Rankings:
NFLDraftScout.com: #53 player overall, #6 cornerback. Second-round grade.
Nawrocki: 27th-ranked cornerback. Not listed in top 150 prospects. Grade: 5.24, should make a roster and contribute on special teams.
Mayock: #65 player overall, #5 safety.
Kiper: #54 player overall, #6 cornerback.
DraftCountdown.com: #59 player overall, #3 safety. 2nd-3rd round grade.
Scouts Inc.: #53 player overall, #7 cornerback. Grade: 80, solid to outstanding prospect.
Biography/Honors:
2013: Unanimous first-team all-America. Jim Thorpe Award finalist (best defensive back in nation). First team all-ACC. Started all 14 games at a corner position, 8 of them at nickel. 69 tackles, 4 pass breakups, 2 INTs, 7 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles. 22.0-yard average on 5 kick returns. Led NCAA defensive backs in sacks. FSU led the nation in pass defense and INTs and was 3rd in total defense. Did not miss a game at FSU and finished career with 41 straight starts.
2012: Started all 14 games at strong safety. 51 tackles, 5 pass breakups, one INT, 1.5 tackles for loss. 23.6-yard average on 18 kick returns. FSU total defense was 2nd in the nation and they were top-6 in pass defense and pass efficiency defense.
2011: Second-team all-ACC. Started all 13 games at free safety. 54 tackles, 3 pass breakups, 4 INTs. 30.50-yard average on 13 kick returns.
2010: Played in all 14 games. 23 tackles, 2 pass breakups and one INT. 20.6-yard average on 16 kick returns.
Academics: Major not listed. Won an academic award as a sophomore.
Injuries:
None
Twitter handle: @LJoynerNole20
NFL Combine Stats:
(2014 Combine averages for cornerbacks in parentheses)
40-yard dash: 4.55 (4.52)
Vertical jump: 37.5" (36.5")
Broad jump: 10'4" (10'3")
3-cone drill: 7.26 (6.97 – Joyner ran 4th-worst time by a CB)
20-yard shuttle: 4.40 (4.20 – Joyner tied for worst time by a CB)
Bench presses: 14 (14)
Wonderlic score: 13
Scouting Report:
Outstanding production in all areas of the game. Good instincts and anticipation. Gets downhill in a hurry. Sees field well from back end and adjusts defense well pre-snap. Recognizes route combinations well. Reads QB's eyes well and consistently gets good breaks on the ball. Best in zone coverage but has above-average press technique. Tracks ball well over his shoulder and can go up and get it. Good competitive playing speed. Very good short-area burst. Great attitude. Confident and opportunistic. Showed well in big games. Plays bigger than his size. Plays the run like a linebacker. Aggressive and physical with good upper-body strength and violent hands. Excellent hitter and good open-field tackler. Times his blitzes well. Instinctively tries to force turnovers. Added value as a kick returner, where his excellent acceleration provides him an edge. Exceptional worker and team leader with great intangibles. Experienced in a variety of coverage schemes and a variety of positions. High-energy player who loves the game. Outstanding football character and intelligence. Film-room junkie. Extremely durable, surprisingly so for his size. Natural playmaker who leaves it all on the field. Might be the best inch-for-inch defensive player in the draft.
Small. Three inches shorter and ten pounds lighter than the average NFL CB. Tweener. Best role may be as a nickel safety. Just average athletically. Below average performance at the Combine. Tight hipped. Not sharp out of his breaks. Was protected in FSU's defense. Didn't have to stay with slot receivers downfield and lacks the speed to do it. Gets outquicked in the slot. Lacks the size to be a good press corner. Does not have great closing speed and can't make up well for mistakes. Struggles against big receivers in man coverage. Doesn't have great hands and will let passes get into his body. Makes too many mental mistakes. Has trouble matching up correctly against bunch formations. Body isn't ideal for the wear and tear of an NFL season. Size and pedestrian speed are significant limiting career factors. Compares to: Tyrann Matthieu.
Fun Facts:
Lamarcus has a son named Jamarcus. In a game against Idaho last season, Lamarcus missed a sack, but still made the tackle. Sixty-eight yards downfield. He caught up to the receiver who made the catch after he missed the sack.
RamView:
Sometimes you just draft a guy because he's a football player. Joyner has that and "Jeff Fisher DB" written all over him. Athletically, he's a tweener very similar to Rodney McLeod, and there's good reasoning behind the critique that Joyner will have some challenges as an NFL DB. RamView fell for that and downgraded the Honey Badger last year, and he was one of the best rookie defensive players in the league. Joyner is the Honey Badger without the rap sheet. Wherever Gregg Williams figures out to use him, you get a pretty good feeling he's going to work out. OK pick.
Sources: NFL Draft 2014 Preview (Nolan Nawrocki), NFLDraftScout.com, DraftCountdown.com (Scott Wright), Scouts Inc., Florida State University athletics , Ramview (Mike Franke)