A converted receiver who became a short-yardage bruiser at West Virginia and Ohio State, CJ Donaldson signed with the Saints as an undrafted free agent.
CJ Donaldson arrived in college football as a wide receiver recruit before growing into a physical, short-yardage running back, first at West Virginia and then in a single productive season at Ohio State. He went unselected in the 2026 NFL draft but signed with New Orleans, joining a running back room led by Travis Etienne and Alvin Kamara.
Path to the league
Donaldson played wide receiver at Gulliver Preparatory School in Miami, catching 81 passes for 1,164 yards and 13 touchdowns as a senior, before committing to West Virginia. The Mountaineers moved him to running back during preseason camp, and he became their starter as a true freshman, earning Big 12 Newcomer of the Week honors after rushing for 125 yards and a touchdown in his debut. He transferred to Ohio State in December 2024 for his senior season, then signed with New Orleans as an undrafted free agent after the 2026 draft.
Career highlights
Donaldson's freshman debut at West Virginia set the tone for a career built on physical, north-south running, and he developed into a reliable short-yardage and goal-line option. His combination of size at 6-foot-2, 230 pounds and receiving background out of high school gave him a versatile skill set as both a runner and pass-game weapon. That profile carried him to Ohio State for a final college season in one of the sport's premier programs.
2025 season recap
In his only season at Ohio State in 2025, Donaldson carried the ball 96 times for 361 yards and 10 touchdowns while adding 15 catches for 96 yards in a rotational, short-yardage role. He went undrafted in the 2026 NFL draft but quickly signed with New Orleans, where he will compete for a depth role behind Travis Etienne and Alvin Kamara.
Sources
- Wikipedia: CJ Donaldson
- Eleven Warriors: CJ Donaldson Joining New Orleans Saints As Undrafted Free Agent
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Running Back
- Group
- offense
- College
- Ohio State
- Hometown
- Miami, FL, USA
- Age
- 22
- Status
- active
