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West Virginia running back Jahiem White (1) against Arizona in the first half during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo\/Rick Scuteri)<\/p>\n
The summertime for the college football player isn\u2019t an offseason. There are times when players get time off, but most of the summer is work. Players aren\u2019t allowed to practice, but are allowed to work out and condition before the intense practices of fall camp.<\/p>\n
This offseason, West Virginia\u2019s conditioning is a bit more intense than in years past because it\u2019s a Rich Rodriguez offense. Most college football teams run tempo these days, but Rodriguez\u2019s tempo is up a notch compared to other offenses around the league. Last year, Rodriguez\u2019s Jacksonville State ranked 11th in tempo, whereas West Virginia ranked 84th. <\/p>\n
During the spring, most players\u2019 goal this summer was to get into tempo shape, and this summer\u2019s workouts have focused on speed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe do a lot of fast workouts, and a lot of tempo workouts, too,\u201d wide receiver Jaden Bray said. \u201cThroughout the day, it\u2019ll be all incremented through our workout, something to do with speed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Workouts consist of a bit less rest, like in between plays in a game, and a lot of running up the Morgantown hills, like at the practice facility. <\/p>\n
There are still a couple of weeks before the start of the official camp, and some players are still working toward tempo shape, like center Landen Livingston.<\/p>\n
\u201cDefinitely, I could say that I\u2019ve gotten in better condition, but definitely some more still to go,\u201d Livingston said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think that you can really never get into too good of condition. That would be my goal is to get in the best condition possible, so we can run this offense.\u201d<\/p>\n
The offensive line has an important role in the tempo offense because the play speed is dictated by how fast they line up and snap the ball. Offensive linemen are also the biggest players on the team, making it hard for them to run and get to the ball. A fast pace also entails high demands from the offensive line. Nothing derails a drive- and a tempo offense\u2019s momentum- like a false start penalty.<\/p>\n
However, Livingston has enjoyed the tempo so far.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like it definitely has its advantages and stuff like that,\u201d Livingston said. \u201cI do like going at the fast pace. I think that it really simplifies our scheme, which is very good. Obviously, it needs to be simple for us to run it fast. That\u2019s something I\u2019ve quickly learned to love over the spring.\u201d<\/p>\n
The other position that\u2019ll receive an extra workload in Rodriguez\u2019s offense is the running back position. Rodriguez ran the ball 646 times last year, the third-most in the NCAA. The running back will have to be in superb shape as well.<\/p>\n
Luckily for Rodriguez, he has the best running back in the Big 12. Jahiem White was named preseason All-Big 12, and he\u2019ll need another big year and should as long as he stays healthy. White was banged up this spring, but Rodriguez said he\u2019s healthy and ready to go for fall.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe milked it a little bit in the spring, but he\u2019s healthy now,\u201d Rodriguez said. \u201cHe\u2019s a competitive guy by nature. He\u2019s a smart football player. He kind of understands football. He\u2019s been coached well, poised for a big year\u2026 Jahiem\u2019s got a lot of the same skills of a lot of really good backs that I\u2019ve had over the years.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rodriguez said White will take the brunt of the touches, but he wants to work in a couple of other backs to make sure White stays healthy. Rodriguez added a couple of transfer running backs to help, SMU veteran Jaylan Knighton and Northern Iowa\u2019s Tye Edwards.<\/p>\n
White\u2019s put on some size, and Rodriguez thinks he\u2019ll handle the extra workload well.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow it depends a lot of times on who\u2019s tackling him,\u201d Rodriguez said. \u201cIf he\u2019s getting tackled by the big guys or the little guys. Hopefully it\u2019s by the little guys. But we got to play more than one, and we\u2019ll play more than one guy. With our pace and our tempo, he\u2019s got to have to be in great shape, but we\u2019ll have other guys that can play. But I like his skill set for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n
For some, the summer might seem like a break for college football players, but it\u2019s not, especially for WVU. Last year, WVU players might\u2019ve worked out, but this year, there\u2019s another level to achieve.<\/p>\n
Rodriguez believes his squad has taken the next step this summer, moving towards tempo shape.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are pretty demanding,\u201d Rodriguez said. \u201cI think we\u2019ve always been. But they worked out. It\u2019s not like this was all new to them. They worked hard in the summers before. Our biggest difference is our tempo. You have to be in great shape on both sides of the ball to play the way we want, not just on offense.\u201d<\/p>\n
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