By: John Antonik | WVU Press Release
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University running back Jahiem White was named to the Preseason All-Big 12 Team announced today by the conference.
All-Big 12 offensive and defensive teams, as well offensive, defensive and newcomer of the year were voted on by media members who cover the league.
White, a junior from York, Pennsylvania, is the lone Mountaineer player named to the league’s preseason offensive and defensive teams.
Last year, White led the Mountaineers with 844 yards rushing, including a season-high 158 yards in a 38-14 victory over Oklahoma State. He also topped the 100-yard mark in games against Albany and Texas Tech.
White averaged 5.7 yards per carry and scored seven touchdowns.
In two seasons with the Mountaineers, he has rushed for 1,686 yards and scored 11 touchdowns on the ground while catching 24 passes for 247 yards and three touchdowns.
White gained a career-high 204 yards in a home victory over Cincinnati during his freshman season in 2023.
West Virginia fans are excited about the pairing of White and returning coach Rich Rodriguez, who has demonstrated throughout his coaching career a knack for developing productive ball carriers.
Avon Cobourne got the bulk of his school-record 5,164 yards while playing for Rodriguez at West Virginia, while College Football Hall of Famer Steve Slaton produced nearly 4,000 yards on the ground in three seasons playing for Rodriguez at WVU.
Quincy Wilson and Noel Devine were other top-notch ground gainers from the tailback position playing for Rodriguez at West Virginia.
When Rodriguez later coached at Arizona, Ka’Deem Carey led the country in rushing with 1,929 yards in 2013, including an average of 148.4 yards per game.
More recently, Tre Stewart rushed for 1,604 yards and scored 23 touchdowns last year in Rodriguez’s spread offense at Jacksonville State, ranking third nationally in both categories.
Arizona State sophomore quarterback Sam Leavitt was voted Preseason Offensive Player of the Year; Texas Tech senior linebacker Jacob Rodriguez was selected Preseason Defensive Player of the Year while Utah junior quarterback Devon Dampier, a New Mexico transfer, was picked as the Newcomer of the Year.
The league, which is conducting its annual media day activities later this week at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, is no longer releasing a preseason media poll.
Arizona State, predicted to finish in last place last year, won the conference championship and represented the Big 12 in the college football playoffs.
2025 Preseason All-Big 12 Team
Offensive Player of the Year: Sam Leavitt, QB, Arizona State, RS-So.
Defensive Player of the Year: Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech, Sr.
Newcomer of the Year: Devon Dampier, QB, Utah, Jr.
Preseason All-Conference Team (Offense)
QB: Sam Leavitt, Arizona State, RS-So.
RB: Bryson Washington, Baylor, RS-So.
RB: Jahiem White, West Virginia, Jr.
FB/H-Back: Will Swanson, Kansas State, Sr.
WR: Eric McAlister, TCU, Sr.
WR: Chase Roberts, BYU, RS-Sr.
WR: Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State, RS-Jr.
TE: Joe Royer, Cincinnati, RS-Sr.
OL: Ben Coleman, Arizona State, Gr.
OL: Spencer Fano, Utah, Jr.
OL: Bryce Foster, Kansas, RS-Jr.
OL: Caleb Lomu, Utah, RS-So.
OL: Jordan Seaton, Colorado, So.
PK: Will Ferrin, BYU, RS-Sr.
PR/KR: Josh Cameron, Baylor, RS-Sr.
Preseason All-Conference Team (Defense)
DL: David Bailey, Texas Tech, Sr.
DL: Dontay Corleone, Cincinnati, RS-Sr.
DL: C.J. Fite, Arizona State, Jr.
DL: Lee Hunter, Texas Tech, Sr.
DL: Domonique Orange, Iowa State, Sr.
LB: Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech, Sr.
LB: Austin Romaine, Kansas State, Jr.
LB: Keaton Thomas, Baylor, RS-Jr.
DB: Xavion Alford, Arizona State, RS-Sr.
DB: Bud Clark, TCU, Sr.
DB: Jeremiah Cooper, Iowa State, Sr.
DB: DJ McKinney, Colorado, Jr.
DB: Jontez Williams, Iowa State, RS-Jr.
P: Palmer Williams, Baylor, Jr.
