The 2025 Senior Bowl will provide an opportunity for NFL draft prospects to prove themselves on the largest pre-draft stage. Minnesota EDGE Jah Joyner plans on taking full advantage. Joyner recently spoke exclusively with the Senior Bowl and Draft Network to discuss his motivation for accepting his invitation to compete in Mobile, Alabama.
Joyner also discussed what he's striving to prove to NFL general managers and scouts in attendance at the Senior Bowl, his pass-rush arsenal, how he’d write his own scouting report, and more. Let's get to know Joyner better ahead of his journey to the Senior Bowl.
JM: Where were you when you found out about your Senior Bowl invite and what was your initial reaction?
Jah Joyner: My coaches at Minnesota ended up handing me the invite. We were in our defensive line position room at the time. I was really stoked. It’s definitely a blessing. I’m excited to attend the Senior Bowl.
JM: What motivated you to accept the Senior Bowl’s offer?
Jah Joyner: I know what I’m capable of. I was always going to accept the offer. I’ve heard great things about the Senior Bowl. We have guys like Boye Mafe who attended in previous years. Mafe had a big week in Mobile.
I look up to my peers and I try to follow the path they’ve laid down for us. I know what type of player I am. I definitely want to showcase my skills on the biggest pre-draft stage.
JM: Speaking of, what are you hoping to prove to NFL general managers, coaching staffs, and scouts in attendance in Mobile?
Jah Joyner: I want to show everybody that I’m a complete player. I can play on first, second, and third down. I’m definitely going to showcase that. I have a lot to prove during the one-on-one drills. I want to stop the run on early downs as well. That’s what I’m setting out to achieve.
JM: We love that. How would you describe your overall skill set? Let’s talk about your pass-rush arsenal. What are some of your go-to moves and counters?
Jah Joyner: I’m a speed guy first and foremost. I’m a speed rusher. My go-to move is probably the rip move to start. Offensive tackles are usually concerned with my speed. They turn their shoulders and expose themselves inside.
I haven’t showcased my spin move in a game yet. I definitely wanna showcase my spin during the one-on-one drills. I have a great long-arm as well. I do a good job converting speed to power. A lot of people think I’m just a speed guy. I want to show off my power in Mobile.
JM: It sounded like you also have designs on showing that you’re a three-down defender who also stops the run.
Jah Joyner: Yeah, I want to show the scouts that I can play on first and second down as well. I have a lot to prove as an early-down defender. I want everybody to see that I have a lot of strength at my disposal.
JM: If you had to compare yourself to a current EDGE, who would you choose and why? Who do you study and learn from? Do you have an NFL comp for yourself?
Jah Joyner: I look at a lot of guys. I like watching Arden Key. He has a great motor when he’s rushing the passer. Brandon Graham is another one. He’s a little shorter, but he plays with terrific power. I love watching T.J. Watt use the rip move. He fires off the ball. Dorance Armstrong is another one.
JM: Those are some great shouts. As a follow-up, are there any NFL players you’re looking forward to eventually swapping jerseys with?
Jah Joyner: Of course. Swapping jerseys with Von Miller or Micah Parsons would be awesome. Former Minnesota players as well like Boye Mafe and Tyler Nubin.
JM: Fun question before we let you go. What’s on Jah Joyner’s pre-game playlist?
Jah Joyner: I’m usually a calm guy. I listen to a lot more gospel music. I like to calm everything down.
JM: This has been outstanding. At the end of the week, what does a successful Senior Bowl look like for Jah Joyner?
Jah Joyner: I’m not trying to be perfect, because nobody’s perfect. I just want to showcase my skill set and my techniques. I’ve been putting in a lot of work throughout the pre-draft process. I’m going to throw a lot of pass-rushing moves at those offensive linemen. We’ll see what works.
I’m going to get better as the week goes by. I’m excited to showcase myself against some of the top talents in this draft class. I’m excited. I can’t wait to get down there.
