MORGANTOWN -- The injury bug has bitten the West Virginia University football team.
The Mountaineers lost several players to injury on Saturday in a loss at Ohio, the most prominent of whom is running back Jahiem White.
White and wideout Jaden Bray are expected to miss the remainder of the season due to injury.
White suffered his injury when Ohio's Jalen Thomeson committed a double personal foul penalty -- facemask and horse collar.
"[His injury] was unfortunate because he had worked really hard to come back and be ready to play," WVU coach Rich Rodriguez said Tuesday. "I told those guys that we've got great medical help. They'll come back bigger and stronger than ever."
Bray's was a little less noticeable, as he walked off the field with WVU assistants to the locker room.
Rodriguez mentioned Morgantown native Preston Fox as a possible replacement to Bray at the Z-receiver position.
"Jaden's, I think, was the same [injury] he had before, which is really unfortunate, with his foot," Rodriguez said. "He'll get it fixed again and expect a full recovery from that. He was one of the hardest workers [at] every practice. He was getting the most miles in. That's where you feel bad for the guys."
White rushed for 133 yards and three touchdowns in WVU's first two games.
His rushing yard total accounts for 27% of the Mountaineers' 492 rushing yards as a team.
Rodriguez will look at Clay Ash and Cyncir Bowers as possible No. 1 running back candidates, with others likely to get some run throughout a game.
Ash has carried the ball nine times for 25 yards in WVU's two games.
"Clay's played pretty well. He's a tough competitor," Rodriguez said. "He's done a good job of learning our stuff and so [I've] been really pleased. He's earned the right to play some."
Bowers, who has also played in the first two contests, has run the ball seven times for 53 yards and one touchdown.
The Pennsylvania native rushed six times for 54 yards and one score in the Week 1 contest against Robert Morris, with his touchdown coming from 26 yards out.
Bowers carried the ball once against the Bobcats for negative-1 yard.
"Cyncir is one of the fastest guys on the team," Rodriguez said. "Again, [he's] still learning everything that we're doing. He's got a chance to play a lot of football. He's played a little bit, but I think every week he gets a little bit more comfortable. He's a good football player."
Rodriguez will also look at Diore Hubbard and Tye Edwards as two candidates to set up in the backfield.
Hubbard hasn't played yet this season. Rodriguez, though, likes what he sees from the redshirt freshman running back.
"Diore has got some speed and good ability," Rodriguez said. "He was still learning a little bit. He [was] banged up somewhat in the beginning of camp, which set him back a little bit."
WVU also lost Reid Carrico to an injury early on in the first half against Ohio.
Rodriguez listed the Mountaineers linebacker as "day to day."
West Virginia will welcome Pitt to Morgantown on Saturday for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff televised on ESPN. It'll be the 108th meeting between the two bitter rivals. The Panthers lead the all-time series 63-41-3.
