Meet Kelvin Joseph, the LSU Cornerback who could become a Kentucky Wildcat

[caption id="attachment_266798" align="alignnone" width="2416"] Matthew Emmons | USA TODAY Sports [/caption] UPDATE (11:11): Joseph has enrolled at Kentucky and will begin classes Tuesday. Yahtzee! Kentucky's coaching staff is trying to reel in the most talented transfer in the program's modern history. Matt Jones reports LSU cornerback Kelvin Joseph attended UK's Monday afternoon football practice, "setting up a potential transfer to Kentucky very soon." There's plenty of fine print. Joseph to UK is not a done deal. Here's why it would be a HUGE deal if the talented defensive back transfers to Kentucky.

A Top 100 High School Prospect

Every major recruiting service ranked Joseph as the No. 5 cornerback and a Top 100 overall prospect in the 2018 class. His biggest fans were at ESPN, who ranked him as the No. 32 player overall. Using the 247 Composite, Joseph could become the fourth-highest ranked recruit to ever play at Kentucky.

Joseph is Leaving His Hometown Team

The defensive back did a little bit of everything at Scotlandville Magnet High School in Baton Rouge, where he scored a combined 13 career touchdowns on punt, kickoff and interception returns. After starting his career as a cornerback, he switched to safety as a junior. In his final season he recorded 113 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and three interceptions to earn a spot in the Army All-American Bowl. During an in-game ceremony on national TV, Joseph committed to LSU over Alabama and Clemson.

Commitment Issues with LSU

Joseph has had an on-again, off-again relationship with Ed Orgeron's program. His commitment to the Tigers at the All-American Bowl was his second LSU commitment. Like his recruitment a little more than a year ago, he went back-and-forth with LSU in the transfer portal. Joseph first entered the transfer portal in May, publicly refuting reports from his father that he was staying at LSU. After meeting with Coach O, Joseph had a change of heart. That only lasted until SEC Media Days two months later when Joseph ultimately decided to leave DBU.

A True Freshman Contributor

There are not many players who are talented enough to earn significant snaps in the SEC as true freshmen. Joseph is a member of this exclusive club. He played in 11 games in 2018, recording 12 tackles and one crucial pass-deflection. Facing second-ranked Georgia on a third-and-5 near midfield, Joseph swatted down the pass from Jake Fromm. Instead of squeaking in a score before halftime, the true freshman forced the Bulldogs to punt.

Florida is UK's Top Competition

Joseph did something out of the ordinary for transfers when he listed his top six options a month after entering the portal. There was some early buzz that Florida was in the driver's seat before Joseph visited Lexington. He's also considering Auburn, Miss. State, Maryland and Grambling.

He Wants to See Something from the BBN

https://twitter.com/bossmanfat1/status/1165691466754252800

Immediate Eligibility is Off the Table

Kentucky could use Joseph right away, but if he makes the move to Lexington he will have to wait until 2020 to get into the action at Kroger Field. Making a case for a transfer waiver away from his hometown would be quite a stretch. Joseph has three years of eligibility remaining and he would become the third cornerback in UK's star-studded 2020 class. [mobile_ad]