Quarterback Garrett Greene is closely monitored by head coach Neal Brown. Teran Malone took this picture.
West Virginia was able to keep opponents guessing last season despite having the third-best rushing offense in the FBS because to both its passing game and its heavy reliance on three ball carriers.
In the future 2024 season, if head coach Neal Brown gets his way, that will still be the case. The Mountaineers have quarterback Garrett Greene back along with tailbacks Jahiem White and CJ Donaldson, their three top rushers from the previous campaign.
“Offensive football is all about getting the ball to your best players in any way possible,” Brown stated during Big 12 Media Days on Wednesday from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
Halfway through his freshman college football season, White made a major impression on the football world. During the last six games, he completed eighty-four of his 109 carries, including 100-yard runs against BYU and Baylor as well as a 200-yard effort against Cincinnati that included a 75-yard touchdown reception.
In the regular season finale, White helped the Mountaineers defeat the Bears by hauling in a 29-yard game-winning touchdown pass. Later, in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl, White ran for 50 yards and scored in the team’s triumph over North Carolina.
A runner who averaged 7.7 yards per carry, White’s final seven games accounted for five of his six total touchdowns and all but 185 of his team-high 842 running yards.
“Jahiem White, who I believe is dynamic, is coming back,” Brown stated. Even though he will only be a sophomore, he had a great year’s end. Thus, I believe he’s prepared to advance and become a top player.
After falling short of White in his second collegiate football season with 798 running yards, Donaldson is back for his junior year. Similar to White, Donaldson entered the game as a true freshman in 2022, rushing for 526 yards and eight touchdowns on six yards per carry.
Nevertheless, he was only able to play in seven games that year due to an injury that ended his season at TCU, and Donaldson missed the 2023 campaign’s final game due to an injury.
After carrying the ball no less than 13 times over the first ten games, Donaldson only ran five times in each of the final two regular season games.
Despite suffering from injuries that hampered his play in the second half of both of his West Virginia seasons, the burly tailback has amassed 1,324 yards and 19 touchdowns in his career as a Mountaineer.
Donaldson, a tight end who joined Morgantown before the 2022 season and weighs around 240 pounds, is more of a power runner, which will fit in well with White’s style. “Last year, CJ Donaldson got very battered up.
He’s a large, strong running back, according to Brown. “I believe he will return and demonstrate, reminding our supporters and college football fans nationwide, what he demonstrated as a freshman and the kind of potential he possesses.
Greene, a dual-threat signal caller with elite speed who can make plays on planned runs or by breaking out of the pocket on throw plays, is arguably the key to WVU’s success at the rush.
A season ago, Greene set a franchise record with 13 running touchdowns and 772 rushing yards on 120 attempts. Greene’s ability to draw attention from opposing defenses often helps free up both Donaldson and White.
“Garrett Greene is an elite runner,” Brown said.
In all, 28 of WVU’s 32 rushing touchdowns and 2,412 of the team’s 2,976 running yards in 2023 came from White, Donaldson, and Greene.
Their offensive line’s performance was another major factor in their triumph. With the exception of center Zach Frazier, one of the more skilled offensive linemen in college football who was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round of the NFL Draft, the team returns every starter from the previous year.
Left lineman Wyatt Milum, the sole Mountaineer selected to this year’s Preseason All-Big 12 Football Team, is still a possible top choice in the NFL Draft. Greene declared, “We’re keeping the main thing, the main thing.”
“Last year, we leaned heavily on our offensive line, and we intend to continue doing so.” The greatest tackle in the nation, Wyatt Milum, is the cornerstone of our offensive line. I’m excited to follow him around and have him contribute to some of our victories.
