Raiders nab West Virginia's Joseph with 14th pick in NFL Draft
West Virginia safety Karl Joseph's potential turned out to be more significant than his season-ending knee injury Thursday night when he was selected in the first round of the NFL Draft — 14th overall — by the Oakland Raiders.
Joseph had surgery Oct. 13 to repair the ACL in his right knee he injured in a noncontact practice drill the previous week. At the time, Joseph led the FBS in interceptions with five, and West Virginia had won its first three games before finishing 8-5.
The Raiders apparently believe Joseph (5-foot-11, 197 pounds) soon will return enough to the physical, hard-hitting style that made him a leader on and off the field. In the months prior to the draft, Joseph was projected to be drafted as late as the fourth round.
“There is nobody who delivers a hammer like he does,” ESPN analyst Louis Riddick said.
Joseph is the second WVU defensive back taken in the first round in the common draft era (dating to 1967). Adam Jones went sixth overall in 2005.
Joseph, who has graduated, attended West Virginia's pro day April 4 but participated only in the 225-pound bench press, raising the bar 19 times.
“I'm ahead of schedule,” he said at the time about his rehab that started the day after surgery. “I'll be ready by training camp. I've got a great work ethic, so I'm not worried about anything. I'm going to try to come back better, stronger and faster.”
In more than three seasons as a starter at West Virginia, Joseph recorded nine interceptions, five fumble recoveries and three forced fumbles. He has been timed at 4.57 seconds in the 40-yard dash.
The injury didn't rob Joseph of confidence.
“My film speaks for itself,” he said. “It's not cocky because I'm a very humble guy. That's what I believe. I think that once you're on the field with me, you have to prove that you're better.”
West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen said Joseph did enough before the injury to prove his worth to the NFL.
“The NFL has clearly seen that he was a dominating player in his senior year,” he said.
West Virginia defensive coordinator Tony Gibson tweeted at the time of Joseph's injury, “In my 21 years of football — (Joseph) has been the best leader and player that I've ever had the privilege of coaching.”
David Statman contributed. Jerry DiPaola is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at jdipaola@tribweb.com or via Twitter @JDiPaola_Trib.
