C.J. Donaldson's transfer to Ohio State football began with a physical transformation

Soon after C.J. Donaldson transferred to Ohio State from West Virginia in January, he heard from strength and conditioning coach Mickey Marotti.

The issue was his weight. Donaldson had been a heavy running back, tipping the scale at more than 240 pounds while with the Mountaineers last fall.

“Coach Mick said that is going to change quickly,” Donaldson said with a laugh.

Ohio State Buckeyes running back C.J. Donaldson (12) carries the ball during spring football practice at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center in Columbus on March 19, 2025.

Over the following two months, he shed nearly 20 pounds, leaving him lighter as the Buckeyes opened spring practice this week. He said following Wednesday’s practice that he had most recently weighed 226 pounds.

“I’m running like The Flash right now,” Donaldson said.

The swift transformation impressed running backs coach Carlos Locklyn.

“That showed the mindset that he has to be disciplined and challenge himself,” Locklyn said. “He looks good right now.”

Along with participating in strength and conditioning workouts, Donaldson leaned on Kaila Olson, the program’s dietitian, to help with the weight loss.

“She helped me schedule meal planning,” Donaldson said. “The times I need to eat, what I need to eat, what I need to stay away from, what time I need to go to bed, and stay on a routine.”

Donaldson was a productive piece of West Virginia’s running back rotation over the past three seasons. He totaled 2,058 career rushing yards as a bruising runner between the tackles, nearly two-thirds coming after contact, according to Pro Football Focus.

Locklyn described him as a slasher with power, a physical style that is apparent at first sight.

“Big guys often win with the little guys,” Locklyn said. “He’s going to fall forward.”

But as Donaldson carries less weight on his 6-foot-2 frame, he might be able to provide the Buckeyes’ backfield with a bigger boost this year as they replace a pair of 1,000-yard rushers between TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins. Along with feeling faster, Donaldson expects to have more stamina.

“I have more advantages at this weight,” Donaldson said, “being able to play longer and have more of an impact on the game.”

Donaldson took no issue with the push from the Buckeyes’ staff to drop his weight. While he spent a week in the transfer portal last December, he found Ohio State an appealing destination as Locklyn promised to push him.

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“He told me that he would challenge me,” Donaldson said, “and help me to develop into the player I know I can be.”

Donaldson dismissed pitches from other schools as “a lot of red-carpet talk.” With only a year of collegiate eligibility left, his time is ticking to raise his NFL draft stock as high as possible, a factor in his desire to enter the portal.

“This is my last guaranteed opportunity to play football,” Donaldson said. “The next level is not promised. You have to earn that. I just took a chance on myself.”

Donaldson noted the strides Judkins, a two-time All-SEC running back, made in his one season at Ohio State after he transferred from Mississippi last year.

“You could see the little intangibles to help his game develop,” Donaldson said, “and now have an opportunity to be a high-draft pick.”

As Locklyn looked at the available transfer running backs, he also appreciated Donaldson’s versatility.

While he was in high school at Gulliver Prep in South Florida, he was a wide receiver and tight end. West Virginia identified him as a possible H-back.

“He may do a lot of things, a big-bodied guy who can catch the ball,” Locklyn said. “Can run between the tackles. His feet are quicker than what you’d think for a bigger guy. He’s got really good balance. That’s what makes him good, that’s what I saw in him.”

Joey Kaufman covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch. Follow him on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, @joeyrkaufman or email him at jkaufman@dispatch.com.

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State football transfer C.J. Donaldson drops weight with Buckeyes

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C.J. Donaldson's transfer to Ohio State football began with a physical transformation

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