Where Does WVU's RB Group Rank in the Big 12?

West Virginia's RB room is viewed as a top half of the league group.

West Virginia rushed for an average of 171.5 yards per game in 2022, which ranked seventh among Big 12 teams. That ranking took a bit of a plunge when the Mountaineers lost starting running back CJ Donaldson midway through the season with an undisclosed injury.

Once Donaldson went down, WVU went to more of a by-committee approach with Tony Mathis, Justin Johnson Jr., and Jaylen Anderson. With Donaldson back to full strength and Johnson and Anderson also returning behind the best offensive line in the Big 12, the WVU rushing attack could be lethal.

In a recent ranking by Bryan Clinton of Heartland College Sports, he tabbed West Virginia as having the sixth-best running back group in the conference.

"Last season, CJ Donaldson burst onto the scene as a freshman, turning 87 carries into 526 yards (6.0 ypc) and eight scores and topped 100 four times in just seven games before a season-ending injury. He returns in 2023 and appears to be RB1 ahead of sophomore Jaylen Anderson, who averaged 7.9 yards per carry in 2022. Justin Johnson, who served as the No. 3 option in 2022, is also back, giving WVU good depth and experience at RB. If Donaldson returns to form, this group should greatly improve on their 171.5 ypg last season."

The five RB rooms that are ranked higher? Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Baylor, and Kansas State.

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