Part Two: WVU’s Tailback Room Reloaded — Jahiem White Leads a Revamped Ground Attack
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The engine of the West Virginia offense is roaring into 2025 with turbocharged confidence, and at the heart of it all is the electrifying Jahiem White. Now entering his junior season, White has emerged not only as a top performer for the Mountaineers but as a dark horse Heisman candidate across national preseason watchlists. With over 2,300 all-purpose yards and 21 total touchdowns in his first two years, White has made defenders miss, crowds roar, and coaches across the Big 12 lose sleep.
White’s playing style is the perfect blend of vision, explosiveness, and fearlessness. At just 5’9″, he cuts through defensive lines like a razorblade, slipping tackles and turning routine screen passes into highlight-reel sprints. In 2024, he led the Big 12 in yards after contact and broke the WVU single-season record for 40+ yard runs. Head coach Neal Brown calls him “a weapon who doesn’t need space — he creates it.”
But this season, White won’t be carrying the load alone. The Mountaineers’ backfield has added some serious horsepower, starting with transfer newcomer Quinton “Q” Harmon, a bruising 6’1” 225-pound back from Michigan State. Harmon brings a power-running style that perfectly complements White’s elusiveness. In spring scrimmages, Harmon wowed with his ability to lower his shoulder and grind out tough yards in the red zone. “He’s the thunder to Jahiem’s lightning,” said offensive coordinator Chad Scott.
Then there’s Tyren Harris, the true freshman phenom out of Houston’s North Shore High, who turned down offers from Alabama and Texas to don the gold and blue. Clocking a 4.38 forty and benching 325 pounds at just 18, Harris is already being dubbed “the next Tavon Austin — but in a running back’s body.” Don’t be surprised if he earns early touches in special packages, especially in third-down situations where his dual-threat skillset shines.
The tailback room’s depth doesn’t end there. Sophomore Lorenzo Griggs, who quietly gained 480 yards in rotational duty last season, has reportedly added ten pounds of muscle this offseason. His north-south running and blitz pickup ability make him a valuable piece, especially in pass-heavy formations.
WVU’s tailback corps in 2025 isn’t just a collection of talent — it’s a tactical arsenal. The Mountaineers can now deploy a committee approach with speed, power, and finesse, keeping defenses guessing and fresh legs rotating deep into the fourth quarter. Behind an offensive line that returns four starters and ranks among the Big 12’s best in run blocking, this group has the tools to be historic.
As the season opener against Penn State looms, Mountaineer fans have every reason to be excited. With Jahiem White steering the ship and a versatile crew behind him, WVU’s ground game could very well become the most feared in the nation. One thing’s for sure — when the ball’s in a WVU tailback’s hands, something electric is about to happen.
