CJ Donaldson Jr. arrived in Columbus with a resume built on power, contact balance, and the production of a lead back. At West Virginia in 2024 he carried that workload, finishing the season as the Mountaineers’
primary rusher with 163 carries for 734 yards and 11 rushing touchdowns.
In 2025, after moving to Ohio State, Donaldson’s raw totals shifted to reflect a new role in a crowded Buckeye backfield. After the Big Ten championship game, Donaldson has 89 carries for 330 yards and 10 rushing touchdowns while also contributing as a short-area receiver when asked.
Those numbers show a drop in volume but not in importance, Donaldson has provided a physical, dependable presence that has mattered in multiple games this season.
From starter to complementary piece: how his role evolved
Donaldson began the season as Ohio State’s featured back. Early in the year he averaged a workload consistent with a lead back and was asked to carry the offense on the ground, establishing physical downhill runs and working between the tackles.
As the season unfolded, Ohio State’s backfield naturally shifted with younger backs gaining momentum and the offense leaning into a deeper committee approach. That evolution moved Donaldson from starter to complementary piece, but it never reduced his importance.
His 10 rushing touchdowns highlight how consistently the staff trusted his power, balance, and reliability in scoring and short-yardage situations, even as his overall carry count decreased. The transition from lead back to the second back in a two-back rotation was smooth, and Donaldson remained a fixture in the moments where the Buckeyes needed a dependable, physical runner on the field.
Positives, struggles, and playoff outlook
Donaldson has provided consistent situational value all season, converting short-yardage plays, punching in goal-line touchdowns, and offering reliable pass protection and quick outlet options when needed. His experience and physicality give Ohio State a dependable veteran who absorbs contact, finishes runs, and simplifies play calls in critical moments.
Game to game, he consistently produced positive yardage, protected the quarterback, and scored in key situations, which kept him a regular contributor despite a shared backfield.
That said, Donaldson’s most noticeable struggles came on short-yardage downs, where the offense occasionally failed to gain the necessary one or two yards on third-and-short or goal-to-go situations. Those lapses, often a combination of offensive line issues, predictable play calls, and defenses keyed to limit power runs, were particularly visible because they are the plays where a veteran back is expected to excel.
Looking ahead to the postseason, Donaldson projects to stay as Ohio State’s RB2, a high-usage situational back who will be relied upon in short-yardage and goal-line packages. His power, reliability, and 10 touchdowns this season highlight the trust the staff places in him, and if used correctly, he could be a decisive factor in close playoff games where just one or two key conversions can swing momentum.
Bottom line
CJ Donaldson’s 2025 stat line (89 carries, 330 yards, 10 TD) is smaller than his 2024 lead back totals at West Virginia (163 carries, 734 yards, 11 TD), but the narrative matters more than raw volume.
He has been a dependable, physical complement to Ohio State’s backfield, supplying touchdowns, short-yardage attempts, pass protection and occasional receiving work. While he has had hiccups in short-yardage efficiency, his situational value makes him an ideal RB2 for the playoffs.
The kind of experienced, power-oriented back that can win or lose a possession in a one score game. Expect Donaldson to see most of his snaps in those decisive packages, and expect the Buckeyes to lean on him when they need a tough yard or two.
