CJ Donaldson's transformation from Mountaineer to Buckeye is complete.
On Wednesday, the running back transfer from West Virginia shed his black stripe following his 21st Ohio State practice.
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) August 6, 2025
Lock Boyz adding a baller in the backfield, welcome @Sp3Cj pic.twitter.com/bthYluy3v5
Donaldson established himself as a consistent power back during his two years as a starter for the Mountaineers, rushing for 798 yards (4.7 yards per carry) and 11 touchdowns in 2023, then 734 yards (4.5 yards per carry) and 11 touchdowns in 2024. He's fumbled just four times in 421 career carries with 2,058 career rushing yards.
Sophomore James Peoples is expected to run tandem with Donaldson atop Ohio State's running back depth chart in 2025, with redshirt freshman Samuel Dixon and freshmen Bo Jackson and Anthony "Turbo" Rogers pushing for playing time behind them.
Donaldson is the first of Ohio State's new running backs to have his black stripe removed and the 10th Buckeye total in 2025. He's the third player to shed it this fall camp, joining freshman linebacker Riley Pettijohn and freshman tight end Nate Roberts, who both lost theirs on Tuesday.
| PLAYER | POS | YEAR | DATE |
|---|---|---|---|
| MILES LOCKHART | CB | REDSHIRT FRESHMAN | MARCH 29 |
| MAX KLARE | TE | JUNIOR | MARCH 31 |
| DOMINIC KIRKS | DE | REDSHIRT FRESHMAN | APRIL 1 |
| SIMON LORENTZ | OL | REDSHIRT FRESHMAN | APRIL 1 |
| ERIC MENSAH | DT | REDSHIRT FRESHMAN | APRIL 3 |
| QUINCY PORTER | WR | FRESHMAN | APRIL 5 |
| ETHAN ONIANWA | OT | REDSHIRT SENIOR | APRIL 8 |
| RILEY PETTIJOHN | LB | FRESHMAN | AUG. 5 |
| NATE ROBERTS | TE | FRESHMAN | AUG. 5 |
| CJ DONALDSON | RB | SENIOR | AUG. 6 |
