2020 Football Roster

86 Josh Pederson

  • Position Tight End
  • Height 6-5
  • Weight 235
  • Class Fifth Year
  • Hometown Moorestown, N.J.
  • Highschool Blue Valley North HS

Biography

Fifth-year senior has clearly established himself as one of the nation’s elite tight ends . . . again figures to play a key role in ULM’s offensive game plan in 2020 . . . “had a breakout junior season … creates match-up problems for defenses because of his athleticism, hands and route-running ability,” according to head coach Matt Viator . . . named to the 2021 Reese’s Senior Bowl Top 250 . . . also listed on NFLPA Collegiate Bowl Big Board (tight ends) . . . Preseason All-Sun Belt First-Team selection by the league’s head coaches and media panel, Phil Steele, Lindy’s, Street & Smith’s and Athlon Sports . . . has “Best Hands” in the Sun Belt, according to Lindy’s . . . has started 16 consecutive games at tight end . . . three-year letterman heads into the 2020 season with 67 career receptions for 824 yards (12.3 avg.) and 11 touchdowns . . . 2019 SEASON (JUNIOR): Named Pro Football Focus honorable mention All-American and All-Sun Belt First Team in 2019 . . . set career highs for receptions (43), receiving yards (567) and touchdown receptions (9) as a junior . . . led ULM in TD receptions while ranking second in receptions and receiving yards . . . 30 of his 43 receptions (70 percent) resulted in either a first down or a TD . . . his nine TD receptions tied for first among NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision tight ends (with SMU's Kylen Granson) during the regular season; his receptions (12th) and receiving yards (13th) also ranked among the top regular-season totals produced by FBS tight ends . . . caught at least one pass in each of the 12 regular-season games in 2019 . . . had six receptions for a career-best 92 yards in the season finale at the Ragin’ Cajuns, including a career-long 47-yard TD grab from Caleb Evans in the second quarter . . . all three of his receptions (for 60 yards) vs. Coastal Carolina resulted in first downs; his 30-yard grab from Evans opened ULM’s game-winning TD drive midway through the fourth quarter . . . scored on a 16-yard grab from Evans and caught a 2-point pass in the fourth quarter at Georgia Southern . . . caught two passes for 48 yards in ULM’s 45-31 victory over Georgia State, including a career-long 43-yard TD reception from Evans on a third-and-1 play late in the first quarter; named to the PFF Sun Belt Conference Offensive Team of the Week for the fourth time last season for his performance against the Panthers . . . had five catches for 57 yards vs. Arkansas State, including an 11-yard TD grab from Evans late in the fourth quarter; four of his five receptions against the Red Wolves produced either a first down or a TD . . . caught a TD pass in four consecutive games during one stretch (at Florida State, at Iowa State, vs. South Alabama and vs. Memphis) . . . had a career-high seven receptions for 82 yards vs. No. 23 Memphis, including TD catches of 6 and 36 yards from Evans; six of his seven receptions resulted in either a first down or a score; also completed a 33-yard pass to Zach Jackson on ULM’s final scoring drive against the Tigers . . . had a team-high four receptions for 55 yards in the Sun Belt Conference opener vs. South Alabama, including a 20-yard TD grab from Evans that tied the score at 7-7 in the first quarter . . . named to the PFF Sun Belt Conference Offensive Team of the Week following back-to-back games at Florida State and Iowa State . . . hauled in three passes for 40 yards at Iowa State, including a 19-yard TD grab from Evans to put ULM on the scoreboard early in the second quarter . . . had six receptions for 85 receiving yards at Florida State, including a 33-yard TD catch from Evans late in the first half . . . 2018 SEASON (SOPHOMORE): Saw action in 11 games in 2018 (DNP in season opener vs. Southeastern Louisiana) . . . started five of the last six games, including the last four in a row . . . finished tied for sixth on the team with 12 receptions for 121 yards (10.1 avg.) and two touchdowns . . . caught at least one pass in six games and five of his 12 receptions produced a first down . . . set career highs for receptions (5) and receiving yards (60) at Arkansas State; scored on a career-long 34-yard grab from Caleb Evans late in the second quarter . . . had two catches for 19 yards vs. Georgia Southern . . . caught two passes for 32 yards vs. Troy and scored his first career TD on a 23-yard grab from Evans late in the fourth quarter . . . 2017 SEASON (RED-SHIRT FRESHMAN): Appeared in 11 games in 2017, including six starts at tight end . . . tied for sixth on the team with 12 receptions for 136 yards (11.3 avg.) . . . caught at least one pass in seven games and six of his 12 receptions resulted in a first down . . . had three catches each vs. Coastal Carolina (13 yards) and Southern Miss (season-high 42 yards) . . . his season-long 29-yard grab from Garrett Smith set up a second-quarter field goal vs. Southern Miss . . . 2016 SEASON: Redshirted . . . HIGH SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS AND PERSONAL DATA: Two-year letterman for Coach Andy Sims at Blue Valley North High School in Overland Park, Kansas . . . had 73 career receptions for 1,102 yards and 16 touchdowns in two seasons while helping the Mustangs win Eastern Kansas League and District Championships . . . his career receptions and receiving yards rank fourth in school history . . . earned all-state and All-Eastern Kansas League second-team honors as a senior . . . received All-EKL honorable mention as a junior . . . earned four letters in golf while helping the Mustangs to the regional championship and state runner-up honors in 2014 . . . earned first-team all-state honors three times (2012, 2013 and 2014) . . . finished second in the individual standings in the 2015 state championships after firing a 68 . . . . father Doug was a four-year letterman (1987-90) and three-year starter at quarterback for ULM (formerly Northeast Louisiana) . . . Doug spent 12 seasons as a quarterback in the National Football League, winning two NFC titles and one Super Bowl . . . In just his second year as a head coach, Doug led the Philadelphia Eagles to a 13-3 regular-season record, including the NFC East title, as well as wins over the Atlanta Falcons (15-10) and Minnesota Vikings (38-7) in the NFC playoffs and a 41-33 victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII . . . mother Jeannie played basketball at Louisiana College . . . uncle Craig was a four-letterman as a tight end at ULM from 1989-92 . . . born Sept. 22, 1997 . . . earned a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from ULM in May 2020; currently pursuing a master’s degree in exercise science.

Statistics

Season:
2020

Season Statistics

Season Statistics

No statistics available for this season.

Career Statistics

There are no statistics available for this player.

Historical Player Information

  • 2016Freshman

    Tight End
    6'4" 210 lbs
  • 86

    2017Redshirt Freshman

    Tight End
    6'5" 227 lbs
    86
  • 86

    2018Redshirt Sophomore

    Tight End
    6'5" 227 lbs
    86
  • 86

    2019Redshirt Junior

    Tight End
    6'5" 232 lbs
    86
  • 86

    2020Fifth Year

    Tight End
    6'5" 235 lbs
    86