Is Jahiem White an option for the 49ers next offseason?
North Texas running back Jahiem White is quietly having a stellar 2026 campaign and is establishing himself as an enticing mid-round 2027 NFL Draft target for the San Francisco 49ers. His elite elusiveness, vision, and short-area burst make him among the most explosive players in the nation.
White, the five-foot-seven, 190-pound redshirt junior, started his career with West Virginia. He had three productive seasons before suffering a season-ending knee injury in 2025. Following that, he transferred to North Texas and has dominated through the first five games.
White’s already racked up 582 yards and eight touchdowns in 2026. He’s been uber-efficient, averaging 6.9 yards per carry, and has spearheaded one of the nation’s most dynamic offenses, averaging 40.6 points per game. Despite this production, White only recently made scouts’ draft boards after an elite showing against Tulsa, tallying 231 rushing yards and one touchdown.
Regardless of the time, White’s elusiveness makes him a dream acquisition for offensive coordinators. He’s difficult to corral in space and has exceptional contact balance that helps him bounce off tackles. Additionally, he expertly navigates through contact and uses his jump cuts to seemingly teleport past defenders.
An underrated aspect of White’s game is his elite patience and vision from the backfield. He lets his blocks set up before using his superb short-area burst to rapidly accelerate and glide through the lane. If a defender does fill the lane, then he can quickly decelerate and finds another gap. This quickly gives him a full head of steam and makes it challenging for defenders to reach him.
White’s biggest issue is his usage. He doesn’t have the play strength of a between-the-tackles, downhill back and won’t consistently run through tackles. As a result, he will be a change-of-pace, third-down player in the NFL. This isn’t necessarily bad, but it means he must have a partner, rather than being the sole threat. Still, he’s a talented player that Kyle Shanahan could use.
The 49ers have reaped the benefits of Christian McCaffrey for the past five seasons. However, he’s now 30 years old and won’t be playing forever. As a result, it’s the perfect time to begin searching for his successor and ensure that Brock Purdy has a dynamic weapon from the backfield.
If they attempt this next offseason, then Jahiem White will undoubtedly be an intriguing option. His mixture of elusiveness, vision, and short-area burst makes him an electric, big-play threat that the 49ers can snag with a mid-round selection next April.
