Pair of Illinois DBs at Senior Bowl making noise, with love for Kerby Joseph

MOBILE, Ala. — One year after producing Kerby Joseph, Illinois has another pair of defensive backs garnering praise for their impressive ball-hawking ability and aggressive nature flashing during the draft process.

Joseph enjoyed a strong rookie season for the Detroit Lions in 2022. The third-round pick intercepted four passes, including three from Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. And now, Joseph is aiding and inspiring former college teammates Jartavius Martin and Sydney Brown on their path to the NFL. The pair of Illinois defensive backs echoed each other, laughing, then saying this is what they expected from Joseph at the next level, without question.

“Oh, yeah, man. Kerby was amazing this year. I always knew he had that in him,” Martin said. “He was my roommate for like three or four years, so just conversations of what he’s doing now is like what we had in our apartment. I’m extremely excited for him, and the sky is the limit.

“He just helped guide me through the process, telling me what to expect. Just how to go about things through interviews and talking to coaches. He’s definitely helped me out through this whole process.”

Martin and Brown are each projected as safeties at the next level, sharing the field with the National team at the 2023 Senior Bowl. The Athletic ranks Martin seventh at the position, with Brown slotting 15th.

Brown played a significant role in Illinois’ strong campaign, intercepting six passes and knocking away seven more. He also added 60 tackles, one forced fumble and a defensive touchdown for good measure. Joseph had five interceptions for the Fighting Illini in 2021, with Brown filling that role nicely this past year. He’s listed at 5-foot-10, 213 pounds, earning praise as Pro Football Focus’ highest-graded safety in man coverage last year. Brown flashed some of that ability on Wednesday in one-on-one drills, playing aggressively to the ball and going up and contesting catches.

“I think he learned so much about that process, you know what I mean? He was all over the map,” Brown said when asked what he learned from Joseph. “He just kept pushing through and eventually came to rise and made it happen. Took his opportunity and look at him now. It’s perseverance. You learn perseverance from the guy. Starting from where he started (as a wide receiver) and to where he is now is just amazing. But I expect that out of him.

“Kerby’s a rangy safety. But I think I’ve got the same thing like him, with the versatility of playing in the box. But Kerby’s a great player and I look up to him.”

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And while Martin was thrilled to talk about Joseph’s ascent. He made sure to mention how special it was for him and Brown to be here in Mobile, starting in Champaign as first-year students to simultaneously knocking on the door of the league.

Martin primarily played from the slot last season, missing only seven tackles on 129 attempts in two years, per PFF. It’s worth noting he’s also logged 851 snaps at outside cornerback, so there is some intriguing versatility there.

Martin said his goal at the Senior Bowl is to prove he can play anywhere on the back end. The 5-foot-11, 193-pound defensive back intercepted three passes last season, adding 11 pass deflections and two forced fumbles. Draft Network touts his versatility and tackling chops as strengths, with quickness and long-range speed listed as areas of concern.

Brown pointed to upholding the standard of coming from Illinois head coach Bret Bielema and former defensive coordinator Ryan Walters’ program as important to him and Martin before laying out a personal goal.

“There is a standard that we hold. And we’re going to hold that standard no matter what,” Brown said. “No matter where we are in the country. We’re all training at different spots. But when we step between the lines, there’s an expectation. When you represent the block ‘I’ on your helmet, that means something.”

“I’m trying to prove that I’m the best safety in the nation. That’s what I’m trying to prove.”

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