When looking at the West Virginia football roster, one thing that is certainly not overlooked is the loaded, talented group of running backs they boast. Read more: No Shortage of Options: WVU’s RB Room Ready for Rich Rod’s Return
Headlined by star Jaheim White, WVU has a plethora of talent they can use at its disposal in Rich Rodriguez’s first year back at the helm.
In this second edition of reviewing WVU’s positional groups, we will take a look at that stacked running back group and see who is poised for a big role.
WVU’S RB Room: Experience Breeds Success
The Mountaineers currently list seven running backs on their roster for the upcoming season: Jahiem White, Tye Edwards, Diore Hubbard, Jaylan Knighton, Cyncir Bowers, Clay Ash and Kannon Katzer.
While you may see a couple of new names compared to last season, all but Ash and Hubbard have experienced success at the college level.
Among that group, Edwards, Knighton, Bowers and Katzer all transferred in from previous schools.
Redshirt senior Edwards comes to West Virginia after playing the past two years at Northern Iowa. Last year with the Panthers, Edwards rushed for 1,022 yards and six touchdowns. He also proved to be a threat out of the backfield, catching 12 passes for 76 yards and a touchdown.
WVU will be Edwards’ sixth school in his collegiate career, and with 3,217 yards and 29 touchdowns already in his career, he brings a vast amount of experience to the group.
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Knighton, also a redshirt senior, transfers to West Virginia after spending the last two seasons at Southern Methodist University. Knighton shined in 2023 for the Mustangs, leading the team with 745 rushing yards and seven scores.
After a season-ending injury after just two games, Knighton’s 2024 campaign was cut short. If he can stay healthy, he’ll be poised to make a positive impact for the Mountaineers.
Bowers and Katzer are a pair of small-school transfers who also bring high-level production to the Mountaineers. Bowers spent last season with Iowa Central Community College, where he rushed for 1,008 yards and 12 touchdowns. Ferris State transfer Katzer joins the team after rushing for 1,128 yards and 11 scores last season.
Familiarity (Also) Breeds Success
Aside from those four transfers, White, Hubbard and Ash all return for another year with the Mountaineers.
Ash and Hubbard enter their second year with WVU, with Ash entering as a sophomore and Hubbard as a redshirt freshman. Both saw limited action last season, but strong offseason performances may propel their chances at seeing more action.
Ash impressed the coaching staff during spring practices. With his development, he has earned more confidence from the coaching staff and was given more snaps in the backfield. In honor of his hard work, he was named the Tommy Nickolich Memorial Award winner as the team’s top walk-on player.
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That leaves one clear centerpiece: Jahiem White. The presumed lead back for the Mountaineers this season is coming off back-to-back productive seasons. Last year, he led WVU with 845 yards on the ground and seven touchdowns. He also added 122 yards and a score through the air.
As a freshman, White made his presence known for the Mountaineers and to the nation, rushing for 842 yards and earning freshman All-American honors.
With CJ Donaldson transferring to Ohio State, White, an incoming unior, is expected to be the workhorse back in Rodriguez’s system.
Versatile Skill Sets
As you can see, WVU has a lot of numbers they can call in their backfield. And while depth is always an important factor, the quality and varying skill sets are what make that depth more valuable.
Now that Rodriguez has returned to WVU, his patented power spread offense also makes a return. In a scheme dominated on the ground, it takes a certain style of back to thrive. Luckily, the Mountaineers have two guys who fit this role perfectly.
With White’s explosive east-to-west movement and devastating quickness, he will easily insert as the Mountaineers’ lead back. His effectiveness in the passing game out of the backfield will also bode well for what Rodriguez wants to do with his offense.
Knighton’s skill set also suits what Rodriguez looks for out of a lead back. Similar to White, Knighton blends quick cuts with elite breakaway speed. He also offers a threat in the passing game, having caught 13 passes for 89 yards in 2023.
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While those two complement each other in their playing styles, Edwards provides a different skill set that the Mountaineers can exploit. Where White and Knighton offer speed and elusiveness, Knighton brings a tough, downhill running style.
At 6-foot-4, 230 pounds, Edwards used his frame to his advantage, averaging 4.39 yards after contact. Despite that bulk, he also adds elusiveness, forcing 71 missed tackles on 261 carries at Northern Iowa.
While he may not see much action yet, Bowers also suits what Rodriguez needs out of his running backs. A recent social media post from White showed that Bowers supposedly ran a staggering 4.35 40-yard dash.
Whether that time is accurate or not, there is no doubt Rodríguez will find some way he can utilize Bowers’ blazing speed.
Ready for Rod’s Return
This year’s running back group provides a blend of old and new faces coupled with proven experience. Almost every running back on the roster has experienced success at some point in their collegiate career.
That depth will bode well for their success, allowing players like White and Knighton to catch their breath more often. This bunch also offers differing skill sets that complement each other and Rodriguez’s system.
With all that being said, I would expect the lead back to be White. Despite his injuries, he has proved to be one of the best backs in the nation. His play style also fits the system — a defining factor in his decision to stay at WVU.
Nonetheless, you will still see plenty of action from players like Knighton and Edwards. Both of those guys were feature backs at their previous schools and can expect to see plenty of playing time in a West Virginia jersey.
Whoever may be in the backfield, the group of running backs that WVU offers is perfectly suited to step in and thrive in Rodriguez’s system.
No Shortage of Options: WVU’s RB Room Ready for Rich Rod’s Return
