The social media warriors for WVU are all upset because Jahiem wasn't included in the graphic below from the Big 12. It's based on an article from The Athletic, which does talk about Jahiem and even quotes Neal.
"Gordon. Brooks. Devin Neal at Kansas. RJ Harvey and Peny Boone at UCF. DJ Giddens at Kansas State. Corey Kiner at Cincinnati. Jacory Croskey-Merritt at Arizona. And that list doesn’t include the backfield duo of CJ Donaldson Jr. and Jahiem White at West Virginia. Or Iowa State’s Abu Sama III, who came on strong down the stretch as a true freshman. Or a handful of other promising prospects."
-----
Five current Big 12 teams ran the ball at least 40 times per game last season, and of the league’s 12 returning members from a season ago, seven averaged more rush attempts than pass attempts. Some of that is offenses emphasizing the talent in the backfield, and some of it is a reaction to Big 12 defenses. More and more teams started playing three high safeties and odd defensive fronts over the past decade to combat the Air Raid, so offenses are countering with more two- and three-tight end formations and run-heavy playbooks.
“It’s been a gradual change,” said West Virginia head coach Neal Brown, whose trio of Donaldson, White and quarterback Garrett Greene led an offense that was fourth in the FBS in rushing yards per game in 2023 and best in the Big 12. “Right now it looks like running the ball, stopping the run and being really good on special teams gives you a good chance every week in this league.”
"Gordon. Brooks. Devin Neal at Kansas. RJ Harvey and Peny Boone at UCF. DJ Giddens at Kansas State. Corey Kiner at Cincinnati. Jacory Croskey-Merritt at Arizona. And that list doesn’t include the backfield duo of CJ Donaldson Jr. and Jahiem White at West Virginia. Or Iowa State’s Abu Sama III, who came on strong down the stretch as a true freshman. Or a handful of other promising prospects."
-----
Five current Big 12 teams ran the ball at least 40 times per game last season, and of the league’s 12 returning members from a season ago, seven averaged more rush attempts than pass attempts. Some of that is offenses emphasizing the talent in the backfield, and some of it is a reaction to Big 12 defenses. More and more teams started playing three high safeties and odd defensive fronts over the past decade to combat the Air Raid, so offenses are countering with more two- and three-tight end formations and run-heavy playbooks.
“It’s been a gradual change,” said West Virginia head coach Neal Brown, whose trio of Donaldson, White and quarterback Garrett Greene led an offense that was fourth in the FBS in rushing yards per game in 2023 and best in the Big 12. “Right now it looks like running the ball, stopping the run and being really good on special teams gives you a good chance every week in this league.”
