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Joiner Agrees to Terms with Houston Texans
4/29/2023 11:10:00 PM | Football
DURHAM – Former Duke safety Darius Joiner has agreed to terms with the Houston Texans to join the NFL organization as an undrafted free agent.
Joiner joined the Blue Devil program for one season after a successful five-year career at Western Illinois and Jacksonville State. In 53 career games (28 starts), the 2022 Third Team All-ACC selection compiled 320 tackles, 19.0 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, four interceptions, 14 pass breakups, three caused fumbles, one fumble recovery and five quarterback pressures. In addition, Joiner was tabbed an FCS All-American in 2021 while at Western Illinois and finished sixth in voting for the Stats Perform FCS Buck Buchanan Award, which honors the defensive player of the year in college football's FCS subdivision. He garnered First Team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference honors and led the FCS in total tackles (142) and solo tackles (79) in 2021.
Joiner recorded a career-high 23 tackles against Youngstown State in 2021, which ranked sixth-best in Fighting Leathernecks' history for a single game. He also registered double-figure tackles in 13 career games, including 11 outings with 12-plus tackles.
A native of Roanoke, Ala., Joiner started all 13 games during his lone season in Durham and finished ranking first on the team in tackles (97), tied for first in interceptions (two), second in tackles for loss (8.0), fourth in sacks (4.0) and quarterback pressures (five). In addition, he added five pass breakups, two caused fumbles and one forced fumble. Joiner was 11th in the ACC with 7.46 tackles per game and posted three games with double-digit tackles, including a season-high 14 at Northwestern. At the conclusion of the season, he held a Pro Football Focus grade of 88.7, which ranked fourth nationally among safeties.
Joiner graduated from Jacksonville State in May 2021 with a degree in biology and a minor in chemistry. He is set to graduate from Duke's prestigious Fuqua School of Business in May, 2023, with a master's degree in management studies.
#GoDuke
Joiner joined the Blue Devil program for one season after a successful five-year career at Western Illinois and Jacksonville State. In 53 career games (28 starts), the 2022 Third Team All-ACC selection compiled 320 tackles, 19.0 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, four interceptions, 14 pass breakups, three caused fumbles, one fumble recovery and five quarterback pressures. In addition, Joiner was tabbed an FCS All-American in 2021 while at Western Illinois and finished sixth in voting for the Stats Perform FCS Buck Buchanan Award, which honors the defensive player of the year in college football's FCS subdivision. He garnered First Team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference honors and led the FCS in total tackles (142) and solo tackles (79) in 2021.
Joiner recorded a career-high 23 tackles against Youngstown State in 2021, which ranked sixth-best in Fighting Leathernecks' history for a single game. He also registered double-figure tackles in 13 career games, including 11 outings with 12-plus tackles.
.@Darius_joiner24 has signed with the @HoustonTexans as a UDFA! ?? pic.twitter.com/hOuuyzB2PI
— Duke Football (@DukeFOOTBALL) April 30, 2023
A native of Roanoke, Ala., Joiner started all 13 games during his lone season in Durham and finished ranking first on the team in tackles (97), tied for first in interceptions (two), second in tackles for loss (8.0), fourth in sacks (4.0) and quarterback pressures (five). In addition, he added five pass breakups, two caused fumbles and one forced fumble. Joiner was 11th in the ACC with 7.46 tackles per game and posted three games with double-digit tackles, including a season-high 14 at Northwestern. At the conclusion of the season, he held a Pro Football Focus grade of 88.7, which ranked fourth nationally among safeties.
Joiner graduated from Jacksonville State in May 2021 with a degree in biology and a minor in chemistry. He is set to graduate from Duke's prestigious Fuqua School of Business in May, 2023, with a master's degree in management studies.
#GoDuke
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