CJ Donaldson Jr. News, Rumors, Updates - West Virginia Mountaineers

Sheds nearly 20 pounds Donaldson has dropped nearly 20 pounds in the two months since signing on with the Buckeyes, weighing in most recently at 226 pounds in mid-March, Dan Hope of ElevenWarriors.com re...

Impact While Donaldson was listed at 238 pounds last year, he apparently was tipping the scales north of 240 pounds at some point. He's now down to 226 pounds in an attempt to provide more versatility as a rusher and receiver with the Buckeyes' backfield up for grabs following the departures of NFL prospects TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins, and Donaldson and James Peoples are likely the favorites to claim most of those touches.

APRIL 7 • ROTOWIRE

Commits to Ohio State Donaldson has committed to Ohio State for the 2025 season, Matt Zenitz of 247Sports.com reports.

Impact Donaldson has only one year of college eligibility remaining, and he'll try to maximize it as part of the Buckeyes. Donaldson was a workhorse for WVU in each of the last two seasons, recording 171 and 163 carries for 798 and 734 yards, respectively, while scoring 11 touchdowns in each campaign.

DECEMBER 23, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Entering portal Donaldson is entering the transfer portal, Wesley Shoemaker of Rivals.com reports.

Impact Donaldson has only one year of collegiate eligibility remaining, so it makes sense that he uses the transfer portal to maximize his last season. Between 2022 and 2024, he has been an excellent running back for West Virginia each year, a type of consistency that should reward him interest from even the best programs in college football today.

DECEMBER 19, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Totals 103 yards in loss Donaldson totaled nine carries for 30 yards and reeled in 7 of 8 targets for 73 yards during Saturday's 52-15 defeat to Texas Tech.

Impact Donaldson had a huge receiving game with a season-high seven catches and 73 yards. West Virginia quickly fell behind the Red Raiders and the only success they really could have was through their dynamic pair of running backs. Jahiem White had 14 carries for 124 yards and a touchdown. Donaldson and the Mountaineers will await to see who their bowl opponent will be.

DECEMBER 1, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Pair of scores in win over UCF Donaldson posted 19 carries for 96 yards and two touchdowns and reeled in 0 of 1 targets for zero yards during Saturday's 31-21 victory against UCF.

Impact Donaldson scored a pair of touchdowns for the third time this season, the other occurrences happening in Week 3 at Pittsburgh and Week 6 at Oklahoma State. Donaldson has been an efficient player during the 2024 season with 10 total touchdowns on 137 total touches. West Virginia will finish the regular season at Texas Tech.

NOVEMBER 24, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Scores TD against Baylor Donaldson tallied nine carries for 60 yards and one touchdown while reeling in 1 of 2 targets for one yard during Saturday's 49-35 loss to Baylor.

Impact Donaldson logged his eighth touchdown of the season as West Virginia took part in a shootout with the Bears. It's worth noting that QB Garrett Greene made his return from an injury and had significant work on the ground with 22 carries for 129 yards and two touchdowns. Teammate Jahiem White was also busy with 16 carries for 67 yards. Expect them to split opportunities with Donaldson as the season progresses through the last two regular season games. West Virginia will play UCF next.

NOVEMBER 17, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Season-low four carries Donaldson totaled four carries for 12 yards during Saturday's 31-24 victory versus Cincinnati.

Impact Donaldson entered the game with an undisclosed ailment and it's likely that is still bothering him in some way since he received a season-low number of carries. Teammate Jahiem White rushed for 64 yards on 13 carries. West Virginia will play Baylor next week.

NOVEMBER 10, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Ready to roll for Saturday Donaldson (undisclosed) is good to go for Saturday's game against Cincinnati, Schuyler Callihan or Sports Illustrated now reports.

Impact Donaldson went into the Mountaineers' bye week with some sort of injury, but it seems the time off helped him recover ahead of Saturday's contest. The third-year tailback is having another productive campaign on the ground, totaling 453 yards and six touchdowns on 100 carries so far.

