Greg McElroy explains Jahiem White's omission from Top 10 college football running back list
Greg McElroy was close to adding Jahiem White to his top 10 running backs list, but explained why he ultimately didn't make the cut.
Jahiem White was one of the players that Greg McElroy debated including on his top 10 running backs list entering the 2025 college football season. Ultimately, the West Virginia star just missed the cut, but McElroy is still high on him entering this year.
During his Always College Football podcast, the ESPN analyst explained that he liked the fit with coach Rich Rodriguez, who returns to Morgantown this season after previously serving as the Mountaineers coach from 2001-07. That combined with what we’ve already seen out of White in his first two seasons has McElroy excited for what his junior year will bring.
“Part of what I’m really bullish on with Jahiem White — he was this close to making our top 10 — is the opportunity that he’s gonna have to run in an offense that’s going to put running backs in great situations to accumulate great production,” he said. “Rich Rodriguez, he loves running backs. That’s going to help an awful lot when taking into account Jahiem White’s skillset and how he’s gonna likely be the lead back in a heavy, run-heavy attack.
“Might be a group that goes by committee for sure, but Jahiem White’s a veteran and was last year’s leading rusher. He had to split those carries last year between CJ Donaldson and Garrett Greene. He’s not the biggest guy in the world. He’s just 5-foot-7, but he’s extremely quick. He’s low to the ground. I think he’s hard to see behind the big offensive line and he can hit the hole immediately and, before you know it, he’s past you. That’s led to nearly 1,700 yards over the last two seasons, 11 touchdowns and averaging over six-and-a-half per carry.
McElroy went on to explain that a knee injury that limited White in the spring combined with the uncertainty of a new offense is what kept the running back from cracking the top 10. Although he does believe the fit will work in Rodriguez’s offense, there’s no knowing for sure exactly how big White’s role will be.
“So he was a little bit limited in the spring and maybe we don’t know exactly how good he’s going to be and how he might be utilized and all the different ways he might be used in this offense,” McElroy said. “That minor knee injury shouldn’t be a problem with him in the fall, but we have seen very little of what he might be able to do in this new-look offense. But Jahiem White, I think, is a guy that can do an awful lot in this offense. I’m excited about seeing the mix with him. He also is not bad in the backfield as a pass catcher either. So, excited to see that fit, Jahiem White with Rich Rodriguez.”
West Virginia is coming off of a 6-7 finish this past season as White recorded 844 yards and seven touchdowns to lead the team. With both Donaldson and Greene no longer of the team, there could be even more opportunity for him this year and he very well could be a top 10 back by the end of the season.
