Oct 17, 2025 By Spencer Ripchik 4 min read

West Virginia running back Jahiem White was tackled by a horse collar and a facemask by an Ohio defender. It was an ugly tackle, and White couldn’t get up. He was helped to the sideline and eventually went out on the cart. White was done for the season.

Northern Iowa transfer Tye Edwards stepped up and rushed for 141 yards and scored three touchdowns against Pitt. It seemed like he’d be the running back going forward. Since the Backyard Brawl, Edwards hasn’t seen the field and only played a couple of snaps against BYU with a hip injury. As of Wednesday, Edwards was officially ruled out.

Rich Rodriguez is down two of his top running backs in a very run-heavy scheme.

“This gives an opportunity for Diore (Hubbard),” Rodriguez said. “He’s done a good job with his chance. Cyncir Bowers is back, so he’s going to get a chance to play more reps. You still have Clay (Ash) and Tyler Jacklich. It’s not as deep of a room as we thought we’d have originally. Obviously, you lose experience with Jahiem and the big guy with Tye, but those are all good players. They can do some stuff for us.”

It’s the next man up approach, and redshirt freshman Diore Hubbard is the next man up. Hubbard played in two games his freshman year against Oklahoma State and Kansas State, and saw limited action in the first couple of games with White and Edwards in the backfield.

Hubbard’s been patient, but now, it’ll be his backfield to take over against UCF.

“I wouldn’t say it was hard being patient,” Hubbard said. “I was just waiting for an opportunity. When the opportunity arrived, I took it and went to my best ability.”

In the limited action in three games, Hubbard rushed 30 times for 109 yards and two touchdowns. His best game was against Utah, where he averaged over six yards a carry. He took a little step back against BYU and rushed for under two yards a carry.

Hubbard still has areas of his game to work on as a redshirt freshman.

“Just knowing my assignment,” Hubbard said. “Just knowing what the other teams are going to do. Knowing the front. Identifying the fronts. Just running the ball better as well, production, breaking tackles.”

Hubbard is in one of the best places to develop as a running back. The team isn’t in the best spot at 2-4, but he’s learning from a top running backs coach in college football, Larry Porter. Porter developed productive Los Angeles Chargers rookie Omarion Hampton last season at North Carolina.

Hubbard is also learning from White. White rushed for over 800 yards in the last two seasons at WVU and was named first team Preseason All-Big 12 before this season.

Rodriguez wants his injured players, like White, to stay in the building and keep engaged and help out as they can. Hubbard said he’s taking some aspects of White’s game.

“I wouldn’t say I really learned anything from Jahiem,” Hubbard said. “My coach used to tell me, ‘The good ones borrow, the great ones steal.’ Jahiem is really elusive and stuff like that. I try to take some of the stuff in his bag and put it in my bag.”

Hubbard has his work cut out for him. WVU’s rushing attack hasn’t looked the same without Edwards and White. But, he’s not alone. Bowers is back from a concussion, Ash will catch passes out the backfield, and Tyler Jacklich could be the big physical back that’s missing from Edwards.

It’s no secret that when WVU can’t run the ball efficiently, the whole offense is stagnant. Hubbard was asked what needs to happen for WVU to be successful on offense, and he put the blame on the running back room.

“We have to be more productive in the running back room,” Hubbard said.