Jahiem White RB West Virginia | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Jahiem White RB West Virginia
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| ROLE: Work-Horse Back | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 06/27/2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.45 seconds (83%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| ROLE: Work-Horse Back | |
| Last Updated: 06/27/2025 | |
| Draft Year: 2026 | |
| 40 time: 4.45 seconds (83%*) | |
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| Overall Rating: | 81.4 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
| Defense Rating: |
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75% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Rushing: |
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81% |
| Break Tackles: |
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85% |
| Receiving/Hands: |
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55% |
| Pass Blocking: |
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22% |
| Run Blocking: |
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46% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
6th
Overall Rank:
#175
Position rank:
#14
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| College Games: 25 College Snaps: 705 | ||
ESPN RATING: 77/100
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247 RATING: 88/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.7 (93%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Keaton Mitchell - East Carolina |
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73% |
| Jaden Shirden - Monmouth |
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67% |
| RJ Harvey - UCF |
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62% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Jahiem White carved out his reputation as one of high school football's most explosive backs at William Penn Senior High. The York County native rewrote his school's record books with 5,780 career rushing yards, earning Pennsylvania All-State honors twice while leading his Bearcats to playoff appearances. His senior campaign produced eye-popping numbers: 1,918 yards and 37 touchdowns on the ground, plus 33 catches for 428 yards through the air, capping off a remarkable prep career that saw him average over 45 points per game for his team.White's transition to Morgantown proved seamless despite arriving as a three-star recruit ranked modestly by major services. His freshman season announcement came against Duquesne with 110 yards and a touchdown, but the real fireworks began late in the year. Against Cincinnati, he exploded for 204 yards on 21 carries in his first collegiate start, becoming the first Mountaineer to crack 200 yards since 2016. That performance, combined with a game-winning 29-yard touchdown grab at Baylor, earned him Freshman All-American recognition from multiple outlets. White finished his debut campaign with 842 rushing yards and four touchdowns while averaging a school-record 7.7 yards per carry.
The sophomore campaign saw White ascend to primary back duties, accumulating 845 yards and seven touchdowns on 148 carries despite battling through various injuries. His 35% forced missed tackle rate tied for third among Power Four running backs, showcasing the elusiveness that made him such a weapon in space. White added 122 receiving yards on 19 catches, demonstrating expanded versatility in the passing game. However, his season ended prematurely with a hamstring injury during the Frisco Bowl, cutting short what many considered a breakout year that positioned him as one of college football's most dynamic returners heading into 2025.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Explosive acceleration through gaps with legitimate 4.4 speed that separates him from defenders in the second level
- Exceptional contact balance allows him to bounce off arm tackles and maintain forward momentum through traffic
- Natural receiving skills with soft hands and route-running ability that creates mismatches out of the backfield
- Elite change-of-direction ability lets him plant and cut on a dime without losing significant speed
- Instinctive vision to identify running lanes quickly and attack them decisively before they close
- Competitive toughness shows up in short-yardage situations despite his smaller frame and injury history
- Versatile skill set extends to return duties where his field awareness and burst create big-play potential
- High football intelligence evident in his ability to adapt to different offensive systems and maximize touches
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Concerning injury history includes multiple setbacks that have limited his availability and durability questions
- Undersized frame at 195 pounds raises questions about handling a full NFL workload against bigger defenders
- Pass protection skills remain underdeveloped with poor blocking grades that could limit three-down potential
- Limited power running ability struggles to convert short-yardage situations when finesse doesn't work
- Inconsistent fumble issues surface when defenders get clean shots at the football in traffic
Scouting Report: Summary
White brings legitimate game-breaking speed to the professional level, but his path to consistent snaps remains clouded by significant limitations. The same explosiveness that creates highlight-reel runs also gets neutralized when defenses force him into predictable situations. His natural receiving ability opens doors in pass-heavy offenses, yet the inability to handle pass protection responsibilities severely restricts his three-down value. Teams will be drawn to his dynamic playmaking potential while simultaneously questioning whether he can withstand the physical demands of an NFL season.The injury concerns that have plagued his college career aren't going away against bigger, faster professionals who hit considerably harder. However, his vision and cutting ability remain genuinely special traits that translate regardless of level. White's size becomes less problematic in space where his acceleration advantage is maximized, but it becomes a glaring weakness when asked to handle inside runs or pick up blitzing linebackers. His versatility as a returner and slot receiver provides additional roster value, though those roles come with their own injury risks for someone already battling durability questions.
The tape reveals a player caught between roles - too small for traditional workhorse duties but too talented to ignore completely. White's ceiling involves carving out a Darren Sproles-type role where creative usage masks his deficiencies while highlighting his explosiveness. That ceiling, however, depends entirely on landing with coaches who understand his limitations and design around them accordingly. His floor presents a player whose injury history and size limitations prevent him from ever reaching his potential, making him a boom-or-bust proposition that could either justify a Day 2 selection or wash out quickly if misused.
How other scouting services rate Jahiem White (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
183.7
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
12.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.