Former Tennessee EDGE rusher Joshua Josephs hasn’t gotten as much attention as some of the other Vols’ players during the road to the NFL Combine this week in Indianapolis, but he’s on pace to hear his name called at some point during the NFL Draft this spring. And he’s a force to be reckoned with.
Josephs has been at the NFL Combine for the last few days and will officially take the field for his on-field workouts on Thursday. He’ll be able to show off his high-level motor and his power on the field of Lucas Oil Stadium.
In addition to learning under veteran defensive line coach Rodney Garner at Tennessee, Josephs also had the fortune of working alongside two current NFL players during his time in Knoxville. Josephs played one season alongside current NFL Pro Bowler Byron Young during the 2022 season, and spent three seasons playing with former first-round draft pick James Pearce Jr.
When asked about who he sees his game resembling at the NFL Combine media availabilities, Josephs picked one of his former teammates.
“I would have to say, starting off with (Houston Texans DE) Danielle Hunter,” Josephs said. “That’s somebody I watch constantly, over and over again. Just because I love the way he uses his hands. Definitely got to say Byron Young. Because if you watch him, from his first year to his most recent year, he’s progressively gotten better. Especially with the use of his hands. So definitely between those two.”
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Young was taken as a third-round draft pick during the 2023 NFL Draft and became a Pro Bowl player for the Rams in just his third season in the league. Early projections also suggest that Josephs could have a similar landing spot in this year’s NFL Draft, though the combine event this week in Indianapolis should give us a bit more clarity on things.
Bleacher Report’s scouting department gave Josephs a 7.0 grade, which translates to a third-round projection. VFL Byron Young was also given a 7.0 grade by Bleacher Report before the 2023 NFL Draft.
After racking up 61 tackles in his rookie season and 62 tackles in his second season, Young elevated to a new level with 82 total tackles for the Rams in 2025. He also had a career-high 12 sacks on the season. As Josephs mentioned, it’s easy to see that Young has progressively improved his game throughout his first few years in the league.
Josephs played four seasons at Tennessee and racked up 104 total tackles during that span. He had a career-high 39 tackles during the Vols’ illustrious 2024 season and came back with a career-high four sacks during the 2025 season. He also forced three fumbles in each of those seasons.
Josephs is one of seven former Tennessee Vols at the NFL Combine this week, preparing for a shot in the next level. He’s also joined by quarterback Joey Aguilar, cornerback Jermod McCoy, cornerback Colton Hood, tight end Miles Kitselman, wide receiver Chris Brazzell, and defensive lineman Bryson Eason.
Stay tuned to Rocky Top Insider for more coverage on Josephs and the other UT players at the NFL Combine this week in Indianapolis.
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