OVERVIEW
The metamorphosis of Joseph from his freshman year to his junior season has been remarkable. One of the strongest players in college football, his back issues when he first arrived on campus in February, 2007 are a thing of the past, thanks to his dedication to off-season conditioning.
Those back problems were the result of seeing his weight balloon to over 370 pounds, Joseph was placed in an intense training program prior to the 2008 campaign. He dropped more than 70 pounds of "baby fat," then added over 20 pounds back through work in the strength program. His dominance in the trenches as a sophomore saw the Pirates lead Conference USA in total defense (333.0 ypg) and scoring defense (21.07 ppg) that season.
Joseph continued to plug the interior rush lanes and tie up multiple blockers while playing like a man possessed as a junior. The Pirates would hold their opponents to an average of 120.29 yards per game rushing in 2009. Joseph had a hand in making 57 of his plays vs. the running attack, holding those ball carriers to 45 yards (0.79 ypc) and no touchdowns, dropping thirteen runners for a loss while taking down five more for no gain at the line of scrimmage.
Five of his tackles for loss killed scoring drives, all coming on goal-line stands. He also posted one fourth-down and four third-down tackles vs. the run. He even got into the "act" himself, carrying the ball for a touchdown in the 2009 Southern Mississippi clash. His performance last season earned him the team's "Distinction of Attitude, Effort and Leadership" Award, for his role in helping ECU make their third-straight postseason bowl visit.
At Sante Fe High School, Joseph lettered four times for the Raiders. He was a two-time All-State Class AAA selection, adding All-Region honors as a senior. He received a three-star rating from Rivals.com, as that recruiting service ranked him 44th among the nation's defensive tackles. Rivals.com even featured him in their 2007 recruiting yearbook.
Joseph also excelled as a weight man for the school's track team. He lettered three times in the sport, helping the team advance to the state finals, as he competed in the shot put and discus events. A three-time member of Sant Fe's weight lifting team, he captured the Florida State Weightlifting Championship as a junior with a 415-pound bench press and a 320-pound clean jerk.
Joseph signed with East Carolina in February, 2007. He appeared in thirteen games, starting four contests while sharing right defensive tackle duties with junior Khalif Mitchell. He was named to the Freshman All-Conference USA team after posting 40 tackles that included 8.5 stops for loss, five pressures and two fumble recoveries, despite dealing with back issues most of the schedule.
As a sophomore, Joseph played in fourteen games at nose guard, taking over the position full-time during the final five games. He delivered eight tackles behind the line of scrimmage among his 43 tackles (22 solos) that included 2.5 sacks. He also used his impressive wing span and leaping ability to block a pair of kicks.
Joseph earned All-American third-team and All-Conference USA first-team honors in 2009. Back at right defensive tackle, he registered a career-best 60 tackles (22 solos), coming up with three sacks. His thirteen stops for loss led the team and ranked sixth in the league. He also collected fourteen QB pressures, caused two fumbles and blocked a kick, in addition to scoring on a 1-yard rushing attempt.
With the coaching staff leaving for the University of South Florida, Joseph decided it was time to move on. Shortly after the Pirates returned from the Liberty Bowl, Joseph announced that he was forgoing his senior season at ECU and applied for early entry to the 2010 NFL Draft.
CAREER NOTES
Joseph started 27-of-41 games at East Carolina – eighteen at right defensive tackle and nine at nose guard…Registered 143 tackles (57 solos) with 6.5 sacks for minus 47 yards, 29.5 stops for losses totaling 96 yards and 20 quarterback pressures…Recovered and caused three fumbles…Deflected two passes and blocked three kicks…Also carried once for a 1-yard touchdown vs. Southern Mississippi in 2009.
2009 SEASON
All-American third-team selection by The NFL Draft Report…All-Conference USA first-team choice by the league's coaches…Started all fourteen games at right defensive tackle, helping pace a unit that ranked second in the conference and 27th nationally vs. the run (120.29 ypg), led the league in scoring defense (21.93 ppg) and ranked third in total defense (378.29 ypg)…Recorded a career-best 60 tackles (22 solos) with three sacks for minus 17 yards…Led the team and ranked sixth in the conference with 13.0 stops for losses of 39 yards and tied for the team lead with fourteen quarterback pressures…Had one pass deflection and blocked a 26-yard field goal attempt vs. Central Florida…Also recovered a fumble and caused two others…Had one rushing attempt that he converted into a 1-yard touchdown vs. Southern Mississippi…Made 57 plays vs. the run, holding those ball carriers to 45 yards (0.79 ypc) and no touchdowns, as he also took down five of those runners for no gain at the line of scrimmage…Posted seven tackles inside the red zone vs. the run, including five on goal-line plays…Had four third-down and one fourth-down tackles vs. opposing rushers…Among his fourteen QB pressures, seven came on third-down snaps and one more resulted on a fourth-down play.
2009 GAME ANALYSIS
Appalachian State…Joseph opened the season with seven tackles, assisting on a sack while making 2.5 stops for loss and producing two pressures…He teamed with Scotty Robinson on an 8-yard sack of QB DeAndre Presley in the first quarter and later crushed Devon Moore on a second-&-goal carry that knocked the tailback one yard to the ECU 3 in the second quarter…On APSU's next drive, Joseph's third-&-6 pressure saw Presley's pass get picked off by ECU's Nick Johnson near midfield.
North Carolina…The right defensive tackle posted six total tackles (four solos), including taking down tailback Shaun Draughn for a 2-yard loss on a rushing attempt up the middle during the game's first play from scrimmage.
