The collegiate pro day circuit kicked off this week, a chance for NFL teams to work out prospects at colleges all over the country. One of the pro days where the Detroit Lions were confirmed by sources to be in attendance came on Friday at Illinois.
The Fighting Illini have a few budding prospects, but the most interesting from a Lions standpoint is safety Kerby Joseph. The 6-1, 203-pound Joseph blossomed as a prospect in 2021 with five INTs in the process of earning the highest Pro Football Focus coverage grade of any safety in college football. He posted an impressive 38.5″ vertical jump at the scouting combine recently. Joseph is generally projected in the 4th-6th rounds.
Offensive lineman Vederian Lowe and linebacker Jake Hansen are other Illini prospects who could intrigue the Lions. Both were at the NFL scouting combine and stand a chance to be drafted. QB Brandon Peters and DT Roderick Perry are among the other notables. Perry, a transfer from South Carolina State, did very well for himself during the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl.