West Virginia’s backfield just lost another piece as running back Cyncir Bowers has entered the transfer portal, becoming the third Mountaineer back to do so this offseason, joining Diore Hubbard and Jahiem White. That’s a lot of turnover at one position in a very short span, and it leaves WVU with some real questions about how they’re going to replace rushing production and depth before next season.
Bowers spent just one season in Morgantown, but he made himself useful when he was on the field. In 2025, he carried the ball 63 times for 249 yards and two touchdowns. He also added eight catches for 134 yards and a receiving touchdown, which is the part that really stood out for a guy who wasn’t the lead back.
Now he’s headed out, and that’s going to leave some holes. Diore Hubbard and Jahiem White hit the portal before him, and both of those guys were ahead of Bowers on the depth chart at times in 2025. Between the three of them, West Virginia lost virtually all of its experienced carries from last season.
It’s easy to get frustrated watching guys walk out the door, but this is the reality of the portal era. Players move around a lot these days, and every program deals with it. Still, losing three backs this early in the offseason forces WVU’s staff to pivot hard. They can either go find guys in the portal who are ready to play right away, or they can lean heavily on younger backs and develop them internally.
Losing Bowers isn’t the end of the world, but it’s not nothing either. When you lose a trio of backs in one offseason, especially guys who can contribute in different ways, it changes how you’re going to build your offense next year. West Virginia’s backfield is basically being rewritten from scratch. That’s not a comfortable place to be, but it’s where they find themselves.
