C.J. Donaldson Jr. — Scouting Report

DynastySignal | 2026 NFL Draft | RB | Ohio State

The Short Version

C.J. Donaldson is a power-first, between-the-tackles runner who produced 40 career rushing touchdowns across West Virginia and Ohio State, capping his career with 10 TDs as a senior on a national championship team. He's a former wide receiver whose natural hands and athleticism give him real receiving upside that his college usage never fully exploited. The case for: elite contact balance, legit red-zone instincts, and a high-floor role as a short-yardage weapon and early-down back. The case against: limited elite carry volume, a WVU-inflated TD rate, and meaningful questions about long-speed and open-field separation that he has to answer at the combine.

Measurables & Background

| Attribute | Detail |

|---|---|

| Full Name | De'Carlo "C.J." Donaldson Jr. |

| Position | Running Back |

| School | Ohio State (transferred from West Virginia) |

| Class | Senior |

| Eligibility Year | 2026 NFL Draft |

| Height | 6'2" |

| Weight | 232 lbs (listed; shed ~18-20 lbs from WVU weight at OSU's request) |

| Age at Draft | 21 (born July 9, 2004) |

| Hometown | Miami, FL |

| High School | Gulliver Preparatory School (Coral Gables, FL) |

| HS Position | Wide Receiver (81 rec, 1,164 yds, 13 TDs as a senior) |

| Recruiting | 3-star recruit; originally committed to Tulane, signed with WVU |

| Original WVU Role | Recruited as a TE; moved to RB in preseason camp |

| Career Rushing TDs | 40 (30 at WVU, 10 at Ohio State) |

| Career Total TDs | 42 |

| OSU 2025 | 361 rushing yards, 10 rushing TDs (2nd on team in rushing) |

Film Sources Reviewed

| Source | Frames | Key Content |

|---|---|---|

| Pro Draft Scouting — "2026 NFL Draft SLEEPER \| CJ Donaldson RB Ohio State \| Prospect Review" (7:54) | 27 frames (highlights_001–027) | WVU game action 2022–2024; multiple opponents (UAlbany, Pitt, Kansas, Oklahoma State, Baylor, UCF); identity confirmed via "DONALDSON JR #4" jersey and broadcast TD graphics |

| Ana Gabriel Ritmos y Sentimientos — "Ohio State's Sonic and Knuckles: James Peoples and CJ Donaldson" (6:31) | 28 frames (highlights_2_001–028) | Ohio State spring/fall practice footage; side-by-side comparison with James Peoples; Donaldson = "Knuckles" (#12 per OSU official roster); Peoples = "Sonic" (#20); primarily body mechanics, stance, and ball-carry technique in drills |

Player ID Note: In the highlights_2_ source, both James Peoples and C.J. Donaldson appear. Per the Ohio State official roster, Donaldson wears #12 in scarlet. The video's "Knuckles" label (power/physicality archetype) correctly identifies Donaldson as the more compact, powerful frame in the split-screen — the player with a heavier lower body and noticeably lower pad level in his running stance. All grades below are for Donaldson only.

What The Film Shows

1. Vision & Patience — **B+**

Donaldson is a decisive, downhill runner with good anticipatory vision. He doesn't dance — he identifies the crease and attacks it with conviction. In the WVU aerial footage, you can see him reading the initial block combination before committing (highlights_001, highlights_009), and he does a nice job of staying patient inside vs. Pitt's active front (highlights_009, 4th quarter, 2nd & 10). He's not a juke-at-the-line back. He wants to be north-south immediately. The WVU scheme leaned into this — clear the lane, let him run downhill.

The concerns here are about scheme adaptability. The WVU run game was fairly traditional — power, inside zone, some split-zone. He wasn't asked to diagnose complex run fits or bounce to the perimeter. The OSU transition (highlights_2_ practice reps) suggests the Buckeyes were opening up his game, working him in different alignments and spacing, which is a positive development signal for NFL evaluators.

