WVU Running Back Jahiem White has easily been one of the most underrated stars on the offense in 2023.
Morgantown, WV – Coming into the 2023 season, the West Virginia Mountaineers were expected to be a run heavy team. Taking a look at the stats through the first six games, that consensus has turned out to be 100% correct.
Collectively, WVU has ran the ball 269 times for 1,113 yards and 14 touchdowns. C.J. Donaldson, who has been the best player on offense by far, has accounted for 414 yards and 5 touchdowns out of those statistics. While the Chad Scott-led unit will certainly operate through him for the remainder of the season, one player in the backfield has been underutilized, most likely due to his age and experience.
That player is Jahiem White, a true freshman running back from York, Pennsylvania.
White, who was a 247Sports three-star prospect, has tallied 25 carries for 185 yards and 1 touchdown. He has also caught the ball 1 time for 6 yards, and has played a part in the return game with 6 returns for 110 yards. His speed makes him a serious threat for opponents, and brings a dimension to the Mountaineer offense that has not been seen so far under Neal Brown.
While those who came in before him earned the opportunity to make a case for their talents first, it is beyond time for West Virginia to make White a more prominent part of their offense. Not necessarily meaning that they should run the offense through him, but he should have a hell of a lot more carries going forward.
Just glancing at his stats, you may not think he has been all that spectacular, but the potential of production is seen within the averages.
White is currently averaging 7.4 yards per carry – 7.4 yards per carry. This indicates that he is making the first wave of defenders miss every time he carries the ball. Given his speed, that is a dangerous recipe for opposing defenses.
An increase in carries would all likelihood cause his average to go down, but having that threat to get chunk and explosive plays is worth his participation in a larger role in the offense.
While C.J. Donaldson was the talk of the town last season, labeled as a “budding star,” we may be having the same discussions about White prior to the conclusion of 2023.
(Photo by WVU Athletics)