NOVEMBER 7, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Iffy headed into bye week Donaldson (undisclosed) is still dealing with an ailment as West Virginia enters its bye week, Ryan Decker of Gold and Blue Nation reports.

Impact The West Virginia coaching staff reportedly needs to "see how (Donaldson) does this week" before providing a further update. Luckily for the Mountaineers, they have a bye this week before returning to action on Nov. 9 against Cincinnati. The starting tailback should have plenty of time to recover before the clash with the Bearcats.

OCTOBER 28, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Scores on fourth down conversion Donaldson recorded eight carries for 41 yards and one touchdown and gathered in his only target for three yards during Saturday's 31-26 victory versus Arizona.

Impact Donaldson's sixth touchdown of the season came on a 20-yard scamper which was one of three fourth-down scores for West Virginia on the night. Donaldson remains in a timeshare with teammate Jahiem White on a team that prefers to run the ball. West Virginia will play Cincinnati next week.

OCTOBER 27, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

CJ Donaldson Jr. sprints past Arizona's defense on a 20-yard TD to give West Virginia a 24-7 lead

OCTOBER 27, 2024 • FOX SPORTS

Limited impact in loss to KSU Donaldson recorded 12 rushes for 34 yards and gathered in his only target for zero yards during Saturday's 45-18 loss against Kansas State.

Impact Donaldson was propelled into being the primary rusher for the Mountaineers as both QB Garrett Greene and RB Jahiem White exited with injuries. If both of those players are forced to miss additional time, it could mean an expanded role for Donaldson. Even if those players do return, Donaldson has seen significant utilization with double-digit touches in five of seven games this year. West Virginia will play at Arizona this week.

OCTOBER 20, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Limited to 17 yards in loss Donaldson recorded nine rushes for 17 yards and gathered in 0 of 2 targets for zero yards during Saturday's 28-16 defeat against Iowa State.

Impact Donaldson had one of his worst games against the undefeated Cyclones as he averaged a season-low 1.9 yards per carry. Meanwhile teammate Jahiem White accounted for both of West Virginia's touchdowns and has a score in five straight games. With QB Garrett Greene struggling recently, it's possible West Virginia leans more heavily on Donaldson and White moving forward. West Virginia will play Kansas State next week.

OCTOBER 13, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Two scores in win at OKST Donaldson totaled 20 carries for 77 yards and two touchdowns during Saturday's 38-14 win versus Oklahoma State.

Impact Donaldson has at least one touchdown in four of five games this year. Teammate Jahiem White also had a great game with 158 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries. White and Donaldson are a dynamic duo and expect both players to be featured when they take on an undefeated Iowa State team next week.

OCTOBER 6, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Six touches in win over Kansas Donaldson compiled six rushes for 38 yards and reeled in 0 of 1 targets for zero yards during Saturday's 32-28 win versus Kansas.

Impact Donaldson had a season-low six touches in the win over Kansas. This had more to do with the gameplan which centered around QB Garrett Green who led the team with 17 carries on the ground and had a lot of success through the air. Back-up RB Jahiem White had just six carries too but was able to add a touchdown on one of those carries. West Virginia is off next week before playing at Oklahoma State.

SEPTEMBER 22, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Consistent production to begin year Donaldson posted 19 rushes for 79 yards and one touchdown and gathered in 1 of 3 targets for 10 yards and one touchdown during Saturday's 38-34 defeat to Pittsburgh.

Impact Donaldson has reached paydirt in all three games this season. He was West Virginia's best playmaker against the Panthers with a rushing and receiving score. He also had more carries than Jahiem White who had 13 carries for 46 yards and a touchdown. Expect both Donaldson and White to be part of the gameplan when the team plays Kansas next week.

SEPTEMBER 15, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

100-yard rushing performance in win Donaldson compiled 14 carries for 125 yards and one touchdown during Saturday's 49-14 win versus Albany.

