MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — When he looks back on last season, West Virginia’s leading rusher doesn’t feel as though he exceeded expectations.
This, despite Jahiem White being one of the nation’s leaders in yards per rush (7.7) and tops on the Mountaineers with 842 yards on the ground, a feat made more impressive by the fact White was third on the team in attempts with 109.
“How I played last year wasn’t really a surprise,” White said. “It was just a matter of time to when I got on the field and I’d show my talent.”
White had all of 18 carries throughout September of 2023 when the Mountaineers played five of their 12 regular season games. He had seven carries in the sixth game at Houston, then nine in the next one at Central Florida. That’s about the time White began to come on to the scene and he gained 85 yards against the Knights, while scoring his first touchdown in Big 12 Conference play.
When West Virginia returned home the following week to welcome BYU, White rushed for 146 yards on 16 carries.
Over the season’s final three games against Cincinnati, Baylor and North Carolina, White rushed 50 times for 387 yards with two rushing touchdowns. He added four receptions for 119 yards and two additional scores, including a 75-yard reception against the Bearcats.
“There wasn’t really a difference. I just didn’t really get the chance to get on the field in the first half of the season because of little injuries,” White said. “Once I got on the field for the second half, I just took off.”
Head coach Neal Brown and offensive coordinator/running backs coach Chad Scott often praised White for his talent before he had much of an opportunity to showcase it over the opening month of his college career save for a Week 2 win against Duquesne.
Both, however, also noted the need for White to improve his practice habits early into his freshman season — something not all that uncommon for a player transitioning from high school to major college football.
Around the time that message got across to White coincided with him getting healthier and opportunity increasing. By and large, White made the most of it, though he’s adamant there could have been more success and needs to be more scoring for a player who reached the end zone on four runs and two receptions.
Four of White’s five catches as a true freshman came over the final three games, including the lengthy scoring grab against the Bearcats, which was followed one week later by White hauling in a 29-yard pass with 23 seconds remaining to provide the game-winning points in a 34-31 victory at Baylor.
“Catching in traffic is one of the big things,” White said. “Coach Scott always says you’re going to get hit regardless, so catch the ball. That’s been my mindset playing football all my years.”
Yet against the Bears, there was hardly traffic as White streaked open up the sideline and was essentially uncovered before making the catch on a well-placed pass from Garrett Greene one step into the end zone.
Receiving has always come naturally for the tailback, according to White.
“It was really in me when I first started little league,” White said. “I’d get little swing routes or slants and it was automatically glued to my hands.”
Throughout April, finding a way into the end zone at a higher rate has been a point of emphasis for White. It’s the second such instance the York, Pa., native has been able to partake in spring football after enrolling early ahead of his true freshman season.
“BYU, I left a couple out there,” White said. “I could’ve gotten into the [end zone] more. Cincinnati, one run I had going towards the band and I broke off two or three [tackles], I should’ve scored. There were a couple more games I should’ve scored.”