Central Florida…Joseph followed with six tackles, a pair of pressures and 1.5 sacks…On the second play from scrimmage, he stopped tailback Brynn Harvey for no gain on a rushing attempt…He again leveled Harvey for no gain on a second quarter carry and also sacked QB Brett Hodges for minus 5 yards on that 13-play series…Joseph then blocked a 26-yard field goal attempt and preserved the 19-14 win when he sacked QB Brett Hodges for a 1-yard loss with 2:23 left in the game.
Rice…Joseph posted two pressures for the third time in 2009, as he came up with four tackles, including an 8-yard sack of QB Nick Fanuzzi on a late first quarter third-&-4 snap, forcing the Owls to punt...His third quarter third-&-goal pressure on Fanuzzi resulted in an incomplete pass, as Rice would salvage that 14-play, 75-yard drive with a 24-yard field goal.
Virginia Tech…Joseph continued his trend of making an impact on the opponent's initial drive, as he tackled tailback Ryan Williams for a 5-yard loss, as the defensive tackle registered seven tackles.
Tulsa…The junior defensive tackle had just three solo stops, but two were behind the line of scrimmage…Joseph dragged down tailback Jamad Williams for a 1-yard loss, forcing Tulsa to punt in the first quarter…QB G.J. Kinne's pass on fourth-&-6 bounced off of Joseph's helmet and fell incomplete in the fourth quarter, ending a 13-play, 61-yard march.
Southern Mississippi…Joseph delivered six tackles with three pressures, but all the locker room wanted to talk about after the game was his brief time on offense…QB Patrick Pinkney completed five-straight passes late in the second quarter on a 70-yard, 13-play series. At the 1-yard line, the Pirates QB handed the ball off to Joseph, lined up at fullback, and the junior plunged across the goal line to make it a 10-point game with about 5½ minutes before halftime.
Houston (Conference USA Championship)…The defensive tackle had just three tackles, but two of his three pressures came on third-down snaps, including one with 1:47 left in the game, as he flushed Case Keenum out of the pocket and his errant pass was picked off by ECU's Van Eskridge, preserving a 38-32 decision and hand the Pirates the conference title.
Arkansas (Liberty Bowl)…Joseph recorded the 16th tackle for loss in his last fifteen games, capturing Dennis Johnson for minus 7 yards at the ECU 45 late in the first quarter…He tripped up Johnson on a 2-yard overtime reception, preventing what would have been a certain touchdown, as no Pirate was near the running back, but the Razorbacks would kick a 37-yard field goal on the next snap to hand East Carolina a 20-17 loss.
2008 SEASON
Earned All-Conference USA honorable mention…Missed most of fall camp with a back sprain, but played in all fourteen games, starting the final nine at nose guard…Recorded 43 tackles (22 solos) with 2.5 sacks for minus 23 yards, eight stops for losses of 34 yards and one quarterback pressure…Caused a fumble, blocked two kicks and deflected a pass…Part of a squad that led the league in total defense (333.0 ypg) and scoring defense (21.07 ppg).
2008 GAME HIGHLIGHTS
Registered an 8-yard sack vs. Central Florida, followed by four tackles in the Marshall clash…Added three tackles in each of the Houston and Southern Mississippi games…Had six tackles that included a stop for a loss vs. Alabama-Birmingham…Assisted on a 4-yard sack vs. Texas-El Paso…Enjoyed a career-high nine-tackle performance vs. Tulsa in the Conference USA Championship Game, which also included a forced fumble and a batted pass, as he dropped Golden Hurricane quarterback David Johnson behind the line on a rush (-3 yards), where he forced his first career fumble on a third-&-five play in the third quarter...Followed with seven stops vs. Kentucky in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, a career-best three resulting in lost yardage of 15 yards, as he also blocked two PATs.
2007 SEASON
Consensus Freshman All-Conference USA first-team selection by the league's coaches and media…Played in all thirteen games, sharing right defensive tackle duties with Khalif Mitchell…Started vs. West Virginia, Houston, Central Florida and Tulane…Finished with 40 tackles (13 solos), a 7-yard sack, 8.5 stops for losses of 23 yards and five quarterback pressures…Also recovered two fumbles.
2007 GAME HIGHLIGHTS
Notched his first career start vs. West Virginia, finishing with four tackles...His first career sack was good for a 3-yard loss, as he also recovered a fumble and posted six tackles vs. Southern Mississippi…Also credited with a half sack for minus 4 yards among his three stops behind the line of scrimmage, as Joseph totaled eight tackles vs. Marshall…Had six tackles with 1.5 stops for loss and recovered a fumble vs. Tulane.
HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Sante Fe (Gainesville, Fla.) High School, playing football for head coach Scott Pritchett...Lettered four times for the Raiders…Two-time All-State Class AAA selection, adding All-Region honors as a senior…Received a three-star rating from Rivals.com, as that recruiting service ranked him 44th among the nation's defensive tackles…Rivals.com even featured him in their 2007 recruiting yearbook…Excelled as a weight man for the school's track team…Lettered three times in the sport, helping the team advance to the state finals, as he competed in the shot put and discus events…A three-time member of Sant Fe's weight lifting team, he captured the Florida State Weightlifting Championship as a junior with a 415-pound bench press and a 320-pound clean jerk.
PERSONAL
Communications major…Son of Ernestine Johnson…Born Linval Clement Joseph on 10/10/88 in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands...Resides in Gainesville, Florida.