Impact Donaldson recorded his first 100-yard rushing performance since going for 102 yards against BYU in Week 10 of the 2023 season. Teammate Jahiem White has received most of the hype this season, but with double-digit carries in each of the first two games, Donaldson is making a case to be the team's top option in the backfield. It looks like it may be more of a committee at West Virginia than a starter and back-up. West Virginia will play at Pittsburgh next week.

SEPTEMBER 8, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Primary back in loss to Penn State Donaldson accrued 12 rushes for 42 yards and one touchdown while reeling in 1 of 2 targets for six yards during Saturday's 34-12 loss against Penn State.

Impact Donaldson served as the Mountaineers' top back versus the Nittany Lions while Jahiem White had 10 total touches. White did leave for a brief moment with an arm injury which is worth watching. Donaldson and White are expected to split duties this year, so determining which one gets more work will be important for fantasy rosters. Both backs should have successful outings against Albany next week.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Ready to go for fall camp Donaldson (undisclosed) fully participated in team practice Wednesday, Ryan Decker of Gold and Blue Nation reports.

Impact Donaldson was limited but not fully out during the spring. All he needed was a few more months to recover, and they allowed him to be fully healthy going into West Virginia's fall camp. Even with Donaldson's already impressive 2022 season, the running back somehow impressed even further during 2023, a year during which he logged 171 carries for 798 yards (4.7 averaged per carry) and 11 touchdowns across 12 games. Perhaps, the junior back can raise his statistical output again. And even if Donaldson cannot, he is still expected to be one of the FBS' best running backs during 2024.

JULY 31, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Out for bowl game Head coach Neal Brown said that Donaldson (undisclosed) will miss the Duke's Mayo Bowl due to injury, Keenan Cummings of Rivals.com reports.

Impact Donaldson will miss the electric Duke's Mayo Bowl with an undisclosed injury following a season in which he saw his volume significantly decrease down the stretch. The sophomore running back ran for 798 yards and 11 touchdowns on the season for the Mountaineers, adding nine catches for 59 yards through the air as well.

DECEMBER 17, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Passed up on the depth chart Donaldson compiled five carries for 23 yards during Saturday's 34-31 win over Baylor.

Impact Donaldson saw just five carries in the win at Baylor while true freshman Jahiem White had 17 carries for 133 yards and the game-winning touchdown reception. Over the past couple of weeks, it's clear that White has passed Donaldson on the depth chart. Both Donaldson and White should play in the bowl game for West Virginia.

NOVEMBER 26, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Passed up on the depth chart Donaldson compiled five carries for 23 yards during Saturday's 34-31 win over Baylor.

NOVEMBER 26, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Records TD in ninth straight game Donaldson (undisclosed) posted five carries for 20 yards and one touchdown during Saturday's 42-21 victory against Cincinnati.

Impact Donaldson played sparingly due to an injury but played just enough to record a touchdown in his ninth straight game. Jahiem White was amazing in the backfield with 21 carries for 204 yards and a touchdown while QB Garrett Greene was also unstoppable on the ground with 11 carries for 154 yards and three touchdowns. The West Virginia backfield should finish the year strong at Baylor in the regular season finale.

NOVEMBER 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Appears likely to play Donaldson (undisclosed) is on the field for warmups ahead of Saturday's game against Cincinnati and appears in line to play, Neil Meyer of The Front Office News reports.

Impact Donaldson was deemed a game-time decision leading up to the contest, but the indications are he'll give it a go after getting hurt late in last week's contest. He should see a healthy workload of totes again Saturday, entering the day with 161 carries for 755 yards and 10 touchdowns over 10 games.

NOVEMBER 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sits out Sunday practice Donaldson (undisclosed) did not participate in West Virginia's team practice Sunday, Keenan Cummings of Rivals.com reports.

Impact According to West Virginia's head coach Neal Brown, Donaldson's availability status will be better known later this week. For now, he remains questionable as the Mountaineers prepare to host Cincinnati for their Week 12 game scheduled on Nov. 18.

NOVEMBER 13, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

CJ DONALDSON JR. NEWS

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CJ Donaldson Jr. sprints past Arizona's defense on a 20-yard TD to give West Virginia a 24-7 lead