Josey Jewell

OLB, ILB · Iowa
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.