White, Donaldson and Greene lead West Virginia’s potent attack in the revamped Big 12 | News, Sports, Jobs

FILE – West Virginia quarterback Garrett Greene runs past North Carolina defensive back Kaleb Cost during the first half of an NCAA college football game at Duke’s Mayo Bowl on Dec. 27, 2023, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson, File)

West Virginia has its strong running game back, and if reinforcements in the porous defense help avoid some of last year’s embarrassments, the Mountaineers could make a splash in the Big 12 Conference this season.

West Virginia finished third in the Bowl Subdivision with 229 yards per game despite not having a 1,000-yard runner. Jahiem White averaged 7.7 yards per carry as a freshman and rushed for 842 yards, most of them in the final month of the season.

White knows his goal should be to surpass those numbers behind an experienced offensive line, coach Neal Brown said.

“There is a lot of room for improvement, but he can do a lot of things,” said Brown. “Not many people talk about him. He stays under the radar.”

240-pound running back CJ Donaldson has made a similar impression but has yet to play a full season due to injuries, including missing West Virginia’s bowl win over North Carolina last season and sitting out five games in 2022.

FILE – West Virginia head coach Neal Brown speaks during the Big 12 NCAA College Football Media Days in Las Vegas, July 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Lucas Peltier, File)

West Virginia finished 9-4 last year, by far its best record under Brown, after finishing last in the Big 12. The Mountaineers are expected to finish seventh this time around as the league expands to 16 teams with Oklahoma and Texas losing to the SEC.

“I am excited about this group,” said Brown. “Probably as excited as I am.”

Greene’s accuracy

Brown has made it clear that mobile quarterback Garrett Greene needs to be more accurate. The senior was last in the Big 12 with a 53% completion rate last year.

This may have been the only downside for Greene, who averaged 201 passing yards, was the league’s best rushing QB with 64 yards per game, and finished with 16 passing and 13 rushing touchdowns.

FILE – West Virginia defensive back Aubrey Burks answers questions from the media during the Big 12 NCAA College Football Media Days in Las Vegas on July 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Lucas Peltier, File)

“I think Garrett has a chance to be among the elite,” said Brown.

Brown expects a group of young wide receivers, including sophomore Hudson Clement, to make big strides, and they will be joined by transfers Jaden Bray from Oklahoma State and Justin Robinson from Mississippi State.

No hot seat

For a change, Brown doesn’t have to deal with questions about his job performance. The six-year coach received a one-year contract extension in March that includes a $400,000 pay cut for the next three seasons. That allowed the school to increase the salaries of its assistant coaches, a priority for Brown.

But Brown is 31-29 overall, has lost three straight season openers and faces a tough game this year, at home against No. 8 Penn State on Aug. 31.

Defend the pass

The secondary needed to be strengthened after the Mountaineers allowed 26 touchdown passes, the most in the Big 12, including a 49-yard Hail Mary pass on the final play of a loss at Houston. Retired All-American cornerback Beanie Bishop and safety Marcis Floyd combined to account for half of the team’s pass defenses. Also gone is leading tackler Lee Kpogba at linebacker.

Linebacker Trey Lathan returns from a season-ending leg injury. Safeties Aubrey Burks and Anthony Wilson are supported in the secondary by cornerback transfers Ayden Garnes (Duquesne), Garnett Hollis Jr. (Northwestern) and TJ Crandall (Colorado State).

West Virginia defensive coordinator Jordan Lesley said a stronger lineup this season will allow for more player rotation “So if there’s a quarter, half or game where performance drops, we’re the next guy in line, so to speak, instead of waiting until the next game to make changes.”

Unfortunate return

West Virginia allowed kickoff touchdown returns of 96 and 93 yards to Baylor’s Richard Reese and a 100-yard return to Houston’s Matthew Golden in the same quarter. No other Bowl Subdivision team allowed three kickoff touchdown returns last season, and the Mountaineers’ average of 25.2 yards allowed per return ranked 125th out of 130 teams.

The schedule

The Mountaineers have seven home games for the first time since 2016, including crucial league games on Sept. 21 against No. 22 Kansas and Oct. 19 against No. 18 Kansas State. West Virginia has a 10-18 road record under Brown and has key games Sept. 14 at Pittsburgh, Oct. 5 at No. 17 Oklahoma State and Oct. 26 at No. 21 Arizona.