The influx of transfer portal additions for West Virginia football coach Rich Rodriguez and his staff shows no signs of slowing down.
Following the additions of an offensive lineman and wide receiver on Sunday and a kicker earlier in the weekend, WVU fans were greeted with news of two more pickups on Monday morning in quick succession.
Headlining the new arrivals was Jaylan Knighton, a running back from SMU, who will bring veteran experience as a sixth-year player with extensive Power 4 background. His commitment to the Mountaineers was first reported by 247Sports. Knighton began his collegiate career at Miami in 2020, where he amassed over 1,100 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns, along with 497 receiving yards and four receiving scores. He later transferred to SMU, then part of the American Athletic Conference, where he posted his best season yet in 2023 rushing for 745 yards and seven touchdowns, while adding 89 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown.
Knighton remained with SMU through their transition into the ACC in 2024 but appeared in only two games before suffering an injury. He redshirted to preserve his final year of eligibility. Across his career with Miami and SMU, Knighton has totaled 1,981 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns.
SMU RB Jaylan Knighton has signed with West Virginia, @mzenitz and I have learned for @247Sports.
Knighton has run for 1,981 yards and 17 TDs in his career between time at Miami and with the Mustangs. He ran for 745 yards on 5.5 ypc in 2023.https://t.co/gUHJPdgT5b pic.twitter.com/TBK37PMNDI
— Chris Hummer (@chris_hummer) April 28, 2025
In addition to Knighton, West Virginia secured a commitment from Jacksonville State wide receiver Jordan McCants, a player familiar to Rodriguez and receivers coach Ryan Garrett. According to 247Sports, McCants, a three-star recruit in high school and part of Rodriguez’s first recruiting class at Jacksonville State, redshirted his freshman year in 2022 and saw limited action in 2023. However, he became a more consistent contributor last season, recording 15 receptions for 146 yards.
McCants will reunite with several former Jacksonville State teammates at WVU, including wide receivers Cam Vaughn and Jared Bowie, tight end Jacob Barrick, safety Fred Perry, and cornerback Derek Carter all of whom transferred during the winter portal window. Offensive lineman Xavier Bausley and safety Kekoura Tarnue, who also played for Rodriguez at Jacksonville State, were already on WVU’s roster last season.
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