospect - 5th Round). Joseph has constant field vision, and hes instinctive with how he positions himself on the back end. Behind Peters, or should we say in front of Peters, is the star-studded offensive line unit. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 Draft Network. He played the majority of his snaps at safety, where he was asked to cover slots and to be the deep safety. Instagram: Lacks a closing burst. The Illinois safety has good short-area quickness and twitch, which he can use to adjust and maintain his tackling angles in pursuit, as well as recover after misses. He played college football at Illinois . The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. 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. Team Round PK(OVR) DET: 3: The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. There was a good crowd for the Fighting Illini Pro Day workout. 260 overall pick. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. Illinois safety Kerby Joseph enters the 2022 NFL Draft as a big breakout performer of the 2021 college football season. He played college football at Illinois. The "Good Morning Football" crew breaks down the NFC South draft classes. S; Junior; 6-1, 203 lbs; Illinois; Scouts Grade; Position Rank; Overall Rank; Arm Length 33-1/8" Hand Size 10-5/8" Conference TBD; 2022 Draft Pick Info. OVERALL. Do you have a sports website? He can accelerate quickly and easily track receivers downfield. Mixes it up with receivers throughout the route, quickly flips his hips in transition, and displays a burst to the ball out of his plant. Should Aaron Rodgers decide to play in 2023, his former coach believes that he will playing at an MVP-caliber level. Analysis: Peters looked like a legitimate next-level quarterback off the 2019 film, but he has watched his game level off and even regress since then. Thats what were going to find out. Take your football knowledge to the next level. Keeps his feet moving, penetrates the line of scrimmage, and makes a lot of plays in the backfield. Breaks down well, effectively uses his hands, and stays with coverage assignments. He was rated as a three-star athlete according to the 247Sports Composite. Kerby Joseph is 22 years old. I think he can boost his effectiveness here with better transitions and footwork to break to the football. The Lions entered the 2022 NFL Draft with a major need in the secondary, and started to address it Friday night with the selection of Illinois safety Kerby Joseph in the third round (No. The Lions took Joseph, a ball-hawking safety from . Sinks his butt, quickly pulls across the line of scrimmage, and gets out in front blocking in motion. Here are my 10 biggest takeaways from those sessions: 1. Joseph underpins his game with great overall awareness. Who else stands out next to Joseph from the Illini? Subscribe to Stathead Football: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Pro Football Reference Database. Was never fast and now must return from injury. Kerby Joseph is a defensive back who performs best when in coverage. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. Kerby Joseph was born in Orlando, FL. Lacks an explosive closing burst. Or write about sports? Was not a factor for Illinois until last season. He must shed some weight and learn to finish blocks, but Lowe owns a large upside. 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 . But in the new age of passing-oriented offensive attacks, theres a particularly strong emphasis on defensive back talent. But every NFL Draft prospects developmental curve is different. All this, and Joseph still actively follows the quarterbacks eyes to judge intent, and he can quickly flip his hips and close off windows. [3], Joseph played mostly as a reserve defensive back and on special teams in his first two seasons at Illinois. This list is headlined by Senior Bowl . Mock Draft Machine Beta Testing Has Begun! Kerby Joseph, Illinois S | NFL Draft Scouting Report. Five interceptions in a season is going to perk your ears up, for sure. He did well to contort his frame and challenge the football when trying to make plays in coverage to optimize his influence. He tends to be a bit lazy in his backpedal at times, leading to loose footwork that causes him to be erratic and often out of position. He possesses enough ability to be a traditional free safety once he polishes his game and comes with a large upside. He has roster potential but will need to clean up his game to make a team. Will Deadly January Car Accident Tank Jalen Carters Draft Stock? All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. BET WITH CAESARS Hes strong and competitive in contested situations, and he has excellent ball skills, ball-tracking ability, and body control in midair.