West Virginia’s thin running back room received some unfortunate news on Wednesday morning.

Rich Rodriguez announced SMU transfer running back Jaylan Knighton isn’t expected to play in 2025.

“He had an academic issue with one class,” Rodriguez said. “It doesn’t look like he’s going to be eligible.”

Knighton was a big addition in the transfer portal for Rodriguez’s squad. He played three years at Miami, where he racked up 1,000 yards, and recently, two years at SMU, where he had almost 1,000 yards in 2023. He didn’t play much last year because of injury. Knighton brought a lot of experience after announcing his transfer to WVU in the spring.

Knighton had been trying to get his waiver passed by the NCAA so that he could play another season of college football, but it looks like he won’t play. Knighton wasn’t the only player battling with the NCAA. UTSA pass rusher Jimmori Robinson has been trying to get his extra year of eligibility, too. Bandits coach Jeff Casteel talked about how he’s waiting for his return, too. All players waiting for waivers have to work on their own, and can’t practice or sit in on meetings with the team.

“Which is a shame because [Knighton] was working hard,” Rodriguez said. “We really liked him. Thought he was a good player. Just that one issue came up, which was kind of a little bit of a surprise to everybody.”

However, there was a positive to come Wednesday out of Larry Porter’s running back room.

Rodriguez said the running back room had its most players practicing all camp Wednesday morning at five. There were four last week: Jahiem White, Diore Hubbard, Kannon Katzer and Clay Ash, and just two the week before, so slowly the room is getting healthy. Rodriguez wanted the running back room to have some depth because he utilizes them so much in his offense. He’s still looking in the portal for some late additions.

“We’re getting there,” Rodriguez said. “That’s the one position where you do normally play more people.”