MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia’s run game has unquestionably been the team’s best asset through the first half of the 2026 regular season.
The Mountaineers lead the nation with 345 rushing attempts and 1,773 yards, and they’re fourth with an average of 295.5 yards on the ground.
In a 52-31 home loss to Arizona last Saturday, WVU changed the picture plenty against an attacking Wildcats’ defense by employing a two-tailback set with Cam Cook and Amari Latimer at a fairly consistent rate — more so than at any point over the first five contests this season.
“We played more two running back sets than we’ve played all year simply from a standpoint that we think that’s one of our most talented rooms,” head coach Rich Rodriguez said. “We’re healthy this year at the running back position and we have four or five we think can help us win. Last game, we played a lot more two-back sets, and we’ll do that going forward, because that’s a pretty good room.”
Latimer logged 76 offensive snaps to Cook’s 70 against the Wildcats.
Cook, the Mountaineers’ workhorse still finished with 34 carries for 141 yards and two touchdowns. His 153 rushes this season are six more than any other FBS player and 26 more than the third-highest total in that category, while Cook’s 793 yards on the ground are good for No. 3 nationally.
A true freshman, Latimer has been a steady contributor and saw his most extensive action against Arizona. The younger brother of Mountaineer defensive back Geimere Latimer II finished with 55 yards on 13 carries and a touchdown in addition to three receptions for 44 yards.
“Amari is a big, physical guy,” Rodriguez said. “One thing you normally don’t see of a true freshman is how aggressive they are blocking in the open field and he’s fantastic at it. He’s just a really good football player. For a true freshman, to do what he’s doing is pretty neat. He’s going to do a lot of neat stuff for us going forward.”
The presence of Cook and Latimer together or one of the two with another tailback almost certainly means the Mountaineers operate down a tight end or receiver from when there’s one running back.
That did nothing to slow the effectiveness of the rushing attack as the Mountaineers amassed 303 rushing yards on an eye-opening 76 attempts. Cook, Latimer and quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. (25 carries, 98 yards, 1 TD) combined for all but four carries.
“It makes it harder on the defense in the run game and then in the passing game, it gives you a little more protection,” said Hawkins, the nation’s leader with 12 rushing scores. “That kind of us got us going, too. Having those two guys back there is elite.”
Freshmen tailbacks Chris Talley and Lawrence Autry combined for three rushing attempts in the most recent matchup after Talley entered without a carry and Autry had two over the first five games.
Midseason addition NaQuari Rogers, a significant contributor at Utah last year, could also work his way into the rotation before long.
“With Amari, Lawrence Autry and Naq, those guys are all 220, 225 pounds. They’re almost as big as tight ends are,” Rodriguez said. “Cam Cook is a decent size. They’re all willing blockers. Sometimes you get a running back and it’s like he won’t stick his face in the fan so to speak. All of our guys are pretty good blockers, and they’re pretty good blockers in space. You probably saw that with Amari this last game.”