Josh Metellus
{{Short description|American football player (born 1998)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Josh Metellus
| image = Josh Metellus Vikings NOV2022 (cropped).jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Metellus with the Minnesota Vikings in 2022
| number = 44
| current_team = Minnesota Vikings
| position = Safety
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|1|21}}
| birth_place = North Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 11
| weight_lb = 207
| high_school = Charles W. Flanagan
(Pembroke Pines, Florida)
| college = Michigan (2016–2019)
| draftyear = 2020
| draftround = 6
| draftpick = 205
| pastteams =
- Minnesota Vikings ({{NFL Year|2020}}–present)
| status = Active
| highlights =
- Second-team All-Big Ten (2018)
- Third-team All-Big Ten (2019)
| statseason = 2024
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 283
| statlabel2 = Sacks
| statvalue2 = 2.5
| statlabel3 = Forced fumbles
| statvalue3 = 5
| statlabel4 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue4 = 3
| statlabel5 = Pass deflections
| statvalue5 = 16
| statlabel6 = Interceptions
| statvalue6 = 4
| statlabel7 = Defensive touchdowns
| statvalue7 =
| pfr = M/MeteJo00
}}
Joshua Metellus (born January 21, 1998) is an American professional football utility player for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He is currently listed as a safety. He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines, where he was twice named an All-Big Ten selection. He was selected by the Vikings in the 2020 NFL draft.
College career
File:PAB FBC atWisconsin2017 2 (24669556568).jpg
After playing at Charles W. Flanagan High School, Metellus committed to Michigan on June 17, 2015, choosing the Wolverines over Colorado, Florida International, Middle Tennessee State and others.{{Cite web |title=Josh Metellus Recruit Interests |url=https://247sports.com/Recruitment/Josh-Metellus-86484/RecruitInterests/ |access-date=April 21, 2020 |website=247Sports}} He had previously committed to Georgia Southern, but switched to Michigan after attending an affiliate camp, and Flanagan teammate Devin Bush Jr. later signed with Michigan as well.{{Cite book |last=Brugler |first=Dane |url=https://cdn.theathletic.com/app/uploads/2020/04/21144256/2020-NFL-DRAFT-FINAL-2.pdf |title=The Athletic's 2020 NFL Draft Guide |date=April 7, 2020 |publisher=The Athletic |page=233 |access-date=April 21, 2020 |url-access=subscription}}
Metellus saw some action as a backup during his true freshman season at Michigan, and garnered honorable mention all-Big Ten Conference during his sophomore season on the strength of three games started.{{Cite web |title=NFL Draft & Combine Profile – Josh Metellus |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/josh-metellus?id=32194d45-5438-3442-2fcb-95bf95b52581 |access-date=April 21, 2020 |website=NFL.com}}
After practicing at both free safety and strong safety in the spring,{{Cite web |last=Sang |first=Orion |date=August 11, 2019 |title=Michigan elder statesman Josh Metellus has insight. 'People look up to me' |url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/university-michigan/wolverines/2019/08/11/michigan-football-josh-metellus-ronnie-bell/1974640001/ |access-date=April 21, 2020 |website=Detroit Free Press |publisher=Gannett}} his senior season included duties as an edge cover in the running game and a roaming safety in the passing game.{{Cite web |last=Sears |first=Ethan |date=November 2, 2019 |title=As Michigan shuts down Maryland, Josh Metellus stands at the center of everything |url=https://www.michigandaily.com/section/football/josh-metellus-michigan-defense-maryland |access-date=April 21, 2020 |website=The Michigan Daily}} Metellus was named a team captain his senior season, and participated in the 2020 Senior Bowl and 2020 NFL Combine.{{Cite web |last=Harrington |first=Lynn |date=February 9, 2020 |title=Josh Metellus excited about journey to the NFL |url=https://stayaliveinpower5.com/2020/02/09/josh-metellus-excited-about-journey-to-the-nfl/ |access-date=April 21, 2020 |website=Stay Alive in Power 5}}
Professional career
At the NFL Combine, Mettelus' 20 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press, ranked fourth-most among safeties. In the vertical jump, his performance of 36.5 inches ranked sixth, and he tied for 10th in the broad jump with a mark of 10 feet, 4 inches. His time of 4.55 seconds in the – ranked 11th amongst his position group.
