Today we are analyzing Kelvin Joseph, Kentucky’s 6’1″ 192 lb. cornerback who is receiving first round buzz as of late.
Strengths: Physically and athletically, Joseph is the total package. He offers good size and terrific length, which he frequently uses to disrupt the catch point and force incompletions. Joseph also pairs his length with great ball skills and is a real threat to produce turnovers with his soft hands. Joseph is very tight in man coverage, with the athletic skills to mirror receivers. He is fluid and quick in transition and has the speed to carry vertical routes. Joseph’s footwork and change of direction ability are high-level, and he is very smooth and poised in general. He has shown the ability to use proper positioning to crowd a receiver against the sideline. Against the run, Joseph shows effort and is a solid tackler. Joseph played great against the best competition in 2020, with impressive showings against Alabama and Georgia.
Weaknesses: Joseph has only played one season as a starter (2020), so he is still inexperienced and has a small sample size. As a result, a couple aspects of his game are still being developed. Joseph’s instincts against the run are a work in progress, and his play strength and physicality are just average at this point. He is a sound, wrap-up tackler, but he could be more forceful at the tackle point. The reason for Joseph’s small sample size also bears some concern, as he transferred from LSU and sat out 2019 after being suspended from the 2018 Fiesta Bowl for a violation of team rules.
Bottom Line: Joseph’s 2020 tape is very impressive, and shows his potential to become a premier cornerback in the NFL. His size, length, quickness, fluidity, and speed are all top-notch, which allows him to stay in phase at a high level in man coverage. Teams have to be wary of his inexperience and the incident that resulted in his transfer out of LSU, but the tape shows a cornerback with elite physical traits, impressive play especially relative to level of experience, and extremely high upside.
Draft Projection: Top 45
Draft Grade: 1.8 (indicative of a late first round grade)
UPDATE: Serious reports have come out regarding Kelvin Joseph since the publication of this report. These include severe immaturity, quitting on his team, and overall being labeled “the worst character in my time of scouting” by a certain scout. As a result, his grade has been drastically dropped to a 3.7.
With the draft just 13 days away, make sure to follow @boldtakescouting on Instagram to read our scouting reports, mock drafts, rumor mills, and bold takes.
