K Joseph is @AutoNation FWAA Defensive Player of the Week! $1k will be donated to @BCRFcure on his behalf! #DrivePink pic.twitter.com/uUTkleRcu6

— Campus Insiders (@CampusInsiders) September 8, 2015

No-brainer here, and, TFGD jokes aside, there was a game ball involved Saturday night. It wasn’t headed to Skyler Howard and intercepted by Joseph, but it was given to Joseph, who then gave it to the defense.

It was a night of rarities. A WVU player had never finished with three interceptions and a fumble recovery. Dana Holgorsen had never given out a game ball. The coach hasn’t seen a leader quite like Joseph, who was perhaps as inspirational the week before the opener as he was within it.

Joseph’s nose for the ball came from much more than a generous opposing quarterback, Holgorsen said. It was a product of All-America-level talent — CBS Sports named him to its preseason first team — and top-flight leadership. Joseph stood before the team after its mock game last week and before Saturday’s season-opener and told the players how special this season could be if they were dialed in.

“He’s played over 3,000 snaps in three years,” Holgorsen said. “And for him to take the next step and be the inspirational leader on defense and be the guy that I trust to stand in front of the room and talk and motivate everyone is great. He’s a pretty motivated young man.”