By: Jonathan K. Martin | WV Sports Chat
The West Virginia Mountaineers’ running back room, once brimming with potential following a flurry of transfer portal activity, is now teetering on the edge of a crisis.
The latest blow came when SMU transfer Jaylan Knighton was quietly removed from the team’s official roster.
With head coach Rich Rodriguez hinting at an eligibility issue during fall camp and no clear explanation forthcoming, the Mountaineers’ backfield depth is stretched thinner than ever. Compounding the problem is the ongoing uncertainty surrounding Northern Iowa transfer Tye Edwards, whose eligibility hearing is slated for August 19.
Knighton, a dynamic running back with a proven track record, arrived at WVU with high expectations after transferring from SMU, where he posted a breakout 745-yard, seven-touchdown season in 2023. However, a knee injury that ended his 2024 campaign after just two games raised questions about his durability. Now, with his name scrubbed from the roster, those concerns are secondary to the eligibility snag that appears to have derailed his Mountaineer tenure.
With Knighton out, Jahiem White, a preseason All-Big 12 First Team selection by Athlon Sports and Second Team by Lindy’s and Phil Steele, emerges as the unquestioned leader of the Mountaineers’ ground attack.
Behind White, though, is question marks for WVU’s running backs. Early in fall camp, the team was banged up, with injuries sidelining key contributors like Kannon Katzer, Clay Ash, and Cyncir Bowers. While those players have since returned, their limited experience—Katzer (Ferris State transfer) and Bowers (Iowa Central CC) combined for minimal college production—means they’re unproven at the Power Four level. Redshirt freshman Diore Hubbard has emerged as the most immediate candidate to step up, but has only seen limited action during his tenure.
Photo credit: collegefootballnetwork.com
