From prospects to pros: 2022 NFL Draft résumé for Kentucky defensive lineman Josh Paschal
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This year’s NFL Draft is April 28-30. A number of former University of Kentucky stars are eligible, and many are expected to be selected this year. We’re taking a look at every UK player who hopes to have their name called.
Josh Paschal
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 268 pounds
Hometown: Prince George’s County, Md. (Our Lady of Good Counsel)
Projected NFL position: Defensive end
What you’ll remember about him at UK: His perseverance and positivity. Paschal overcame a significant health scare ahead of his sophomore season — the diagnosis of a malignant melanoma on his right foot — and his willingness to publicly speak about that experience around Lexington and beyond made him a recognizable figure throughout college football along with his strong level of play. He was in the running for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year award as a junior in 2020, and won it in 2021. Paschal was the only three-time captain in UK history.
Key stats: 15.5 tackles for loss (53 total tackles), eight quarterback hurries and 5.5 sacks as a senior. Forced a fumble and blocked a kick in 2021. Finished third in UK history with 37 tackles for loss. Associated Press All-Southeastern Conference First Team selection in 2021.
Career development: A four-star recruit who chose Kentucky over Oklahoma and Penn State, Paschal played right away as a true freshman at outside linebacker; he appeared in every game that season and started once. In 2018, he was competing for a starting job at defensive end before his cancer diagnosis; he saw spot action at the end of that season (a redshirt year) but wasn’t fully back until the 2019 campaign. He moved to defensive end for the 2020 season and anchored the spot again in 2021.
Latest draft projections: Paschal has an opportunity to be the first Wildcat selected in this year’s draft, which might not have been a consideration ahead of the 2021 season. His stock has only risen since the NFL Combine and his name is among the most mentioned by draft analysts when they’re asked to name guys who might get selected higher than fans anticipate. Dane Brugler of The Athletic has Paschal going 61st overall to the San Francisco 49ers in the second round, and several mocks have him firmly in the third. Doug Kyed, writing for Pro Football Focus, said Paschal “looks like a prototypical New England Patriot” and says he’s projected as an early day two pick (so, second round). PFF is high on Paschal; it tabs him as the 44th-best player available in the draft and gave him an overall grade of 90, fourth among all draft-eligible defensive ends.
His future: Paschal performed with aplomb at Kentucky, often through injury. One anticipates that being able to commit himself full time to football will only make him a better player than he already is. Paschal was able to transition well from linebacker to defensive end in the SEC, but concerns remain about his size, long term, at the next level; he could end up back on the edge. The team that drafts Paschal will get an even better leader than a player, and that can go a long way toward making a player’s NFL career a lasting and memorable one.
Quote: “Paschal might never be a star, but he’s a good future starter with winning character that coaches and fans will grow to love.” — Lance Zierlein for NFL.com
This story was originally published April 21, 2022 at 8:05 AM.
