Hackers beware, CJ Donaldson is out there, watching.
Well, someday he plans to be, anyway. After his football career is over.
Interviews at the NFL Scouting Combine always bring up unique off-field interests for the various hopeful professional athletes, and the former Ohio State running back holds one that stands out from the rest: Cybersecurity. He wants to return to school for it and make it his next job once his employment in his favorite sport concludes.
“In high school, I was designing games and doing cybersecurity,” Donaldson said on Friday. “But with the rigorous schedule of being in college football, it's kind of hard to get that done in your undergrad. So when I have the opportunity, I will be going back for my master's (degree) and do cybersecurity.”
As Donaldson works this offseason to make an NFL roster as either a late-round draft pick or an undrafted free agent, he’s emphasizing his well-rounded nature as a player – something reflected by his well-rounded use of computers.
“I'm a Swiss Army knife,” Donaldson said. “I can do whatever you need me to do. I'm a former receiver in high school who transitioned to play running back as college went on. So I can definitely play all four core special teams, and I can do whatever the team needs me to do.”
Donaldson’s discovered passion for cybersecurity is a “funny story,” as he puts it.
Before transferring to Gulliver Prep, where he finished his high school career in West Virginia, Donaldson was enrolled in a computer coding class. He had no interest in continuing that coding class at Gulliver. By the time he left to begin his college career at West Virginia University, his tune changed.
“I was begging my mom, like, ‘Please take me out of this program. This program is hard,’” Donaldson recounted. “She's like, ‘Just stick with it, son. Like, you never know. You might find your love and passion for it.’ And then when I got taken out of the program going into college, I was kind of sick. Like, man, it doesn't feel right not being in this program. And then I realized that was my heart. Like, I definitely love it.”
Considered a tight end as a high school prospect, Donaldson won a major role as a running back for the Mountaineers in his freshman year, picking up 526 yards on 87 carries. He rushed for a combined 1,532 yards at a clip of 4.6 yards per carry in his sophomore and junior years at West Virginia, with 11 rushing touchdowns each season.
Donaldson transferred to Ohio State for his senior year and filled a role as the team’s short-yardage and power back. He rushed 96 times for 361 yards (3.8 yards per carry) and 10 touchdowns, adding 15 receptions for 96 yards and a score.
“That's the closest thing to the NFL, being in that program,” Donaldson said of the Buckeyes. “But the alumni system and the resources around there helped me get prepared to be in this position right now.”
Donaldson faced an elite defense daily in practice to help prepare him for the league. Ohio State was No. 1 in scoring and total defense in 2025. Facing projected first-round NFL draft picks Sonny Styles, Arvell Reese and Kayden McDonald each rep brought its challenges.
“It was hard,” Donaldson said. “Honestly, it was hard. But it kind of got me better each and every day. Seeing that defense, a lot of people ask me, what was the best defense I saw. I say, ‘I see it every day in practice.’ So I'm just thankful I had the opportunity to play against those guys.”
The appeal of cybersecurity to Donaldson’s brain overlaps with the way he sees the game of football.
“I'm a numbers guy,” Donaldson said. “I've always been great at math. So with cybersecurity, it's all about numbers, coding, commas, and just being attentive to the littlest detail. Like, a space bar could be in there, and then it's wrong. But you can erase that space bar, and then the whole program works right. Football, it's 11 on 11, X and O's, a lot of numbers. So I always look at football the same way.”
Few mock drafts predict Donaldson to hear his name called in the 2026 NFL draft, but he’s using his versatility as his main selling point for a team to take a chance on him. He emerged as a great pass-protecting back for the Buckeyes in 2025, and he feels he has under-the-radar receiving skills.
“I think a lot of people kind of hide from the fact that I can actually, like, play receiver,” Donaldson said. “I was a dynamic receiver in high school, and I have great hands. I can run every route on the route tree. As I said, I'm a Swiss Army knife. Like, whatever the team needs me to do, that's what I can do.”
Hopefully, Donaldson carves out a space for a long NFL career. But his versatility off of it will serve him well when his playing days are over.
