Rich Rodriguez is finally back in Morgantown, ready to lead West Virginia back into Big 12 contention. If he’s going to do it, the path starts on the ground—with sophomore running back Jaheim White.
With CJ Donaldson transferring to Ohio State this offseason, White steps into a lead role in what’s expected to be a run-heavy offense. The Mountaineers showed flashes of that identity last season, and now White will have every opportunity to prove he can be the go-to guy.
Plenty of national analysts are already buying in.
“I think Jaheim White is a dark horse Doak Walker Award candidate this season,” said Max Chadwick, a college football analyst at Pro Football Focus.
White averaged 5.7 yards per carry last season, and he’s set to be the centerpiece of Rodriguez’s plan to bring back that old-school, physical West Virginia football. Even while splitting time in the backfield, he still ran for 845 yards and seven touchdowns.
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He’s got the speed to break away, the vision to find lanes, and the power to shake off tackles — all perfect for Rodriguez’s up-tempo, power-spread attack. Now, with a full offseason to settle into the starting role, there’s real buzz about what he could do.
Teammates rave about his work ethic and leadership, which will matter in a young locker room. And with most of the offensive line returning, everything’s set up for White to have a huge year.
If he hits his stride, he might not just power the Mountaineers’ offense — he could put West Virginia right back in the national conversation.