West Virginia found its identity on the ground late in the 2022 season and built on that success late in the 2023 season, ultimately winning nine games.
The Mountaineers finished the year averaging 228.9 yards on the ground per game, third-best in the nation and first among Power Five schools. The return of running backs Jahim White and C.J. Donaldson and two-way quarterback Garrett Green gives WVU one of the most feared backfields in college football.
According to Max Chadwick of Pro Football Focus, West Virginia has the 10th best running back unit in the country.
“No true freshman had more rushing yards last year than Jahim White (842). He averaged 7.7 yards per attempt in 2023, which also led all FBS running backs. CJ Donaldson Jr. returns as a junior and was fourth among Big 12 halfbacks with 11 rushing touchdowns last season. The only three who put up higher numbers were returning running backs I rank in the top 10 in the country: Ollie Gordon II, Devin Neal and RJ Harvey.”
The nine rushing units ranked above the Mountaineers are Ohio State, UCF, Georgia, Penn State, Mississippi, Miami, Oregon, Kansas and Kansas State.
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