Two seasons ago, the West Virginia football team was the fourth-best rushing team in college football, averaging 228.9 yards per game.
As a true freshman in 2023, running back Jahiem White garnered national attention, as he totaled 842 rushing yards and earned Freshman All-American honors.
He averaged a program record 7.7 yards per carry and finished ninth in the Big 12 in rushing yards per game at 70.2. White’s stellar play helped WVU finish 9-4 that season, capped off with a Duke’s Mayo Bowl victory over UNC.
His best career game was in 2023 against Cincinnati as he ran for 204 yards and added a 75-yard receiving touchdown. White showed his ability to not only run the ball but also be a serious threat in the passing game.
The Mountaineers took a step back in 2024, going 6-7, which led to the firing of former head coach Neal Brown in December.
While WVU still managed to run for the fifth-most yards in the conference at 195.1, White tallied just three more yards compared to his freshman campaign, despite seeing 40 more touches.
The 5-foot-7 halfback eclipsed over 100 yards three times last season, but still had less than nine carries in four games.
He shared the backfield with former Mountaineer running back CJ Donaldson, who ran for 734 yards on 163 carries last season, limiting his production. He still managed to lead WVU in rushing yards and is poised for a huge leap in 2025.
With Donaldson departing for Ohio State this offseason, White is the clear No. 1 option in the ground game. Even though he split carries his first two seasons, he is the program’s 30th all-time leading rusher and will have the chance to secure even more WVU records as a junior.
Last season, quarterback Garrett Greene tallied 133 carries, so with Greene gone, White may be the focal point of the team’s offense in 2025.
Head coach Rich Rodriguez, who is beginning his second stint leading the Mountaineers, runs a fast-paced, run-heavy offense that can benefit White’s play style.
As a result, White was named to Athlon Sports’ All-Big 12 Preseason First Team. He finished 10th in the Big 12 in rushing and started 11 games.
The Mountaineers have finished with over six wins just once since 2017, and with Rodriguez back leading the program, expectations are high in Morgantown.
In his first stint from 2001-07, he was named Big East Coach of the Year twice and secured four conference championships.
WVU will kick off its season at home against Robert Morris on Aug. 30 at 2 p.m.
