Joshua Cephus is hoping that the combination of his experience and production, especially during his senior season at UTSA, will lead to favorable reviews from NFL talent evaluators.
As a senior, Cephus caught 89 passes for a single-season school-record 1,151 yards, along with 10 touchdowns. He was a first-team All-American Athletic Conference selection and named the Offensive MVP of the Frisco Bowl with seven receptions for 102 yards and a 44-yard touchdown in the Roadrunners’ 35-17 win over Marshall.
Cephus ended his career as UTSA’s all-time leader in receptions (313), receiving yards (3,639), and starts (56). He had at least one reception in his final 52 games.
And now he hopes to hear his name called during the NFL Draft, which is April 25-27.
“I definitely believe I’ve played a lot of football and a lot of good football as well,” Cephus said in an interview with HERO Sports. “Hopefully that will be a great selling point and teams realize I have a good amount of experience.”
Joshua Cephus’ NFL Draft Process
Following his senior season, Cephus played in both the Hula Bowl and East-West Shrine Bowl. In the Shrine Bowl, which was played in Frisco, Texas, he caught four passes for 46 yards and got strong reviews for his work in practice leading up to the game. The experience provided a major confidence boost.
“It was great playing against players from Clemson, Michigan, Ole Miss, Alabama, Texas, all those big schools,” he said. “It was good to play with those guys and that I deserved to be in that bowl game.”
Despite his showing during the week and in the game, Cephus didn’t receive an invitation to the NFL Combine.
“I don’t think a lot of people realized that UTSA was as good as we were,” he said about the Roadrunners, who went 9-4 last season in their first year in the AAC. “I wasn’t really shocked (not to be invited) and then on top of that, I’m just kind of clearing my name from getting in trouble, so I really didn’t expect it.”
Cephus was referring to a DWI case that occurred on Dec. 22, 2022. He was eventually given 15 months probation after pleading no contest to driving while intoxicated.
He realizes why NFL teams have wanted to discuss this situation with him.
“I definitely understand the process of how hard they’re going to make sure that I am the guy that they want, to make sure that I have the character they want as a player on and off the field,” he said. “So it was definitely a one-time mistake. I don’t get in trouble like that and it’s something that will never happen again and it is definitely behind me.”
Cephus’ upcoming itinerary is an indication that NFL teams have interest in him. Rasheeda S. Liberty, his agent from Houston-based Lady Lib Sports and Entertainment, says she expects Cephus to make a half-dozen top-30 visits to NFL teams in April.
In addition, Cephus has already met with most NFL teams either at the Hula Bowl or East-West Shrine Bowl. According to Liberty, 18 teams interviewed him at the Hula Bowl. He also met with 18 at the Shrine Bowl, 10 of which were new, making it a total of 28 NFL teams he talked to during those two postseason games.
Joshua Cephus’ Athletic Career
Cephus, who turned 23 in March, had his best individual game during his senior year in a 41-27 win over East Carolina with four receptions for 183 yards and an 84-yard touchdown.
During his two games this past season against Power Five schools, he had nine receptions for 123 yards and a touchdown in a 17-14 opening loss at Houston, and in a 45-14 defeat at Tennessee, he caught seven passes for 58 yards and a touchdown.
At 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds, Cephus said he ran in the 4.52-second range at his Pro Day, in which 20 NFL teams attended to evaluate seven UTSA players. What helps Cephus is that he has unbelievable hops. As a high school track performer, he high-jumped 6-10.
During his career, he was known for his sure hands. Cephus was charged with only nine drops on 433 targets (2.8% drop rate) according to Pro Football Focus.
He was also a standout baseball player in high school, competing in that sport and track in the same season.
Liberty says she has received positive feedback from NFL teams.
“I feel confident he will be a late-round pick,” she said. “They tell him regardless, he will be with a team, whether he is drafted or as a PFA (priority free agent).”
Cephus says he can’t wait for his meeting at NFL team facilities. He says he’s looking forward to going on the whiteboard and diagramming plays. Cephus used to be a quarterback in high school until late in his senior season, when he moved to receiver.
In those five games for Dekaney High School in Houston, he caught 19 passes for 358 yards and four scores. He has been a receiver ever since.
Now he awaits his football fate in what should be an eventful month of April.
