Millsaps' Joseph Inks with CFL's Edmonton Eskimos

(Story taken from the Millsaps College website)

JACKSON, Miss. -- Three-time Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year and 2008 Cellular South Conerly Trophy recipient Juan Joseph of Millsaps College will take his talents to the next level as he officially signed to play with the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League.

"First I would like to thank God for being blessed and fortunate to play football on the next level," Joseph said.  "I am truly grateful about the opportunity, and would like to thank everyone who has sacrificed in order to put me in the position that I am today. My parents, my family, my coaches, my players, my SID, and everyone else who has contributed to my success. I express great gratitude and look forward to making you all proud in the immediate future."

Joseph is the second player in three years to ink with the CFL, with wide receiver/return specialist Chris Jackson signing with the Toronto Argonauts in 2006 as a receiver. 

"Juan has improved each and every year as a quarterback and leader for our football team," Millsaps head coach Mike DuBose said.  "There is a reason we've either won or shared the conference the last three years.  What he's provided as a player on and off the field is a tremendous reflection on his mom and dad and how they are."

In 2008, Joseph guided the Majors to their best record in school history at 11-1, second round playoff appearance and a school-record No. 3 ranking by D3football.com.  His 3,463 yards passing was second in single-season league history, while breaking his own Millsaps single-season records in passing yards, touchdowns (32), completions (301) and attempts (445).  Amazingly, in 445 pass attempts, the senior was picked off just six times, while rushing for a team and career-high 412 yards and four TDs.

"I feel truly blessed to start my coordinating career with a guy like Juan Joseph because of the special player that he is," offensive coordinator John David Caffey said.  "I know that he has a lot of future potential and will be successful no matter what avenue that is."

Joseph posted a career mark of 26-7 as a starter, leading the Majors to an SCAC championship in every year behind center, including a pair of playoff appearances as part of the most prolific passing attack in the league and Top 10 in all of Division III football.  He finished his career with a Millsaps and SCAC record 9,295 yards passing and 87 touchdowns (third in SCAC) against just 27 interceptions while completing nearly 64 percent of his passes.  He also finished his career first all-time in the conference in total offense at 9,822 yards, surpassing the previous high of 9,359 yards from Trinity's Roy Hampton from 1998-2002. 

"I am extremely proud of Juan and he couldn't have made me anymore happier than I am today," his father Greg Joseph said.  "I've watched him since he was a young boy, and now that he has a matured into a young man, I can't begin to put into words how grateful I am to be his father. I will always be there for him, and give him my all as long as there is a breath left in my body. He has already made me a proud father, but I know he will continue even further to make me a proud dad." 

A Third Team All-American and Gagliardi Regional Finalist last season, Joseph was a nine-time SCAC Offensive Player of the Week selection and three-time Football Gazette Team of the Week nod during the last three seasons, ending his Millsaps career with a total of 14 school records and six conference records. 

"Juan is a bright, young man with all kind of upside," general manager of the Eskimos Paul Jones said.  "He does a lot of things right and has got a good arm and mobility to fit into our scheme.  He's no doubt a field leader, makes good decisions and has a real chance to contribute.  We're looking for a young guy to groom and excited about having him join our club."

Rookies will report to training camp on Sunday, June 7 at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton.  The Eskimos open preseason play on Wed., June 17 with Saskatchewan.

"He sort of controls his own destiny," DuBose said.  "In any walk of life, there are going to be opportunities.  Juan has been afforded a wonderful opportunity to play in the Canadian Football League and has worked extremely hard to get that chance.  He's going into a different phase of athleticism that is football, but also a business.  But because of his focus, motivation and determination it wouldn't surprise me to see him play in the National Football League one day."