West Virginia’s best running backs
Avon Cobourne has the most rushing yards in West Virginia history, 5,164 from 1999 to 2002. Since 2004, Noel Devine has the most, 4,314 in 51 games.
Of the Big East’s best running backs since 2004, Noel Devine is 2nd and Steve Slaton 3rd.
West Virginia’s running backs this season
- Cam Cook8 games, 115.4 a game923rushing yards
- Amari Latimer7 games, 25.4 a game178rushing yards
By decade: 2020s · 2010s · 2004–09
rushing yards in West Virginia history
- 1Avon Cobourne1999 – 20025,164
- 2Pat White2005 – 20084,480
- 3Noel Devine2007 – 20104,315
- 4Amos Zereoué1996 – 19984,086
- 5Steve Slaton2005 – 20073,923
- 6Leddie Brown2018 – 20212,888
- 7Arthur Owens1972 – 19752,648
- 8Robert Walker1993 – 19952,620
- 9Quincy Wilson1999 – 20032,608
- 10Wendell Smallwood2013 – 20152,462
From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0), through the 2025 season, which counts bowl games from 2002.
Compare with in · side by side
Every running back since 2004
| Place | Player | rushing yards | rushing touchdowns | yards from scrimmage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Noel Devine2007 – 2010 · 51 games | 4,314 | 29 | 5,024 |
| 2 | Steve Slaton2005 – 2007 · 35 games | 3,923 | 50 | 4,728 |
| 3 | Leddie Brown2018 – 2021 · 43 games | 2,888 | 27 | 3,492 |
| 4 | Wendell Smallwood2013 – 2015 · 38 games | 2,462 | 12 | 3,080 |
| 5 | Justin Crawford2016 – 2017 · 25 games | 2,245 | 11 | 2,351 |
| 6 | Kennedy McKoy2016 – 2019 · 47 games | 2,193 | 22 | 2,720 |
| 7 | CJ Donaldson2022 – 2024 · 32 games | 2,058 | 30 | 2,248 |
| 8 | Rushel Shell2014 – 2016 · 35 games | 2,010 | 20 | 2,351 |
| 9 | Jahiem White2023 – 2025 · 25 games | 1,819 | 14 | 2,081 |
| 10 | Andrew Buie2011 – 2014 · 30 games | 1,255 | 10 | 1,732 |
| 11 | Martell Pettaway2016 – 2019 · 31 games | 1,104 | 11 | 1,221 |
| 12 | Charles Sims2013 · 12 games | 1,095 | 11 | 1,496 |
| 13 | Shawne Alston2009 – 2012 · 27 games | 1,068 | 19 | 1,082 |
| 14 | Dustin Garrison2011 – 2014 · 29 games | 1,060 | 8 | 1,319 |
| 15 | Owen Schmitt2005 – 2007 · 38 games | 1,003 | 13 | 1,291 |
| 16 | Dreamius Smith2013 – 2014 · 25 games | 945 | 10 | 997 |
| 17 | Tony Mathis Jr.2019 – 2022 · 21 games | 943 | 6 | 1,007 |
| 18 | Cam Cook2026 · still playing | 923 | 7 | 1,038 |
| +923 this season | ||||
| 19 | Jason Colson2004 – 2006 · 23 games | 866 | 7 | 1,083 |
| 20 | Justin Johnson Jr.2021 – 2023 · 23 games | 670 | 4 | 729 |
| 21 | Ryan Clarke2009 – 2012 · 26 games | 553 | 16 | 584 |
| 22 | Jaylen Anderson2022 – 2024 · 16 games | 456 | 3 | 522 |
| 23 | Alec Sinkfield2018 – 2020 · 25 games | 436 | 4 | 553 |
| 24 | Pernell Williams2004 – 2005 · 13 games | 421 | 4 | 437 |
| 25 | Diore Hubbard2024 – 2025 · 10 games | 336 | 4 | 492 |
rushing yards by decade
2020s
- Leddie Brown2020 – 2021 · 22 games2,075
- CJ Donaldson2022 – 2024 · 32 games2,058
- Jahiem White2023 – 2025 · 25 games1,819
- Tony Mathis Jr.2020 – 2022 · 20 games929
- › Cam Cook2026 · 8 games923
2010s
- Wendell Smallwood2013 – 2015 · 38 games2,462
- Justin Crawford2016 – 2017 · 25 games2,245
- Kennedy McKoy2016 – 2019 · 47 games2,193
- Rushel Shell2014 – 2016 · 35 games2,010
- Andrew Buie2011 – 2014 · 30 games1,255
2004–09
- Steve Slaton2005 – 2007 · 35 games3,923
- Noel Devine2007 – 2009 · 38 games3,378
- Owen Schmitt2005 – 2007 · 38 games1,003
- Jason Colson2004 – 2006 · 23 games866
- Pernell Williams2004 – 2005 · 13 games421
Also at West Virginia: quarterbacks · wide receivers · tight ends · defenders · kickers · punters · West Virginia record book
Method
- Every running back who played at West Virginia since 2004, ranked by rushing yards over his games there. Bowl and playoff games count.
- The numbers here start in 2004, so a running back who played at West Virginia before then isn't here.
- A decade counts his rushing yards at West Virginia in its seasons.
- The record book's numbers are the school's own. Where they and the box scores differ for one player, the box scores are missing a game or count bowls another way.
- A running back still playing at West Virginia is counted at tonight's numbers against the record book's, which run through the 2025 season.