2014 NFL Draft: Doctors rave about Henry Josey’s recovery
Missouri Tigers running back Henry Josey (20) reacts after the 2013 SEC Championship game against the Auburn Tigers at Georgia Dome. The Auburn Tigers defeated the Missouri Tigers 59-42. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports
Missouri Tigers running back prospect Henry Josey is probably my biggest sleeper at the position, and the only red flag for him coming into the combine was the health of his surgically repaired knee. Josey’s on-field performance in 2013 certainly didn’t slip as a result of the horrific knee injury, as he finished with 16 touchdowns and over 1,100 yards as the team’s workhorse back. Josey maintained a high level of play against a high level of competition, and he lit things up at the combine with a 4.43 forty time. He has all the tools to be a quality back at the next level, and he has feature potential. While he isn’t going to be picked before the third day, I find it baffling that some people have an undrafted grade on a running back who has great vision, explosiveness, cutting ability, and all the physical tools to succeed in the NFL.
The knee injury was a dark cloud hanging over Josey’s draft-day potential, but it seems like that cloud has dissipated; that’s definitely a good thing. The Sporting News’s Rana Cash writes that doctors “marveled” at the health of Josey’s knee, and the running back himself stated, “The doctors were so excited about how stable my knee was and how it looked. They were asking me who my doctor was and who trained me. I knew that God wouldn’t bring me this far to leave me. They all wanted to know, ‘How did you do that?’”
Josey has certainly come a long way from that injury, and it’s clear to me that he is a player to watch for this offseason once he joins an NFL team. There are plenty of late-round or undrafted RBs who shine in training camp and make an impact in the pros, and I think it’s fair to believe that Josey can be one of those guys. He’s no Carlos Hyde or Tre Mason, but he’s also going to get drafted several rounds later than those top RBs. So when it comes to value, Josey is the perfect guy to snatch in the late rounds and work with in training camp.
I would highly recommend following the link above to read more about Josey’s recovery and thoughts, because it’s an informative and heart-warming read.