West Virginia football adds ACC transfer running back and Jacksonville State transfer wideout

Wayne McGahee III/Democrat via Imagn Content Services, LLC

The transfer portal additions aren't stopping any time soon for West Virginia football coach Rich Rodriguez and his staff.

After the Mountaineers added an offensive lineman and wide receiver in the portal on Sunday and a kicker earlier in the weekend, the WVU football fanbase learned of two more additions on Monday morning within quick succession.

The biggest name added to start the week was Jaylan Knighton, an SMU running back who will be a sixth-year player and brings significant Power 4 experience. His decision to join the Mountaineers was first reported by 247Sports.

Knighton started his career in 2020 with the Miami Hurricanes, where he rushed for over 1,100 yards and 10 touchdowns and also added 497 receiving yards and four additional receiving touchdowns. He then transferred to then-American Athletic Conference program SMU, where he had his best rushing season yet in 2023 -- he racked up 745 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground and added 89 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown.

Knighton was with SMU as they made the move to the ACC in 2024, making two appearances before being sidelined with an injury and electing to redshirt and save his final season of eligibility.

Joining Knighton in committing to WVU football on Monday was a face that will be familiar to Rodriguez and his wide receivers coach Ryan Garrett -- 247Sports also reported that Jacksonville State wide receiver Jordan McCants will join the Mountaineers.

McCants was a three-star high school recruit who was signed as apart of Rodriguez's first class with the Gamecocks. He redshirted in 2022 as a freshman, and saw limited action in 2023. He became a more reliable part of the program's passing attack last season, hauling in 15 passes for 146 yards.

He will join former Jacksonville State teammates and wide receivers Cam Vaughn and Jared Bowie, who joined the Mountaineers in the winter portal window. Other former Jacksonville State players on the roster include tight end Jacob Barrick, safety Fred Perry, and cornerback Derek Carter, who also joined in the winter portal window -- offensive lineman Xavier Bausley and safety Kekoura Tarnue both also played for Rodriguez at Jacksonville State but were on WVU's roster last season.


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