Previewing Utah State’s 2026 running backs

LOGAN, Utah – The dynamic running back tandem of Miles Davis and Javen Jacobs that powered Utah State’s ground game in 2025 has been cut in half.

Davis is chasing an NFL roster spot with the Carolina Panthers. Also gone is 2025 leading rusher Bryson Barnes, a dual-threat quarterback who ran for 979 yards and a team-high 10 rushing touchdowns.

Jacobs is still in Logan — and now he carries the load alone.

RELATED: Previewing Utah State’s 2026 quarterbacks

𝐅𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐂𝐀𝐌𝐏 | 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

🗣️ Hear from graduate RB 𝐉𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐉𝐚𝐜𝐨𝐛𝐬 following the Aggies’ 10th practice of fall camp.#AggiesAllTheWay | #ShowMe pic.twitter.com/bnPkckuaSp

— USU Football (@USUFootball) August 15, 2026

An Allstate Wuerffel Trophy watch list nominee, Jacobs leads the way as a proven runner and receiver out of the backfield who also adds kick return capabilities as one of the most versatile players on the roster.

Behind him, Noah White, Ravian Larry and Nehemiah Washington combine for 27 carries and 109 yards.

Entering its inaugural Pac-12 season, Utah State can’t afford to be one-dimensional — or one-back-deep. Jacobs is the engine, but the Aggies need someone behind him to emerge, and they need it before the conference schedule arrives in October.

Jacobs is also the elder statesman of a running back room that includes a junior, two sophomores and a quartet of freshmen battling for snaps.

Javen Jacobs – Graduate senior

The 5-foot-10, 210-pound Jacobs is Bronco Mendenhall’s longest-tenured Aggie after the pair migrated from New Mexico together.

“It means everything,” Jacobs said of his relationship with his head coach. “From the way I was raised to being in this culture and the way Coach Mendenhall does things. Making sure that you earn everything every day. You gotta prove it every day.”

𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕋𝕣𝕦𝕖-𝔹𝕝𝕠𝕠𝕕𝕖𝕕: Ep. 2🤘

Get to know our leadership council for the year, this time with @_JavenJacobs! pic.twitter.com/5ykJF3Xe2t

— USU Football (@USUFootball) August 8, 2026

Entering his third season under Mendenhall, Jacobs has been named to the preseason all-Pac-12 second team by both Phil Steele and Athlon Sports.

He has played in 35 career games, including 15 appearances across two seasons at Arizona State and seven games in his lone season at New Mexico.

Jacobs started 10 of 13 games in 2025, leading the team with 1,058 all-purpose yards, seven touchdowns and five games with 100-plus all-purpose yards.

Noah White – Sophomore

A native of nearby Millville, Utah, Noah White was a first-team all-state selection and KSL Rewind 4A Offensive MVP as a senior at Ridgeline High School. His 2,002 rushing yards led the state, and he added 19 touchdowns while leading the Riverhawks to a perfect 13-0 record and the 2021 Class 4A state title.

White lettered in football and track and field and was a second-team all-state honoree in lacrosse. He finished his prep career with 36 touchdowns and 3,902 all-purpose yards.

At 5-foot-9 and 195 pounds, White appeared in 12 games last season as a true freshman, making two starts.

He rushed for 93 yards on 25 carries, caught eight passes for 149 yards and returned one kickoff for 29 yards.

Sesi Vailahi – Junior

A former three-star recruit out of West High School in Salt Lake City, Sesi Vailahi was a two-way terror during his prep career.

He accumulated 2,965 rushing and receiving yards combined and scored 34 career touchdowns. Defensively, the 5-foot-9, 210-pound bruiser added 48 tackles, 1.5 sacks and four tackles for a loss as a senior.

Recapping the first round of our Jersey Number Ceremony this weekend! 💙

🎟️: https://t.co/AVUwMaXSrJ pic.twitter.com/Eif8HUBzr5

— USU Football (@USUFootball) August 17, 2026

Vailahi joins Utah State as a transfer from Oklahoma State.

In three seasons with the Cowboys, he appeared in 26 games with three starts. Vailahi ran for 278 yards and four touchdowns on 90 carries and caught 18 passes for 112 yards.

Vailahi’s brother, Lava, is a redshirt freshman safety with the Aggies.

Ravian Larry – Redshirt freshman

A two-time Oklahoma Class 2A-6 all-district honoree at Idabel High School, Ravian Larry ran for 672 yards and 10 touchdowns while leading the Warriors to a district championship in 2024.

He finished his prep career with 3,371 rushing yards and 43 touchdowns, adding 208 receiving yards and 10 more scores.

Larry carried the ball once for two yards last season while preserving his redshirt.

Nehemiah Washington – Redshirt freshman

Entering his second season with the Aggies, Nehemiah Washington brings excellent size at 6 feet and 225 pounds.

Originally from Federal Way, Washington, he was named the 4A North Puget Sound District Offensive Player of the Year and earned first-team all-league honors after running for 1,332 yards, including seven 100-yard performances, and 19 touchdowns as a junior at Decatur High School.

An injury limited him to four games as a senior.

Washington played in three games as a freshman to preserve his redshirt. His only collegiate carry went for six yards against Nevada in November.

Tre Kofe – Sophomore

Originally from Idaho Falls, Idaho, Tre Kofe finished his prep career at Corner Canyon High School in Draper, Utah.

At 5-foot-9 and 220 pounds, Kofe used his low center of gravity to average 8.5 yards per carry as a senior, picking up 639 yards on 75 attempts while scoring seven touchdowns. He added 10 receptions for 142 yards and three touchdowns.

Kofe’s only college experience came against San Jose State on Oct. 18, 2025. He redshirted in 2024.

Clyde Taulapapa – Freshman

Clyde Taulapapa enters his second season in Logan looking for his first taste of on-field experience.

𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℕ𝕖𝕨 𝔼𝕣𝕒 𝔸𝕨𝕒𝕚𝕥𝕤 👀

Updated game times & network selections for the season are here! 📅⏲️

🎟️: https://t.co/ogxb0J9CUS pic.twitter.com/pLBnyKlnQw

— USU Football (@USUFootball) May 27, 2026

Also 6 feet and 225 pounds, the Kahuku, Hawaii, native earned honorable mention all-state after averaging 5.4 yards per carry as a senior at Kahuku High School. He helped lead the Red Raiders to consecutive state championships during his junior and senior seasons.

Taulapapa redshirted in 2025 because of an injury.

JT White – Freshman

The second former Ridgeline Riverhawk tailback in the room, JT White was a state champion as a freshman on that 2021 squad alongside his older brother, Noah.

He developed into a first-team all-state running back after rushing for 1,666 yards and 23 touchdowns as a senior. He added 163 yards and a touchdown on 17 receptions in 2024.

White is entering his first season at Utah State after serving a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Saltillo, Mexico.

Looking ahead

The talent is there in pieces — speed from Larry, size from Washington, Power Five experience from Vailahi, and two Riverhawk products who know the Cache Valley crowd.

But none of it matters until someone proves they can consistently move the chains behind Jacobs.

With three weeks until Idaho State comes to town, the competition continues.

Following Utah State football with KSL Sports Zone

The Aggies open the 2026 season against Idaho State on Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium on September 5. Kickoff is at 5 p.m. MT.

Find Utah State football’s entire 2026 schedule here.

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Brian Preece is a sports.ksl.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here. Find Brian on X, Instagram, and BlueSky at @bpreece24.

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