Player Career

CJ Donaldson Career Story

Career story, signature performances, transfer context, and season arc are grouped for biography-style searches.

Player Story

CJ Donaldson story

CJ Donaldson built his college career from 2022 through 2025 as a running back from Miami, FL wearing No. 12, spending time with Ohio State and West Virginia. The clearest part of CJ Donaldson's career was his backfield work: 2,419 rushing yards, 517 carries, 40 rushing touchdowns, and 276 receiving yards across 45 career games in the available record. His largest box-score season came in 2024 with West Virginia. Those numbers show where he fit, how often the ball or action found him, and how his role developed over time.

The value of the career arc is that it connects production to role, not just a name on a roster. His career also includes 276 receiving yards and 2 tackles, giving the story more than a single-category snapshot. With 45 career games in the available record, his career has enough shape to show both opportunity and production across Ohio State and West Virginia.

The arc is straightforward: CJ Donaldson moved through the depth chart, found a larger role, and turned that opportunity into production that can be understood through standard football numbers.

Career Arc

Track team changes, role shifts, and season-to-season movement.

  1. 1

    West Virginia

    2022-2024

    Opening stop

  2. 2

    Ohio State

    2025

    Final stop

Season Value Progression

202220232024202420252025
SeasonTeamPrimaryEfficiencyUsageDelta
2022 Regular SeasonWest Virginia54355.622.4
2023 Regular SeasonWest Virginia8574925.8314
2024 PostseasonWest Virginia83847.323-19
2024 Regular SeasonWest Virginia83847.3230
2025 PostseasonOhio State45740.715.8-381
2025 Regular SeasonOhio State45740.715.80

Transfer Portal History

Matched portal movement

SeasonPathMovementValueDate
2025West Virginia to Ohio StateP4 to P480.3Dec 23, 2024

Signature Performances

Top Games

#1 Featured game

vs UAlbany

Week 2 · W 49-14

Win with 125 yards from scrimmage and efficient touch value.

125

Scrimmage Yards

88 takeover

125 scrimmage yards and 26.9 usage.

#2

@ UCF

Week 9 · W 41-28 · Conference game

130

Scrimmage Yards

84.6 takeover

Win with 130 yards from scrimmage and efficient touch value.

130 scrimmage yards and 27.7 usage.

#3

vs No. 17 Texas

Week 1 · W 14-7 · Ranked opponent

76

Scrimmage Yards

79.3 takeover

Win with 76 yards from scrimmage and efficient touch value.

76 scrimmage yards and 42.6 usage.

#4

@ Virginia Tech

Week 4 · W 33-10

112

Scrimmage Yards

78.8 takeover

Win driven by a workhorse rushing load.

112 scrimmage yards and 39.4 usage.

#5

@ Pittsburgh

Week 1 · L 31-38

125

Scrimmage Yards

78.4 takeover

Loss with 125 yards from scrimmage and efficient touch value.

125 scrimmage yards and 12.3 usage.

Top Seasons

#1 Season by Season Value

2023 Regular Season · West Virginia

857 primary output · 49 efficiency · 25.8 usage

74.1

#2

2024 Postseason · West Virginia

69

838 primary · 47.3 efficiency · 23 usage

#3

2024 Regular Season · West Virginia

69

838 primary · 47.3 efficiency · 23 usage

Milestones

8

100+ rush yards

0

150+ scrimmage yards

11

2+ TD games