Jaylan Knighton News, Rumors, Updates - West Virginia Mountaineers

West Virginia RB Jaylan Knighton removed from roster West Virginia running back Jaylan Knighton is not expected to play this season due to an academic issue, coach Rich Rodriguez confirmed Wedn...

AUGUST 13 • THENEWSTRIBUNE.COM

West Virginia running back Jaylan Knighton not expected to play in 2025 - Dominion Post MORGANTOWN — West Virginia’s thin running back room received some unfortunate news on Wednesday morning. Rich Rodriguez announced SMU transf...

AUGUST 13 • DOMINIONPOST.COM

No longer listed on WVU roster Knighton is no longer listed on West Virginia's 2025 roster, Keenan Cummings of Rivals reports.

Impact August began with Knighton's availability status unclear, and now it is clear that he will not play in 2025 with West Virginia no longer having him. Unfortunately for the running back, he will not have an immediate opportunity to bounce back from 2024, when a season-ending knee injury limited him to just two games. Knighton logged 12 carries for 43 yards then.

AUGUST 13 • ROTOWIRE

Status for 2025 unclear Head coach Rich Rodriguez indicated that Knighton isn't yet eligible for the 2025 campaign, Mike Casazza of 247Sports reports.

Impact Knighton joined the Mountaineers in April, but he's yet to receive a ruling on his status for the 2025 campaign. He played in just two games last season for SMU, which should presumably allow him to join West Virginia for his final collegiate campaign, but there isn't any clarity surrounding that at this juncture. Tye Edwards reportedly also has eligibility concerns, which could leave West Virginia looking for depth behind Jahiem White in 2025, pending the rulings.

AUGUST 7 • ROTOWIRE

Headed to Morgantown Knighton will transfer to West Virginia, per Pete Nakos of On3.com.

Impact Knighton underwent season-ending knee surgery in September, cutting his senior season and his second campaign with SMU short. He'll now head to West Virginia for his final season, where he'll look to resume his role as a top tailback. The last time he got a full season to showcase his skills, Knighton ran for 745 yards and seven scores on 5.5 yards-per-carry with the Mustangs in 2023.

APRIL 28 • ROTOWIRE

Officially hits portal Knighton (knee) is officially in the transfer portal, per Chris Hummer of 247Sports.com.

Impact The tailback was reported to be no longer with the Mustangs as of early April, and now he'll officially seek a new program by way of the transfer portal. Knighton suffered a knee injury early in 2024 that prevented him from playing in more than two games, meaning he preserved his eligibility for one final season with a new program. His best year came in 2023 with SMU, when he ran for 745 yards and seven touchdowns on 5.5 yards-per-carry.

APRIL 16 • ROTOWIRE

No longer with team Knighton is no longer a part of SMU's roster, Baileigh Sheffield of Rivals.com reports.

Impact Knighton is currently out of a team and still nursing a knee injury as the 2025 season soon approaches. The running back will likely enter the transfer portal to find a new squad with spring ball currently underway for most programs but nothing is confirmed yet.

APRIL 2 • ROTOWIRE

Out for season Knighton (knee) underwent a season-ending knee surgery on Monday, Billy Embody of On3.com reports.

Impact Knighton, who sustained a knee injury that forced his exit in Week 2 against BYU, will miss the remainder of the 2024-25 season after undergoing a season-ending surgery. The 5-foot-10 senior was expected to handle a large role for the Mustangs this season after totaling 745 yards and seven touchdowns on 136 carries with SMU last season. In Knighton's absence Brashard Smith will lead SMU's backfield with LJ Johnson Jr. and Derrick McFall set to make contributions.

SEPTEMBER 24, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Out vs. TCU Knighton is out for SMU's game Saturday against TCU due to an undisclosed injury, Billy Embody of On3 reports.

Impact Knighton suffered the undisclosed injury during SMU's last play in Week 2 against BYU. Even though he had the bye week to recover, he will need another week to get back on track.

SEPTEMBER 17, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Assumes RB2 role in loss Knighton posted eight rushes for 35 yards and caught 2 of 4 targets for 16 yards during Friday's 18-15 loss versus Brigham Young.

Impact With no LJ Johnson, Knighton assumed the second-string running back role for SMU and posted a solid performance. It was his best game of the season so far, and if he can continue to produce solid totals as a backup, he may see his carries increase. Still, Brashard Smith remains the clear top tailback for the Mustangs, and there's no telling if Knighton can retain the RB2 role once Johnson returns from injury.

SEPTEMBER 8, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Assumes RB2 role in loss Knighton posted eight rushes for 35 yards and caught 2 of 4 targets for 16 yards during Friday's 18-15 loss versus Brigham Young.

SEPTEMBER 8, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Expected to play vs. SMU Knighton (undisclosed) is expected to return this week for the Mustangs when they host BYU on Friday night, Lia Assimakopoulos of the Dallas Morning News reports.

Impact Knighton didn't play in SMU's Week 1 blowout of Houston Christian, and only logged four carries in the Week 0 opener against Nevada. Still, the tailback is set to make his return against BYU, where he'll look to get more involved in the Mustangs' rushing attack.

SEPTEMBER 4, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

DNP vs. Houston Christian Knighton (undisclosed) did not play during SMU's 59-7 win Saturday against Houston Christian.

