Jaheem Joseph has already intercepted two passes inside Allegiant Stadium. Only he wasn’t wearing red. And he wasn’t playing for UNLV.
That was 2023, back when Joseph was still a defensive back at Northwestern, and the Wildcats stunned Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl.
“That was my first time in Vegas, first time in that stadium,” he told me. “I got two picks that game. I remember thinking, ‘This is what it’s supposed to feel like.’”
Fast forward one year, and the scene’s flipped. Now he’s back in that same stadium; only this time, it’s home. And this time, the lights are on him.
A Long Road West
Coming out of Monsignor Pace High School in Miami Gardens, Joseph was a multi-sport standout, a hard-hitting safety who also starred on the baseball diamond.
“I was a pitcher and a center fielder. I honestly thought I was going to the league for baseball first,” he said, laughing.
He signed with Northwestern in 2020 and spent four seasons there, growing into a versatile presence in the secondary. His moment came in the 2023 Las Vegas Bowl: a two-interception breakout that put him on transfer boards across the country.
He moved to West Virginia in 2024, appearing in all 13 games and recording 40 tackles and a pick. But when UNLV came calling in the portal, something clicked.
“I already knew the stadium. I knew the vibe out here. It just felt right,” he said. “I didn’t need to be sold on it.”
Quiet Voice, Loud Game
Joseph doesn’t brag. He doesn’t talk over you. But his presence is hard to miss. In meetings, in practices, in how he moves and communicates.
“I’m not the loudest voice, but when I talk, people listen,” he said. “You just gotta move like you mean it.”
He’s now one of the veterans in a rebuilt UNLV secondary, led by cornerbacks coach Akeem Davis and head coach Dan Mullen.
“Coach Davis is going to push you every day,” Joseph said. “Mullen too. He’s very sharp. You can just tell — this program’s different now.”
The instincts Joseph brings to the field. From reading routes, timing breaks, and tracking movement, all harken back to his time in the batter’s box.
“Baseball taught me a lot. It’s all about reading body language, hands, feet, just like playing safety.”
Simple Life, Big Vision
Off the field, Joseph’s about as low-maintenance as they come.
“I don’t party, I don’t go out much. I eat, game, and chill,” he said. “That’s me.”
Favorite food?
“Zaxby’s, then Chipotle. I’m not picky, just keep me fed.”
Music?
“Lil Baby, always. Rod Wave too. Future. Some old school. Depends on how I’m feeling.”
Games?
“Call of Duty. Madden. That’s how I lock in.”
But his focus this season isn’t on side quests. It’s about legacy. Winning. Respect.
“I want people to say I played the right way. I want to be remembered.”
So when I asked him the question I’ve asked every player in this series: In 2025, UNLV will be what? And he didn’t hesitate:
“Champions. That’s it. Mountain West and whatever comes next.”