Donaldson, White will key WVU offense | News, Sports, Jobs

MORGANTOWN — The setup couldn’t be better for West Virginia’s offense this year.

There’s an experienced offensive line, a proven dual-threat quarterback in his final season and in a breakout season, a tall, tough and talented tight end, a diverse group of receivers who seem to peak together… and a pair of quarterbacks as runners. the engine that drives everything in Jahiem White and CJ Donaldson.

Donaldson emerged as a freshman two years ago before getting injured, then midway through last season, White became a sensation in his true freshman season.

Sports history is littered with sensational duos…Army’s Doc Blanchard and Glenn Davis, Mr. Inside and Mr. Outside; New York Yankees Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, then Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris; Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale of the Dodgers; The Lakers’ Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal and, of course, West Virginia’s Pat White and Steve Slaton.

But White and Donaldson’s relationship has a depth unlike any other, as their roots lie deep in their childhoods.

Donaldson, a year ahead of White, names his running back “little brother” and it’s part of how their relationship played out at WVU and just as much in part because they were childhood buddies.

In the listing, White is from York, Pennsylvania, where he went to high school, but as fate would have it, he and Donaldson spent their elementary school years in the same neighborhood in Miami, Florida.

“Jahiem and I grew up in the same neighborhood, so when he came in here, I took him under my wing.” Donaldson said during an interview session on Monday.

Donaldson burst onto the scene as a true freshman in 2021. He started his career at WVU in the tight end as more receiver than running back, but something told the coaches that in his 6-2, 220.-pound frame there was more of a power running back than a tight end.

His Mountaineer debut was quite similar to WVU running back Amos Zereoue, whose 1996 debut also came against Pitt in a Backyard Brawl. Zereoue’s first career carry went 69 yards for a touchdown. He would finish the first game against the Panthers with 135 yards on 12 carries.

Donaldson’s first carry was 44 yards against Pitt and he finished the day with 125 yards on 7 carries.

Donaldson rushed for 100 yards or more in four of the first seven games before suffering a broken leg against TCU to end his freshman season.

White’s debut was kind of like that in reverse. While Donaldson exploded onto the scene, White eased up as he acclimated to college football, not playing against Penn State and Pitt, though he was let loose in Duquesne’s upset and gained 112 yards rushing, giving a glimpse of his talent.

But it wasn’t until the last six games of the season that he was used extensively, and what a show he put on, gaining 657 of his 842 yards as a freshman in those games, including 204 against Oklahoma State and catching a game-winning touchdown against Baylor .

All through the rough early days and after coming out as a running back, Donaldson was there to guide him through the pitfalls of his freshman year so he could become PFF’s fourth true freshman running back. grading service has ever been rated, being awarded an 89.1.

That was behind Washington’s Myles Gaston in 2015 (91.2), Kansas’ Pooka Williams Jr. in 2018 (90.1) and Wisconsin’s Jonathon Taylor (2017) 89.2.

Although they weren’t on the same team in those youth leagues they played in until White and his family moved north to Pennsylvania, they built a relationship and occasionally kept in touch over the years.

“Now he’s come to like it where we’re practically co-partners in this gym,” Donaldson said. The relationship with each other is so special. We are always laughing, always playing. You always see us smiling with each other. He brings the energy when I don’t have it and when he doesn’t, I bring it to him.”

Donaldson has reason to smile as he is healthy again after breaking a leg and then spending much of last year playing through various issues, putting together a season in which he gained 798 yards on 171 carries of attempts and 11 touchdowns.

Combined, the two have rushed for 1,640 yards, which has everyone looking forward to what’s to come this year as they finally put it all together, so to speak.

Donaldson is there to offer advice to White on how to handle his second season in the spotlight.

“You definitely have to grow every year and not get stuck in the freshman mentality that sophomore year.” Donaldson said. “In your sophomore year, you’re basically a junior. You have to grow up. You know you’re a big part of the offense. I definitely try to keep it balanced and keep it focused on the main goal and not get so distracted by outsiders.”

And the biggest understanding they have is that they are there for each other rather than competing against each other.

“We are stronger together than divided” Donaldson said. “I tell him that people will try to break us up. “He is 1 and I am 2”, or “I am 1 and he is 2”, but we are stronger together. Speed ​​and power.”