Impact According to Lia Assimakopoulos of The Dallas Morning News, an undisclosed injury prevented Knighton from being available Saturday. On the plus side, he could have played if needed. So despite an injury, his availability status is probable for SMU's next game.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

DNP vs. Houston Christian Knighton (undisclosed) did not play during SMU's 59-7 win Saturday against Houston Christian.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Unable to get going vs. Nevada Knighton tallied four carries for eight yards and reeled in 2 of 3 targets for 26 yards during Saturday's 29-24 win over Nevada.

Impact Knighton was bottled up to the tune of eight yards rushing and 26 yards through the air, but perhaps more alarming is how seldom he was used. His four carries were outpaced by both of his backfield mates, Brashard Smith and LJ Johnson Jr. His receiving acumen does add an element to his game, but it was a curious performance for a tailback who was expected to lead SMU's backfield this fall. If the Mustangs' continue to use a committee-like approach, Knighton's value could drop significantly.

AUGUST 25, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

DNP against Navy Knighton (undisclosed) did not play during SMU's game Saturday against Navy.

Impact Unfortunately for Knighton, Week 13 marked his first DNP since Week 3. Now, his next opportunity to play is on Dec. 2, when SMU and Tulane square off in the 2023 AAC Championship Game.

NOVEMBER 26, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Expected to play Head coach Rhett Lashlee indicated Wednesday that Knighton is expected to play in Saturday's game against Navy, Jordan Hofeditz of 247Sports.com reports.

Impact Knighton logged a season-low six snaps in last week's matchup, indicating he may have been dealing with some type of injury. With positive news from Lashlee, the 5-foot-10 running is trending towards taking the field for the end of the regular season. He has totaled 114 carries for 647 yards and six touchdowns this year.

NOVEMBER 22, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Scores in win Knighton posted two rushes for five yards and one touchdown during Saturday's 38-34 victory against Memphis.

Impact Despite recording season lows in rushing attempts and carries, Knighton scored his sixth touchdown of the season, all of which have come in the past seven games. His role in the game was extremely small, as LJ Johnson (21 carries for 115 yards and a touchdown) and Camar Wheaton (nine carries for 51 yards) took up the bulk of the work. That does not bode well for Knighton's next game, a tough matchup Saturday versus Navy.

NOVEMBER 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Runs all over North Texas Knighton compiled 17 rushes for 129 yards and one touchdown during Friday's 45-21 win against North Texas.

Impact Knighton received a season-high 17 carries Friday and ran for 129 yards and a touchdown. LJ Johnson also received 20 carries and ran for over 100 yards as both runners found a way to get good work in versus an unimpressive Mean Green run defense. It will be a more difficult matchup Saturday at Memphis for the entire Mustangs' backfield.

NOVEMBER 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Out-worked in win Knighton notched 11 rushes for 55 yards and gathered in 1 of 3 targets for 28 yards during Saturday's 36-31 win versus Rice.

Impact Knighton was out-carried and out-rushed by LJ Johnson Saturday as Johnson set a season-high with 18 touches. Knighton still had a solid outing and seems to be the player receiving the most consistent work in the Mustangs' split backfield.

NOVEMBER 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Scores on ground in win Knighton logged six rushes for 34 yards and one touchdown during Saturday's 69-10 win versus Tulsa.

Impact Knighton scored his fourth rushing touchdown of the season Sunday, an 11-yard rush in the first quarter. He was one of six Mustang running backs to record a carry Saturday as the team took a 49-point lead into halftime.

OCTOBER 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Scores TD in rout Knighton recorded 15 rushes for 64 yards and one touchdown during Friday's 55-0 victory versus Temple.

Impact Knighton recorded over 10 carries for the fifth time in his six games this season and scored his third touchdown of the season in Friday's rout of Temple. Next up on Saturday he faces a Tulsa defense which just allowed 42 points to Rice, so Knighton has a chance for another strong outing.

OCTOBER 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Knighton sparks SMU to 34-16 victory over Charlotte

Jaylan Knighton broke the game open with a 95-yard touchdown run in the third quarter and SMU went on to defeat Charlotte 34-16 in an American Athletic Conference opener for both t...

OCTOBER 1, 2023 • Associated Press

Lands at SMU Knighton announced Dec. 11 that he has committed to SMU, joining the program as a transfer from Miami (Fla.), Billy Embody of On3.com reports.

Impact He'll reunite in suburban Dallas with head coach Rhett Lashlee, who previously served as Miami's offensive coordinator in 2020 and 2021. The 5-foot-10, 190-pound Knighton should get the chance to compete for a role in what's shaping up as a competitive running-back room that includes the team's top three rushers from 2022 (Tyler Lavine, Velton Gardner and Camar Wheaton) as well as incoming Texas A&M transfer LJ Johnson. Knighton, who will have two more years of eligibility to use, totaled 1,193 yards on 275 carries (4.3 average) and 10 touchdowns while catching 40 passes for 497 yards and four more scores.

JANUARY 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

RB Jaylan Knighton announces his intentions to enter the portal A productive back is entering the portal.

DECEMBER 6, 2022 • 247SPORTS.COM

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Knighton sparks SMU to 34-16 victory over Charlotte