Becoming a Household Name in 2012: New York Giants DT Linval Joseph

You could argue after the 2011 season that Linval Joseph had already broken out for the New York Giants after playing in 16 games and starting 15, but I think he is going to be an even more critical part of the Giants’ defense in 2012.

Joseph finished last season with 49  tackles and two sacks, as well as four passes defensed. The former second round pick out of East Carolina has phenomenal size and will once again enter this season as a key starter for the Giants.

I think he is primed to be a breakout player in terms of his recognition across the web and media for his dominance at the defensive tackle position. I was pretty surprised when the Giants used a second round pick on him, but he has turned out to be a fantastic selection two years in, and in his third year in the league, we will see what he is really made of.

Jesse correctly predicted that Joseph would break out before last year, which was a pretty good call there, but I think this year, he’s going to start getting national recognition as one of the top defensive tackles in the game. He is developing and playing on one of the best front fours in the entire NFL, so I think you’ll see him emerge in 2012 as a household name across the league.