Top candidates to fill the position of WVU running backs coach

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Dec. 12—MORGANTOWN — There were multiple reports that Auburn and new head coach Alex Golesh was targeting current West Virginia running backs coach Larry Porter for the same role. WVU, who had Porter for less than a year, was out of a running backs coach once again.

In late February, Rich Rodriguez confirmed during a press conference that Chad Scott was leaving for Texas. A couple of weeks later, the Mountaineers announced that Porter — coming in from North Carolina — would take over.

Porter had a tough season, constantly working with different running backs with all the injuries in the room. Production was hard to see. But Porter was a big hire as one of the top running backs coaches in the country, with over 20 years of experience and recently produced first-round NFL Draft pick Omarian Hampton with the Tar Heels.

Now, Rodriguez will be looking for another running backs coach for the second time within a year. There's no timeline, but the spot will probably fill before the Jan. 2 transfer portal opens to help add an experienced running back.

Here are some options that Rodriguez might look at:

Noel Devine, WVU assistant RB coach If Rodriguez wants to go the easy route, the answer might already be on staff. Noel Devine is currently the assistant running backs coach and was added this offseason when Rodriguez took over.

Devine doesn't have too much experience as a running backs coach, but had a successful playing career as a running back. Devine was the highest-rated recruit in the modern era for the Mountaineers and one of the most talented backs to wear the gold and blue.

Devine was a three-year starter from 2007-10, and is third in WVU history with 4, 315 yards. He is the Mountaineers' all-time leader in all-purpose yards with 5, 761 yards.

After Devine's college career, he signed a free agent contract with the Philadelphia Eagles and then bounced around in other professional football leagues.

Devine spent a whole year learning under Porter, so he could be ready for the jump to become the full-time running backs coach in 2026.

Rod McDowell, Marshall RB coach Rodriguez might not have to look too far to find his next running backs coach. Marshall's running back coach, Rod McDowell, is right down the road and has a history with Rodriguez.

McDowell was Rodriguez's running backs coach while he was at Jacksonville State for the short three years with the Gamecocks. McDowell's RB room had a lot of success. In 2023, Jacksonville State was third in the country in rushing. The following year, McDowell developed Tre Stewart. Stewart rushed for 1, 638 yards and 25 touchdowns while averaging 117 yards per game. He was top 10 in the FBS in all three of those stats.

McDowell has a history with Rodriguez, and Rodriguez isn't afraid to hire former staffers, which makes up most of his current coaching staff. The question is, will McDowell leave Marshall after just one season ? In this era, it's very plausible for a definite upgrade.

Chad Scott, former Texas RB coach Last week, Texas fired running backs coach Chad Scott. Scott didn't last long with the Longhorns after he left WVU later in the year. Could Rodriguez bring back Scott ?

Scott has a good track record of developing running backs. He had success under Neal Brown, producing both Jahiem White and C.J. Donaldson, who both had successful 2024 seasons.

Scott obviously knows the West Virginia area well, coaching on the Mountaineers staff from 2019-2024. Prior to WVU, Scott coached at his alma mater, North Carolina, and played in the NFL for a few years.

This year's Texas running back room struggled in 2025. The Longhorns were fourth to last in the SEC in rushing yards, which didn't cut it for Steve Sarkisian. Texas had RB talent, too, with C.J. Baxter, who was a 5-star out of high school.

The question is, does Rodriguez bring back a coach who left him ? Or does Scott just follow Neal Brown to North Texas, where he recently became the head coach ?

Ja'Juan Seider, Notre Dame RB coach The home run hire would be bringing back Ja'Juan Seider. Seider was a quarterback at WVU from 1995-99, and was an offensive assistant in 2008. He then came back from 2013-16, becoming the running backs coach.

Seider's biggest success came recently at Penn State and now at Notre Dame. Seider developed NFL running back Miles Sanders, and the early stages of the duo of Nicholas Singleton and Katyron Allen. Singleton set the touchdown record at Penn State and Allen set the rushing record.

This year, at Notre Dame, Seider played a big role in coaching running back Jeremiyah Love. Love was recently announced as a Heisman Trophy finalist and rushed for 1, 372 yards and 18 touchdowns, which are fourth and third in the FBS, respectively.

Seider is arguably the best running backs coach in the country, so it'll be hard to pry him away from the Fighting Irish. However, Seider hinted and showed his appreciation for WVU recently, so it's not out of the question. His nephew, Jyron Hughley, also just signed with the Mountaineers to help. It'll take quite a bit of money, though, to get him out of South Bend.

Tony Alford, Michigan RB coach This week, Michigan fired head coach Sherrone Moore, creating a lot of uncertainty surrounding the roster and staff. Running backs coach Tony Alford is currently on staff and could be looking for a job in the coming weeks, if the new coach the Wolverines bring in doesn't retain him.

Alford is an experienced running backs coach with over 20 years of experience, and coached at many Power Four schools, like Iowa State, Louisville, Notre Dame and Ohio State.

This year, Alford almost had two running backs rush for 1, 000 yards, and each had 10 touchdowns a piece. The Wolverines were third in the Big Ten in rushing yards.

Before 2025, Alford spent almost a decade at Ohio State. He developed six 1, 000-yard rushers, and multiple are in the NFL now, like Ezekiel Elliott, J.K. Dobbins and recently TreVeyon Henderson.

Alford would be another home run hire for the Mountaineers. He knows the area well, growing up in Akron, Ohio, but it'd be a waiting game to see if the new coach retains him. Rodriguez might not want to wait around.

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