It took West Virginia University safety Karl Joseph less than two hours to learn his professional football destination. It’s Oakland, California, and the Oakland Raiders as Joseph was the No. 14 player taken in the first round of tonight’s NFL Draft, taking place in Chicago’s Auditorium Theatre.
Joseph becomes the 12th player in school history to be drafted in the first round and the fourth Dana Holgorsen-coached player to be picked in the first round, which now represents the most ever by any WVU coach.
Holgorsen’s other first-round picks were defensive end Bruce Irvin to Seattle in 2012, wide receiver Tavon Austin to St. Louis in 2013, and wide receiver Kevin White to Chicago last year.
Joseph, the first Big 12 player to go in this year’s draft, was among the nation’s leaders in interceptions with five before suffering a season-ending knee injury during practice the week of the Oklahoma State game played in Morgantown, on Saturday, October 10.
Joseph has spent the last six months rehabilitating his knee and is soon expected to make a full recovery.
“This kid, to me, is the best defensive back in the draft - I don’t care if you are talking corner or safety,” said former NFL executive and ESPN draft analyst Louis Riddick. “There is nothing he can’t do. He can line up down in the box, he has great pattern recognition, great fundamentals, great hands, he can play in the deep part of the field as far high-pointing the football and when you are talking about the running game, and you are talking about hitting, there is nobody that absolutely delivers the hammer like this guy does.”
His three-and-a-half-year career at WVU ranks among the best ever in school annals, the Orlando, Florida resident appearing in 42 career games and accumulating 284 tackles, 16 ½ tackles for losses, eight interceptions, 12 pass breakups and two sacks as one of college football’s most feared hitters.
A highlight video of Karl Joseph’s
biggest hits from his junior season posted on Youtube has received more than 400,000 views, but it was his big hit on Oklahoma running back Samje Perine in what turned out to be his final collegiate game that was perhaps his most impressive.
“He is a one-man wrecking crew who plays the position beautifully in all different disciplines - this is exactly what the Raiders need,” said Riddick. “They need that secondary strength. They’re trying to ramp up the pass rush, they need an enforcer to go with some of the corners they’ve signed through free agency. I love this move. This kid is supposed to be healthy when training camp comes around and I cannot be happier for a guy like this.”
“Well, they’ve got to replace (perennial All-Pro) Charles Woodson and to do that you need a dynamic playmaker in the middle of your defense,” added former NFL coach and ESPN analyst Jon Gruden. “I like the way this kid communicates in the back end. He has some clout when he hits you and when you’re playing safety you’ve got to be able to cover and I’ve seen him do that as well.
“He walked on campus in Morgantown as a true freshman and had over a 100 tackles, led the nation with five interceptions when he got hurt, and it’s an excellent pick by my Raiders!”
Incidentally, Joseph will join former Mountaineer Bruce Irvin on Oakland’s remodeled defense. Irvin signed a four-year, $37 million contract with the Raiders earlier this year.
Joseph is one of five West Virginia players expected to be selected in this year’s draft. Others expected to hear their names called this weekend include linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski, defensive back Daryl Worley, safety KJ Dillon and running back Wendell Smallwood.
The NFL Draft continues through Saturday.
