SMU RB Jaylan Knighton signs with West Virginia

SMU’s Jaylan Knighton has signed with West Virginia from the NCAA Transfer Portal. That comes per reporting by On3’s Pete Nakos on Monday.

Knighton was not listed on the roster coming out of spring practice for the Mustangs. He’d then enter the portal at the opening of the spring cycle. Now, after interest from other programs with ones like Michigan, Knighton is headed to Morgantown from out of the portal.

Knighton started his career with three seasons with the Miami Hurricanes before spending the last two at Southern Methodist. He has, in 41 appearances with the two programs the past half-decade, posted 423 carries for 1,981 yards, at 48.3 yards per game and 4.7 yards per rush, and 17 touchdowns scored. He has also caught 57 passes for 628 touchdowns with five scores. That brings him to 63.6 yards from scrimmage per game with 22 total scores in his career.

Knighton was the Mustangs’ leading rusher in 2023. That’s with 745 yards on 136 rushes, at 62.1 yards a game and 5.5 yards per carry, for seven touchdowns. However, in 2024, Knighton only played in a pair of games with him tearing his ACL early on during what was his graduate year in Dallas.

A Lauderhill, Florida native, Knighton played at Deerfield Beach. He was the No. 123 overall recruit there as a four-star in the 2020 cycle. He also rated as the No. 12 RB and the No. 18 player out of the state. That’s according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Now, per the latest update to On3’s Industry Ranking of 2025’s Top Transfer Portal Players, Knighton was among the better backs to be available this spring. He was at No. 1,920 overall and was the No. 155 RB in those ratings.

Knighton is now the latest portal transaction this offseason for WVU amidst the coaching change back to Rich Rodriguez. He, as well as WR Jordan McCants (Jacksonville State) this morning, bring the Mountaineers to 11 additions in the spring. They also picked up OT Malik Agbo (Texas) and WR Justin Smith-Brown (South Carolina State) on Sunday to add to TE Grayson Barnes (Northern Illinois), DL Eddie Kelly (Missouri), WR Christian Hamilton (North Carolina), CB Nick Taylor (Appalachian State), OT Mickel Clay (North Alabama), LB Ben Bogle (SIU Carbondale), and IOL Josh Aisosa (Oklahoma).

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire. 

The On3 Transfer Portal Instagram account and Twitter account are excellent resources to stay up to date with the latest moves.