Bears Sign Cliff Harris Award Winner - DB/KR Micheal Joseph

[richig07]

Which is the award which goes to the best non D-1 football player in the country. He was only the second D-III player to play at the Senior Bowl in six years.

Outside of bringing in local hero and Heisman candidate (now Mount Carmel HC) Jordan Lynch a few years ago - I think it's safe to say Joseph is likely among the more notable UDFA's we've signed in my lifetime. The difference being, Joseph probably isn't a total long-shot to make the team. Adrian Peterson (our Adrian Peterson ) was a D-III star as well. However, we drafted him in the 6th round.

Has a pretty good story. The reason he wound up D-III was because up until the end of high school - he was 5'2 90 pounds and only recorded 6 tackles in his entire HS varsity career. He did not hit puberty until very late. Then sprouted into a D-1 caliber athlete after turning 18.

From Division III star to Senior Bowl, Dubuque's Michael Joseph making big impression

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

Interesting signing here. Based on his college play, the evaluations of his combine and pro day results, he could have easily been a late 6th/7th round draft pick. The kid has a knack for being around the ball, as his 15 interceptions over the last 3 years will attest. Guess it's tough to get a lot of attention when you play out of DIII. Hope he can crack the roster or at the least make it onto the practice squad.

 

[Beengay fudgepackers]

Man, DB is going to be an interesting position to follow in training camp. First they sign Toliver now this guy looks like he could be something. Any chance either of these guys are brought on to play a back up safety role?

 

[richig07]

Oh, I was wrong. Adrian Peterson was FCS. Not D-III. Man... the memory is getting shoddy.

 

[richig07]

Interesting signing here. Based on his college play, the evaluations of his combine and pro day results, he could have easily been a late 6th/7th round draft pick. The kid has a knack for being around the ball, as his 15 interceptions over the last 3 years will attest. Guess it's tough to get a lot of attention when you play out of DIII. Hope he can crack the roster or at the least make it onto the practice squad.

Kid looks phenomenal in that highlight reel... but obviously it's D-III ball. He's basically a man among boys. A guy who could have rather clearly played at a Big Ten/SEC school against guys who weren't really stand-outs in high school.

Seems to have very good body control and awareness, though. Plays the sideline routes extremely aggressively and has good hands. I guess we'll see how much of it translates to the highest level. It's a rather ludicrous jump from covering a D-III WR to say... Allen Robinson in camp.

 

[beardown07]

The biggest jump these kids have to make as DBs going to the pros, regardless of what division they came from is playing with less hands. He''d be called for defensive holding on half of those highlights.

Gotta start somewhere tho, and he seems to have great ball-awareness.

 

[richig07]

The biggest jump these kids have to make as DBs going to the pros, regardless of what division they came from is playing with less hands. He''d be called for defensive holding on half of those highlights.

Gotta start somewhere tho, and he seems to have great ball-awareness.

Agreed. I have a gut feeling that he makes the team and contributes on SPT's. His shot as a regularly contributing DB is probably a couple of years down the road.