Todd McShay gives glowing review of Kentucky EDGE Josh Paschal

ESPN NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay has a lot of confidence in Kentucky edge defender Josh Paschal. The Wildcats product wasn’t taken within the first 32 picks of the 2022 NFL Draft on Thursday, but McShay is confident that he’ll be off the board soon.

In fact, the ESPN analyst even went as far as to name Paschal as the gem of Day 2, saying whichever team ends up drafting him will be getting a steal.

“What he brings to the table as a football player, first of all, he is relentless,” Todd McShay said of Josh Paschal in a Friday appearance on ESPN. “Second of all, I was told by a general manager this young man has the best personal and football character of anyone in this draft.”

Pascal finished 2021 with 15.5 tackles for loss, ranking him fourth among all SEC players and 20th nationally. He also had a team-high eight quarterback hurries, 5.5 sacks, one forced fumble and one blocked kick. With Josh Paschal as one of its primary leaders, Kentucky’s defense finished the year ranked fourth in the conference in both scoring and total defense.

The defensive end leaves as the only three-time full-season captain in school history and third all-time in program history with 37 tackles for loss. Throughout his college career, Pascal totaled 139 total tackles and 13.5 sacks while also helping lead the Wildcats to two 10 win seasons, including 2021. Prior to his arrival, Kentucky had reached 10 wins only twice before.

Pascal participated in the Reese’s Senior Bowl this past February and also received Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award for his actions off the field. His vertical jump of 3’1.5″ at the NFL Combine ranked fifth among all participating defensive ends, while he 10’3″ broad jump placed him in eighth.

The second round of the 2022 NFL Draft is set to begin at 7 p.m. ET Thursday in Las Vegas.