JUST-IN: From Underdog to Breakout Star — WVU’s Top Experience RB Sends Warning Shot to Big 12: “I’m Coming for It All”
Morgantown, WV — Once overlooked, now unstoppable. The heartbeat of the West Virginia Mountaineers offense is no longer a question—it’s a 5-foot-10, 212-pound firestorm in cleats. Senior running back Malik “Jet” Rawlins has become the breakout sensation of the 2025 offseason, turning doubters into believers and igniting Mountaineer Nation with a resurgence of power, speed, and swagger.
Arriving at WVU as a low three-star recruit from a forgotten corner of Georgia football, Rawlins was once buried deep on the depth chart. Injuries and inconsistency hampered his early years, and few expected the bruising but elusive back to ever rise beyond a rotational role. But when opportunity knocked late last season—due to an injury to the starting tailback—Rawlins didn’t just answer. He kicked the damn door down.
In four late-season starts, Rawlins racked up 586 yards on the ground, averaged 6.7 yards per carry, and scored seven touchdowns—while dragging defenders, hurdling safeties, and running angry behind a rejuvenated WVU offensive line. His breakout culminated in a jaw-dropping 189-yard, 3-touchdown performance against Oklahoma State that earned him Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week and solidified his status as the guy heading into 2025.
Now, Rawlins is the undisputed feature back in Morgantown and has a message for the Big 12.
> “I’m coming for it all. Yards. Touchdowns. Respect. A championship,” Rawlins said at media day, eyes locked in, muscles flexing beneath a WVU sleeveless tee. “They counted me out, but I never stopped grinding. Now they’re gonna have to deal with me every Saturday.”
New Mountaineers head coach Ross Hodge echoed that sentiment.
> “Malik is the soul of this team. He’s earned everything with blood, sweat, and grind. The locker room feeds off his energy,” Hodge said. “He’s not just running for yards—he’s running for a legacy.”
Off the field, Rawlins has become a leader and motivator, holding extra weight-room sessions, mentoring younger backs, and even speaking at local high schools about perseverance. On the field, his vision, balance, and fearless inside running have drawn comparisons to former WVU greats like Steve Slaton and Avon Cobourne.
As the 2025 season approaches, Rawlins is already a dark-horse Doak Walker Award candidate and a critical part of WVU’s push to reclaim Big 12 dominance. With a chip on his shoulder and the state of West Virginia behind him, Malik Rawlins is no longer the underdog.
He’s the storm.
And the Big 12 better brace for impact.