2. Explosiveness & Speed — **B-**

This is the most important question mark on his film and the biggest swing factor for his draft stock. At WVU's listed 244-ish lbs, he was an obvious power player. At 226-232 after the OSU-mandated weight drop, he shows noticeably improved first-step quickness in the practice footage (highlights_2_008, highlights_2_011, highlights_2_014). In the OSU drills, his initial burst and acceleration through the break point look better than you'd expect from a "power back" label.

That said, his WVU film doesn't reveal a player who creates explosive plays in space or outruns secondary defenders. His TD at Oklahoma State (highlights_013, highlights_015) came inside the 5-yard line. His catch-and-run vs. UCF (highlights_019) shows adequate after-catch YAC but he doesn't burst away — he grinds. His combine 40 time will be critical. If he runs 4.42–4.48, this grade moves to a B+. If he's 4.55+, he has a defined ceiling.

His background as a high school wide receiver (1,164 receiving yards, explosive route-runner) matters here — there's natural athleticism in his DNA that the practice footage starts to unlock.

3. Contact Balance & Power — **A-**

This is where Donaldson earns his money. His power through contact is legit. Multiple reps show him absorbing initial contact and driving through tacklers rather than accepting the stop (highlights_001 vs. UAlbany — runs through a cut-block defender at the second level; highlights_009 vs. Pitt — drags a safety for a couple extra yards).

His body type at 6'2"/232 is ideal for a modern power back — thick thighs and a low center of gravity visible in the close-up frames (highlights_022–024, highlights_018), and his pad level in the OSU practice footage is consistently good, never upright. He understands how to use his frame to fall forward. His career 40 rushing TDs — many from short range — are not an accident. He's a natural red-zone weapon because of this contact balance.

The UCF catch-and-run (highlights_019) shows him staying upright through a sideline tackle attempt and fighting for extra yardage. Not elite in this area but very good, and reliable.

4. Receiving Ability — **B+**

The most underrated part of this profile. His HS WR background isn't just a fun trivia note — it shows up. The catch vs. Pitt (highlights_007) is a clean hand-catch in traffic while absorbing contact from the DB at the point of reception. He doesn't body-catch. He extends away from his frame, secures, and tucks. That's a trained skill, not an accident.

His OSU practice reps (highlights_2_ series) include route-running drills that show functional route-running mechanics — clean breaks, good hands at the catch point, and comfort working in space after the catch. He was clearly being worked as a receiving back in the Buckeyes' system.

The concern is volume: limited college receiving production means he hasn't been tested in a high-rep passing game role. The question for dynasty purposes is how quickly an NFL team develops him in this phase. His physical skill set says the upside is real. His career usage says you're betting on projection.

5. Pass Protection — **B-**

Honest assessment here: the film available doesn't show many quality pass protection reps for Donaldson. What is visible (highlights_009, WVU in 4th quarter protection situations) shows a player who is aware of blitz assignments and willing to engage rushers physically. His physicality is a natural asset here.

The weight reduction at OSU could actually help his pass pro — he'll be quicker out of his stance to pick up edge rushers. But this is a developing area for him. At his size and with his physicality, he has the ingredients to be an above-average pass protector, but I need combine prep and NFL early reps before grading this higher.

6. Scheme Fit — **Zone/Power Inside; Emerging Versatility**

At WVU: a traditional power/zone inside runner, best in tight spaces with creases between the tackles. The Mountaineers ran condensed split-zone and power concepts that suited his strengths. Scheme-limited.

The OSU transfer is the most important signal for dynasty owners. Ohio State forced him to shed weight, placed him in a modern, NFL-caliber scheme, and integrated him into a passing attack. He produced 10 TDs with limited volume (361 yards) — meaning he was used as a precision weapon, not a workhorse. That suggests OSU valued him in specialized roles he was executing efficiently.

NFL fit: he's a natural for teams that run a two-back system (power/zone combo), value short-yardage specialists, and are beginning to integrate bigger backs into their passing game. Think: run-heavy AFC contenders. He is NOT a 20-carry-per-game back at the NFL level out of the gate. He's a 12-15 carry player with 3-5 targets who can become a featured back in year 2-3 of his career if his athleticism at the new weight holds up.

