Limiting WVU ‘Two-Headed Monster’ Critical for Pitt Defense

Since the Backyard Brawl returned, the Pitt defense has had very little answers for a West Virginia player who emerged during the 2022 matchup.

Recruited as a tight end, now running back CJ Donaldson lives for this rivalry. In his first collegiate game as a true freshman, Donaldson ran for 125 yards – a single-game career-high that was only matched last week against Albany — and a touchdown in the seven-point loss at Acrisure Stadium.

A year later, he was an integral part of a low-scoring 17-6 victory as he ran for 102 yards and one touchdown.

Donaldson became the first running back in the rivalry to run for 100-plus yards in back-to-back meetings since Pitt legend LeSean McCoy ran for 148 yards in ‘13-9’ and 183 yards and two touchdowns in 2008.

CJ Donaldson’s first ever in-game carry? A 44-yarder vs. Pitt. #WVU pic.twitter.com/DXS7VcwZF0

— Schuyler Callihan (@Callihan_) July 15, 2023

Entering the 107^th meeting on Saturday, Donaldson is poised for another strong performance, only this time he is complemented by a young sophomore back in Jahiem White.

“They got a two-headed monster at running back,” Pat Narduzzi said on Thursday. “You better be prepared for different stuff when both of them are in.”

Standing at 6-2, 238 pounds, Donaldson is a downhill, physical back whereas White is shiftier and quick as he garnered a comparison from Narduzzi to a Pitt running back.

“Jahiem White’s a dude. Jahiem’s a good football player. I see him kind of like a Desmond Reid. He’s slippery. He’s not real big, but he’s explosive. He’s made big plays for them,” Narduzzi said.

Against Albany, White ran for 100 yards and a touchdown as the Mountaineers compiled 305 yards on the ground. Last year, White compiled 842 yards and four touchdowns as a freshman and ran for a career-high 204 yards against Cincinnati — the first 200-plus yard performance from a WVU back since 2016. However, he did not get a carry against the Panthers in Morgantown.

For the Pitt defense, stopping the run is arguably the most critical component on Saturday, which is an area that Pitt has been susceptible in against the Mountaineers.

CJ Donaldson runs for a touchdown against Pitt in 2022. Photo: Kelsie LeRose / WVSN.

“We have to stop the run. They did run the ball a little bit against us last year,” Narduzzi said. “To stop the run, you got to score points, too. Last week, ran into the same thing in the first half. When you’re down, they can run the ball more. It makes it easy for them because they’re up 14 or 21 points. We were allowing them by the scoreboard to be able to call those plays. We got to help ourselves that way. We gave up three big runs last week and if you watch the tape, it’s execution. We got to execute better.”

The Panthers allowed 151 yards last week to Cincinnati. Against West Virginia, Pitt has surrendered 151 and 190 yards, respectively over the last two meetings.

To Pitt’s credit, it found a way to adjust in Cincinnati against the run, giving way to the Panthers’ comeback.

“We have to make those adjustments that we did in the first half sooner,” Pitt defensive coordinator Randy Bates said. “These guys are good running teams and they’re going to be able to run it some. The critical thing is to minimize those gains. Once in a while they’ll pop one, but it’s critical to make some big plays.”

While Pitt has a new-look run defense this season up front, Kansas State defensive end transfer Nate Matlack is familiar with the Mountaineers after playing them in 2021 and 2022 in the Big 12.

“Their offensive line is really physical and we knew they wanted to run the ball. That’s kind of their style of offense. That’s going to be a big point to us just like last week. Cincinnati likes to run the ball, and they like to run the ball.

“This game is going to be physical regardless because it’s a rivalry game and guys are going to impose their will on each other. Being physical up front is what they want to do, so we got to match that and be even better,” Matlack said.

Another assignment for Matlack is sealing the edge of the pocket to keep WVU quarterback Garrett Greene in contain.

“That’s definitely going to be our job, not on every play but most plays. We’re going to try and keep them in just as a defensive line, too. You can scramble up the middle if those d-tackles don’t do their job, too. It’s a group effort.”

Greene provides a third piece in the Mountaineers’ ground attack with his scramble ability and designed runs. Last week, he ran for 68 yards, including a 40-yard touchdown dash.

IT’S WHAT HE DOES 🫡 @garrett3greene pic.twitter.com/HoqCS7IoQ9

— West Virginia Football (@WVUfootball) September 7, 2024

This will be Greene’s first true game of the Backyard Brawl, however, after leaving last year’s matchup early with an injury.

“This year, we’ve seen a lot more of him running again.” Pitt linebacker Kyle Louis said. “He got injured during our game, so this game, trying to come in and think of what he doing. He shows some speed, he shows some passing ability, so we’re definitely going to watch out for that.”

West Virginia finished last season ranked fourth in the country in rushing with 228.9 yards per game. So far, the Mountaineers sit 43^rd with 195 yards per game this season.

As Donaldson and White provide a ‘two-headed monster’ with Greene adding another layer to the ground game, the Pitt run defense will be under the microscope come Saturday.