Josey Jewell

A three-year starter at Iowa, Jewell quickly established as a leader of the defense from his MIKE linebacker position, posting 120+ tackles each of the last three seasons as an every-down player for the Hawkeyes. He isn’t a quick-twitch, explosive athlete, but he is balanced in space with above average processing speed to diagnose and react in a flash. The first three-time team captain in Iowa history, Jewell is an assignment sound veteran and has a lot of Sean Lee to his game with the intangibles and impact he brings to the football field. Although he won’t test off the charts athletically, Jewell has the competitive make-up and football instincts to play in the NFL for the next decade, projecting as a starter. BACKGROUND Arrived in the world during much celebration -- Christmas Day, 1994. A two-star recruit out of high school, Josey Jewell grew up in a small Iowa farming town and led Decorah to a perfect 14-0 record and state title as a senior in 2012, earning first team all-state honors as a linebacker and running back. Despite the accolades, he received only moderate interest from Iowa, Iowa State and FCS-level Northern Iowa. Jewell was prepared to play at nearby Division-III Luther (where his older brother, Robby, was a senior safety) until the Hawkeyes came through with a scholarship shortly before signing day. After redshirting in 2013, he began the 2014 season as a reserve before starting the final four games at weakside linebacker, finishing with 51 tackles and 1.0 tackle for loss. Jewell was named a team captain as a sophomore and started all 14 games as the MIKE, leading the team with 126 tackles and finishing second in interceptions (four) and tackles for loss (7.5) to earn Second Team All-Big Ten honors. He again started every game in 2016 and led the team in tackles (124, second-best in the Big Ten) as a junior in 2016, earning Second Team All-Big Ten honors. Jewell returned to Iowa City for his senior season and earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors, posting 125 tackles in 2017.

not a top-tier athlete with clear stiffness in space and limitations laterally. struggles to stick with shifty running backs out of the backfield. hard-headed (physically and mentally), which will work against him at times. needs to lower his strike zone to avoid high hits and penalties. durability isn’t a concern, but did miss one start as a senior (oct. 2017) due to a right shoulder injury. – dane brugler 12/12/17

COMPARES TO

strengths

Checks boxes for his size and strength, working hard to develop his body type (weighed under 200 pounds when he arrived at Iowa). Football smart with the requisite instincts to always be in the vicinity of the play. Excellent backfield vision to scrape and elude blockers while tracking the football. Assignment sound and rarely fooled by option or misdirection plays.

eyes glued on the ball and doesn’t need to focus on the blocker to disengage. quick to leverage run lanes, using stone hands to knock blockers backwards. physical tackler with strong upper body to lasso ballcarriers. controlled movements in space. anticipates well in coverage, reading routes and the eyes of the quarterback to attack passing lanes (26 passes defended and six interceptions in his career). intense playing demeanor with nonstop hustle through the whistle. quiet, but hyper-focused on the task at hand. self-confident and doesn’t shy from criticism, literally seeking it out for motivation. intelligent on and off the field (academic all-big ten honors four years). first iowa player to be a three-year team captain and a “magnetic guy” in the program, according to iowa head coach kirk ferentz. hates to leave the field and started almost every game the last three seasons. highly productive as a three-time team leader in tackles, leaving iowa with 426 career tackles. – dane brugler 12/12/2017

WEAKNESSES

Decorah High School. Named to Des Moines Register Elite all-state first team and first team all-state by Iowa Newspaper Association as a senior

first team all-state as a junior

named as all-area Player of the Year by Cedar Rapids Gazette/KCRG-TV as a senior

first team all-district as a junior and senior

second team all-district as a sophomore

Career - - Three-year letterman as linebacker and running back

helped prep team post 34-6 record in three seasons

team reached state playoffs as a sophomore, was state runner-up as a junior and won state title with perfect 14-0 record as a senior

recorded 62 solo tackles and 38 assists as a senior, with one interception and two recovered fumbles

86 solo tackles and 58 assists as a junior, with one interception and one fumble recovery

42 solo stops and 24 assists as a sophomore, with one interception

career totals include 190 solo tackles and 120 assists

as a senior rushed 166 times for 1,314 yards and 21 touchdowns, along with 11 receptions for 91 yards and 15 punt returns for 250 yards and a touchdown

150 rushing attempts for 1,475 yards and 18 touchdowns as a junior, with six receptions for 43 yards and one touchdown

gained 451 rushing yards and scored three touchdowns on 96 carries as a sophomore

football team captain as a senior

also competed in basketball, baseball and track throughout prep career

all-conference and all-district in discus as sophomore and junior

placed 18th in discus at state championships as a junior

all-conference in shuttle hurdle relay as a junior, placing 12th at state meet

first team all-conference and third team all-state in baseball as a junior as prep team finished as state runner-up.

Born 12/25/94

environmental studies/business major

parents are Paula and Bobby Jewell

member of National Honor Society

earned academic all-district recognition as a junior and senior

high school coach was Bill Post.

2017

fumbles
REC	LOST	FUM
1.0	0.0	0.0

defensive
TFL	QB HUR	TOT	TD	PD	SACKS	SOLO
13.5	2.0	132.0	0.0	11.0	4.5	69.0

interceptions
TD	AVG	YDS	INT
0.0	18.5	37.0	2.0

2016

defensive
TFL	QB HUR	TOT	TD	PD	SACKS	SOLO
6.0	5.0	124.0	0.0	9.0	1.5	58.0

2015

interceptions
TD	AVG	YDS	INT
1.0	15.8	63.0	4.0