Strengths Summary

Concerns & Risks

NFL Comp

Primary Comp: Kareem Hunt (early career)

Like Hunt coming out of Toledo, Donaldson is a bigger-than-expected mover for his size, with a well-rounded skill set that gets overlooked because of power-back surface traits. Hunt's receiving ability and contact balance are the closest NFL parallel — he wasn't a first-round pick because of speed concerns and conference level, but his football instincts and hands translated immediately. Donaldson has the same archetype and the same ceiling: a legitimate three-down back who wasn't fully understood until he got to the NFL.

Secondary Comp: Jaylen Warren (early NFL path)

Not a draft comp, but a career trajectory comp. Warren also came out of a non-blue-blood school, was undersized/overlooked, converted at OSU (by coaching environment), and ended up as a trusted committee back who outperformed his draft slot. Donaldson has more raw physical tools than Warren but a similar "hidden versatility" profile that NFL coaches love when they discover it. If Donaldson lands in a good situation, he has a Warren-or-better usage ceiling Year 1.

Bottom Line

C.J. Donaldson is a legitimately interesting dynasty stash at the right draft-round price — a former wide receiver wearing a power back's body who produced 40 career touchdowns and transformed his frame under the most elite program coaching staff in the country. He's not a first-round pick and probably not a second-round pick without a nuclear combine performance, but he's a player who could be significantly undervalued if his combine athleticism validates the weight-loss transformation. The dynasty floor here is a committee back with legit receiving upside and perpetual red-zone touches; the ceiling, if the speed is real and a team builds around him, is a 1,000-yard, 10-TD sophomore season as a featured back.

SCOUT SCORE

Score: 68/100

Projected Pick: R3, Pick 75-100

Film Score: 68 / 100

Scout 2 Independent Report: C.J. Donaldson RB Ohio State

The Short Version

Donaldson is a classic Big Ten hammer—mashes in the phone booth but gasses in space. Contrarian take: Not a sleeper RB1, he's a Day 3 plodder who'll get overdrafted by power-run teams chasing the next Jacobs.

Measurables & Background

| Attribute | Value |

|---------------|----------------|

| Height | 6'0.5\" |

| Weight | 229 lbs |

| Age (2026 Draft) | 21 |

| Class | Jr (Transfer from WVU) |

| 40-Yard Dash | ~4.65 (est.) |

| Background | 4-star recruit from Oakdale, CT. Broke out at WVU (2022-24: 2,500+ yds, 30+ TD). Transferred to OSU for 2025, backing up in crowded room. Short-yardage beast, limited receiver. |

Film Sources

| Source | Duration | Frames | Notes |

|--------|----------|--------|-------|

| Pro Draft Scouting — 2026 NFL Draft SLEEPER | CJ Donaldson RB Ohio State | Prospect Review | 7:54 | highlights_001 to _027 | WVU tape heavy: power runs vs Pitt, Baylor, UCF, OKST. TD celebrations. |

| Ana Gabriel Ritmos y Sentimientos — Ohio State's Sonic and Knuckles: James Peoples and CJ Donaldson | 6:31 | highlights_2_001 to _028 | OSU practice/team shots. Donaldson (stockier build, often #4/#20 equiv) vs Peoples (slimmer speedster). Mostly thumbnails/group, few action. |

Film Analysis

Graded 6 key RB traits (X/10). Focus: Donaldson only—ignored Peoples in _2_ frames (he's the wiry one; Donaldson thicker legs, power frame).

Overall Grade: B Solid grinder, lacks twitch for 3-down.

Strengths

Concerns

Dynasty Outlook (1-3 Yr Window)

RB2/3 in committee for run-heavy teams (e.g., Steelers, Ravens). Yr1: 100 touches goal-line. Yr2: 800 yds if starter hurt. Fades Yr3 without 3rd-down growth. Trade bait by 2028.

NFL Comp

Bottom Line

Donaldson mashes RBs but flops in pass-happy NFL without elite traits. Pass—Day 3 steal for Shanahan tree, skip otherwise.

SCOUT SCORE

Score: 78/100

Projected Pick: Day 3, Pick 200-250

Film Score: 78 / 100