July Player Performance Index top 30 deep dive: No. 27 WR Ray Ray Joseph
CaneSport is breaking down the top 30 Miami players on the roster, and today we’re at No. 27, WR Ray Ray Joseph.
THE BIG PICTURE
When Ray Ray Joseph signed with the University of Miami in December, he had a simple message: “Help is on the way,” he said. Indeed. Joseph shined in the spring, including five catches on eight targets in the Spring Game, including a 79-yard TD on which he out-sprinted the defense. Speed, wiggle, game-breaking ability. Pick your adjective. The only caveat: He’s just a true freshman. So big picture view he’s going to be a guy that may not start but will certainly get the ball in his hands a lot. He was mainly with the twos in the spring, but he also was banged up the first half of drills. You clearly saw in the Spring Game how new coordinator Shannon Dawson will use him – he moved around, went in motion, even took a pitch in the backfield. Joseph had other scholarship offers from the likes of Clemson (where he was committed at one point), Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oregon, Penn State, Tennessee, Texas and Texas A&M for a reason.
THE ANALYSIS
Watching Joseph play we see a more explosive version of former Miami Hurricane Roscoe Parrish. He’s got Parrish’s quick moves but more straight ahead speed (he broke 20 MPH on the field this spring). Joseph worked mainly in the slot this spring, and with Xavier Restrepo and Brashard Smith there as well we can see Shannon Dawson using a lot of four-receiver sets with two inside receivers. There’s no doubt Joseph will be given his chances to make explosive plays, and Dawson’s history favors slot receivers heavily (last year his main slot receiver at Houston was Tank Dell, and all he did was total 1,398 yards and 17 TDs). Also remember from the spring that Joseph was the guy waking up a couple of hours before practice to get extra work in on the JUGS. “They say `Be here at 8,’ I’m here at 6; days we have to be here at 7:30, I’m here at 5,” Joseph said. So he’s going to be a leader in his class.
THE PROJECTION
While Joseph may not start given the return of Xavier Restrepo, we are taking the over on 400 receiving yards and four TDs this season, and also don’t be surprised if Joseph emerges as a weapon in the return game. We just can’t imagine Joseph not getting at least a few touches per game in a variety of ways lining up in different spots, and he’s built to turn quick hitters into long gains. He also was with the twos on kickoff and punt return in the spring (Jacolby George is a guy that will also factor in highly there).
THE JUMP HE NEEDS FROM SPRING TO FALL CAMP
Because Joseph was banged up in the spring he was limited the first 10 or so practices (in a red non contact jersey). He’s not the biggest guy but if he stays healthy his elusiveness and playmaking is among the best on the offense. As we stated above there’s not really an expectation he will start as a true freshman, but Joseph has to show he knows Shannon Dawson’s offense well enough to earn the trust of coaches that he will step up in big moments on the big stage. Do that and he will have a stellar first season at Miami.
THE QUOTE
“(Joseph is) a three-year player, a guy who is going to go in and play three years and go to the league. What people don’t realize is that all throughout his (career before arriving at Edison), he was a running back. So every situation we used him in, it was like zero to 100 real fast, using vision, going the way you’ve got to go and playing the position to perfection.” – Joseph’s Miami Edison High School coach Luther Campbell
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