Raiders Abstract Karl Joseph With No. 14Ppick

Joseph's broken ACL didn't avert him from traveling off the lath in the top bisected of the aboriginal round.

As it turns out, the severity of Karl Joseph's knee abrasion didn't outweigh his three years of ascendancy at the assurance position at West Virginia. The Oakland Raiders drafted Joseph in the aboriginal annular with
the No. 14 pick, admitting the actuality he may absence the aboriginal six weeks of the accessible season.

Heading into his chief campaign, Joseph was projected to be one of the top picks on the lath this spring. The 5'11, 197-pound assurance started all 13 amateur as a junior, recording 92 tackles and one interception. He agitated that arch achievement over to the alpha of his chief season, as he led the nation with 5 interceptions in four contests afore disturbing his ACL in a non-contact assignment during convenance in aboriginal October.

"This has been difficult for me and my ancestors but I apperceive I will appear through this stronger than ever," Joseph said in a account at the time, via the Metro News. "I will always be a Mountaineer and will be auspicious on our aggregation every footfall of the way."

Joseph was called for superstardom from the moment he stepped assimilate campus in Morgantown. He was called a starting assurance as a apprentice and recorded 104 tackles, two interceptions and one sack. He becoming apprentice All-American ceremoniousness that year, and his adeptness alone grew added from there.

Throughout his career as a Mountaineer, Joseph racked up 208 abandoned tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, nine interceptions and eight affected fumbles. He was a first-team All-Big 12 amateur in 2014 and a second-team All-American in 2015, admitting alone arena in four games.

Those accolades are absorbing on their own, but even added so if you put them in context. During Joseph's apprentice season, West Virginia gave up a amazing 6.25 yards per play, 106th in the nation. But they bigger anniversary season, affective up to 92nd in 2013 and again 53rd in 2014. The Mountaineers never accomplished abundant postseason success with Joseph, however, accident the Pinstripe Bowl in 2012 and Liberty Bowl in 2014. They were arrive in the Cactus Bowl endure year, but Joseph didn't play -- obviously.

On the field, Joseph's better strengths are his top football IQ and aberrant playmaking ability. He has a adenoids for the football and is complex in about every play, as apparent by the actuality he averaged about 85 tackles per division during his freshman, green and inferior campaigns.