West Virginia has its strong rushing game returning, and if the improvements on a weak defense can prevent some of the problems from last year, the Mountaineers could make an impact in the Big 12 Conference this season.
West Virginia finished third in the Bowl Subdivision with 229 rushing yards per game, even without a 1,000-yard rusher. Jahiem White averaged 7.7 yards per carry as a freshman and gained 842 yards, most of which came in the last month of the season.
White knows he needs to exceed those numbers behind a veteran offensive line, according to coach Neal Brown.
“There’s a lot of room for improvement, but he can do a lot of things,” Brown said. “There’s not a whole lot of people talking about him. He’s flying under the radar.”
Running back CJ Donaldson, a 240-pound junior, has also made a significant impact but has yet to play a full season due to injuries. He missed West Virginia’s bowl win over North Carolina last season and sat out five games in 2022.
West Virginia finished 9-4 last year, which was its best performance under Brown, after being predicted to finish last in the Big 12. This season, the Mountaineers are expected to finish seventh as the league expands to 16 teams, losing Oklahoma and Texas to the SEC.
“I’m fired up about this group,” Brown said. “Probably as excited as I’ve been.”
