The Bills drafted linebacker Vosean Joseph with the 147th pick in the fifth round. Joseph is a native of Miami, FL and played his college football at Florida.
1. Finished strong
Joseph put together his best collegiate season in 2018. From his outside linebacker position he led the Gators with 93 tackles, including nine for loss with four sacks, and five pass breakups.
His best game last season came against LSU when he posted a career-high 14 tackles including 3.5 for loss. It earned him SEC Defensive Player of the Week honors.
2. Escaping the loss
Part of the reason Joseph chose to attend Florida was to escape the negative influences in his neighborhood in South Florida. He lost four childhood friends during his time in college to violence in his native Miami.
"In the beginning, it hurt me bad," he told the Miami Herald. "But at the end of the day I know they're watching over me and I've just got to move on from that. It happens so much down there to the point that you just get numb to it. Like you can't cry no more."
With the 2019 NFL Draft officially underway, follow along with the Buffalo Bills to find out which players the team selects. Bills draft coverage is presented by ECMC.
Ed Oliver, Buffalo Bills first round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, arrives at One Bills Drive on April 26, 2019. Photo by Bill Wippert
09/08/2018 Oklahoma vs UCLA football. Photo by Ty Russell
10/20/2018 Oklahoma vs TCU football. Photo by Ty Russell
during the Gators' game against the LSU Tigers on Saturday, October 6, 2018 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla. / UAA Communications photo by Paige Santiago
during the Gators' game against the Charleston Southern Buccaneers on Saturday, September 1, 2018 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla. / UAA Communications photo by Tim Casey
during the Gators' game against the Michigan Wolverines in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on Saturday, December 29, 2018 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga. / UAA Communications photo by Dakota Williams
University of Miami vs. University of Virginia
The Duke Blue Devils played The University of Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium on November 3, 2018. The Blue Devils beat the Hurricanes by a final score of 20-12. Photos by Ryan Murphy The Duke Blue Devils played The University of Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium on November 3, 2018. The Blue Devils beat the Hurricanes by a final score of 20-12. Photos by Ryan Murphy
3. Island roots
Joseph's mother is a Jamaican native who emigrated to the United States before Vosean was born. He still has relatives there. Joseph also has family elsewhere in the Caribbean in both the Bahamas and Haiti.