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 5
| height in = 11
| weight = 209
| dash = 4.55
| ten split = 1.54
| twenty split = 2.66
| shuttle = 4.40
| cone drill = 6.94
| vertical = 36.5
| broad ft = 10
| broad in = 4
| bench = 20
| arm span = 32 1/4
| hand span = 10 1/4
| wonderlic =
| note = All values from NFL Combine{{Cite web |title=Josh Metellus Combine Profile |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/josh-metellus/32004d45-5438-3442-2fcb-95bf95b52581 |access-date=August 9, 2020 |website=NFL.com}}{{Cite web |title=2020 Draft Scout Josh Metellus, Michigan NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1018211&DraftYear=2020 |access-date=July 10, 2022 |website=draftscout.com}}
}}
The Minnesota Vikings selected Metellus in the sixth round (205th overall) of the 2020 NFL draft.{{Cite web |date=April 25, 2020 |title=NFL Draft 2020: Vikings take Michigan S Josh Metellus in sixth round |url=https://www.mlive.com/wolverines/2020/04/nfl-draft-2020-michigan-s-josh-metellus-picked-by-vikings-in-sixth-round.html |access-date=May 5, 2020 |website=MLive}} He was the 17th safety drafted in 2020 and was one of many 2020 sixth or seventh round safeties that successfully became starters, including Alohi Gilman, Jordan Fuller, Kamren Curl, and Geno Stone.
{{quote box
|align=right
|width=50%
|quote="Metellus might not have the high-end athletic traits that will earn him a starting role in camp, but if he gets into an NFL game, he might not give the job back, showing the toughness required for downhill work and just enough range on the back end."{{cite web |title=5 Things to Know About New Vikings S Josh Metellus|url=https://www.vikings.com/news/josh-metellus-nfl-draft-5-things-to-know |access-date=February 14, 2025 |website=Vikings.com|author=Lindsey Young| date=May 7, 2020}}
|source=–Dane Brugler, The Athletic
}}
On July 23, 2020, the Minnesota Vikings signed Metellus to a four–year, $3.45 million contract that includes an initial signing bonus of $160,265.{{cite web| title=Spotrac.com: Josh Mettelus contract| url=https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/player/_/id/47803/josh-metellus |access-date=February 14, 2025| website=Spotrac.com}}
Throughout training camp, Metellus competed against Brian Cole II for a roster spot as a backup safety. On September 5, 2020, the Minnesota Vikings waived him as part of their final roster cuts and signed him to the practice squad the next day.{{Cite web |last=Peters |first=Craig |last2=Smith |first2=Eric |date=September 5, 2020 |title=Vikings Announce Roster Moves, Set Initial 53-Man Roster |url=https://www.vikings.com/news/2020-roster-53-man-announced |access-date=September 5, 2020 |website=Minnesota Vikings}}{{Cite web |date=September 6, 2020 |title=Vikings Claim LB Ryan Connelly, Add 13 Players To Practice Squad |url=https://www.vikings.com/news/ryan-connelly-2020-practice-squad-add-13-players |website=Vikings.com}} He was promoted to the active roster on September 18, 2020.{{Cite web |last=Smith, Eric |date=September 18, 2020 |title=Vikings Add Jones & Metellus to 53-Man Roster |url=https://www.vikings.com/news/vikings-add-jones-metellus-to-53-man-roster |website=Vikings.com}}
Metellus made his first career start in Week 3 of the 2022 season against the Detroit Lions, where he recorded his first career interception off Jared Goff in the final seconds of the fourth quarter in the 28–24 win.{{cite web | last=Young | first=Lindsey | title=Metellus Caps 1st Vikings Start with 1st Career Interception | website=Vikings.com | date=September 26, 2022 | url=https://www.vikings.com/news/metellus-caps-1st-vikings-start-with-1st-career-interception | access-date=October 22, 2024}}
On September 7, 2023, the Minnesota Vikings signed Mettelus to a two–year, $8.00 million contract extension that includes $5.13 million guaranteed upon signing and an initial signing bonus of $3.00 million.{{cite web | last=Young | first=Lindsey | title=Vikings Sign Josh Metellus to 2-Year Extension | website=Vikings.com | date=September 7, 2023 | url=https://www.vikings.com/news/josh-metellus-contract-extension | access-date=October 22, 2024}}{{Cite web |last=Alper, Josh |date=September 7, 2023 |title=Josh Metellus agrees to two-year extension with Vikings |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/josh-metellus-agrees-to-two-year-extension-with-vikings |website=NBCSports.com}}
During the 2023 season, he became notable for his versatility within Brian Flores' defense, playing in twelve different defensive positions through Week 14.{{Cite news |last=Brown, Brandon |date=December 11, 2023 |title=Is Josh Metellus The Most Versatile Player In The NFL? |url=https://www.si.com/college/michigan/football/michigan-football-josh-metellus-wolverines-nfl-minnesota-vikings |work=SI.com}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons}}
{{footballstats|yahoo=32875|espn=4046537|nfl=josh-metellus}}
- [https://www.vikings.com/team/players-roster/josh-metellus/ Minnesota Vikings bio]
- [https://mgoblue.com/sports/football/roster/josh-metellus/19048 Michigan Wolverines bio]
{{Vikings2020DraftPicks}}
{{Minnesota Vikings roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Metellus, Josh}}
Category:Sportspeople from Pembroke Pines, Florida
Category:Players of American football from Broward County, Florida
Category:American football safeties