The West Virginia Mountaineers saw a transfer portal exodus last season after the program fired former head coach Neal Brown and brought Rich Rodriguez back to Morgantown to lead the team going forward.
One of those players who suited up for WVU football last season before transferring out was defensive back Jaheem Joseph, who been apart of the program for just one year after a stint at Northwestern. Joseph ended up settling in on the roster at UNLV under first-year head coach Dan Mullen, and has since played a critical role on the team's defense.
The Rebels are off to a great start this season, sitting undefeated at 5-0 with a Power 4 win on their resume, and Joseph has been in the thick of it for the UNLV defense. He currently has 25 total tackles on the season, which is makes him the third-leading tackler for the Rebels this season. He also leads the team in tackles for loss with 4.5 on the season. He also has two pass breakups, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and 0.5 sacks on the year.
Joseph and his team could be in a prime position for the Group of Six automatic bid to the College Football Playoff if they keep winning – ther rivals in the Mountain West, including defending MWC champions and playoff program Boise State, have started the season off without much of a bang. And while there is a strong contingent of contenders in the American Conference, they could canabilize each other before season's end. While Joseph wasn't able to make the playoffs with the Mountaineers, his hopes for that dream are still alive in Las Vegas.