Joshua Paschal (born December 17, 1999) is an American football defensive end for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Kentucky and was selected by the Lions in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

Josh Paschal
No. 93 – Detroit Lions
Position:Defensive end
Personal information
Born: (1999-12-17) December 17, 1999 (age 24)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:274 lb (124 kg)
Career information
High school:Our Lady of Good Counsel
(Olney, Maryland)
College:Kentucky (2017–2021)
NFL draft:2022 / Round: 2 / Pick: 46
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2023
Total tackles:41
Sacks:3.0
Fumble recoveries:1
Pass deflections:1
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Early years edit

Paschal was born in Washington, D.C., and grew up in Prince George's County, Maryland. He attended Our Lady of Good Counsel High School, where he played football and basketball. As a senior, Paschal had 64 tackles, nine tackles for loss, and 5.5 sacks.[1] Paschal was rated a four-star recruit and committed to play college football at Kentucky Wildcats over offers from Maryland, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Clemson, Ohio State, and USC.[2][3]

College career edit

Paschal played in all 13 of Kentucky's games as a freshman and finished the season with 17 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks.[4] Before the start of preseason training camp he was diagnosed with malignant melanoma on his left foot.[5] Paschal used a medical redshirt while undergoing treatment, but was able to return for the final three games of Kentucky's season.[6] He recorded 34 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles in his redshirt sophomore season.[7] Paschal finished his redshirt junior season with 32 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, one sack, and one interception.[8] Paschal was named first-team All-Southeastern Conference by the Associated Press as redshirt senior after recording 52 tackles and five sacks.[9][10]

Professional career edit

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 2+58 in
(1.90 m)
268 lb
(122 kg)
32+34 in
(0.83 m)
9+58 in
(0.24 m)
4.77 s 1.57 s 2.71 s 37.5 in
(0.95 m)
10 ft 3 in
(3.12 m)
30 reps
All values from NFL Combine[11][12]

Paschal was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the second round, 46th overall, in the 2022 NFL Draft.[13] He was placed on the reserve/physically unable to perform list to start the season on August 23, 2022.[14] He was activated on October 22.[15]

On September 16, 2023, Paschal was placed on injured reserve.[16] He was activated on October 21.

Personal life edit

Paschal's older brother, TraVaughn, also played football at Kentucky.[17]

References edit

  1. ^ Rowland, Justin (January 1, 2017). "SIGNING DAY PREVIEW: Defensive end Joshua Paschal". Rivals.com. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  2. ^ Bogage, Jacob (December 14, 2016). "Good Counsel standout Joshua Paschal commits to Kentucky". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  3. ^ Chiari, Mike (December 13, 2016). "Joshua Paschal to Kentucky: Wildcats Land 4-Star DE". Bleacher Report. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  4. ^ "Kentucky football defensive end Josh Paschal to miss time with injury". The Courier-Journal. July 25, 2018. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  5. ^ Hale, Jon (August 3, 2018). "Kentucky football player Josh Paschal diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer". USA Today. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  6. ^ Hale, Jon (November 17, 2018). "Josh Paschal makes return from cancer". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  7. ^ Moore, Josh (December 31, 2019). "UK football: Josh Paschal beat melanoma and became a force". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  8. ^ Russell, Joseph (July 11, 2021). "Paschal eyeing strong close to career". Messenger-Inquirer. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  9. ^ Rogers, Steve (December 9, 2021). "Four UK football players named to AP All-Sec team". WTVQ.com. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  10. ^ Hale, Jon (December 31, 2021). "Josh Paschal unlikely to play in Citrus Bowl for Kentucky football vs. Iowa". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  11. ^ "Joshua Paschal Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
  12. ^ "2022 Draft Scout Josh Paschal, Kentucky NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
  13. ^ Twentyman, Tim (April 29, 2022). "Lions draft defensive end Josh Paschal". DetroitLions.com. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
  14. ^ Twentyman, Tim (August 23, 2022). "Lions place 3 players on Reserve/PUP, 1 on Reserve/NFI". DetroitLions.com. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  15. ^ Reisman, Jeremy (October 22, 2022). "Detroit Lions activate Jerry Jacobs, Josh Paschal from PUP, make 3 practice squad moves". Pride of Detroit. SB Nation. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
  16. ^ "Detroit Lions place Josh Paschal, Khalil Dorsey on IR". Pride of Detroit. SB Nation. September 16, 2023.
  17. ^ Bogage, Jacob (February 1, 2017). "National Signing Day: Good Counsel DE Joshua Paschal is headed to Kentucky". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 16, 2022.

External links edit