West Virginia just took a punch to the gut. Jahiem White, one of the most electric players in the Big 12, is headed for the transfer portal.
This one stings. White didn’t just flash as a freshman; he made it clear that he was a future star in Morgantown. The former three-star recruit out of Pennsylvania turned heads in 2023 with 842 rushing yards as a true freshman, then followed it up with a strong sophomore campaign. Across his two full seasons and change, he stacked up 1,820 yards and 14 touchdowns, and looked like a guy who’d be the heartbeat of this offense going forward.
Now, he’s looking to finish his career somewhere else. And honestly, you can’t blame him.
West Virginia hasn’t exactly made things easy for its top playmakers lately. The offense has been all over the place, the direction of the program is a little vague under Rich Rodriguez, and guys like White, who could be the face of the team, are left to wonder what comes next. When you’ve already proven you can be that dude in the Big 12, it’s not crazy to think the grass might actually be greener somewhere else.
This isn’t just about numbers either. White brought something different to the Mountaineers’ backfield. He had that extra gear, the kind of burst that made him a threat to take it 60 yards at any moment. You don’t replace that with just another name out of the portal.
For West Virginia, this adds to a growing list of roster questions heading into the offseason. Losing a guy like White means you’re not just back to the drawing board at running back; you’re losing one of the few weapons that actually gave you a puncher’s chance in conference play.
And for White, the next stop is going to be interesting. There’s no shortage of Power Four programs that’d love to bring in a back with his tape, his burst, and his résumé. If he stays healthy, he’s going to be a problem wherever he ends up.
It’s a brutal loss for West Virginia, but that’s the portal game. You’d better have a plan when your best players realize they’ve got options.
