If anyone deserves more patience and time on the Mountaineers’ offensive core, it is junior running back CJ Donaldson.
Out of high school, Donaldson was recruited as a tight end after playing both tight end and wide receiver at Gulliver Prep in Miami. Due to depth at tight end at WVU, though, the 6-foot-2, 238-pounder was moved to a brand new role at running back, where he was asked to find his footing quickly.
Donaldson was thrown another challenge in the form of injury in his freshman season. After just seven games, Donaldson sustained a season-ending leg injury and was held to less touches early in his sophomore year before he endured yet another injury that kept him out of the Duke’s Mayo Bowl that December.
Despite having played just 19 games, and even fewer healthy games, in two years as a running back, Donaldson does not allow himself lower standards.
In making the Big 12’s honorable mention list as both a freshman and sophomore, Donaldson has proved that he does not settle for less. He recognizes that there is always room for improvement, which he says includes learning and becoming more familiar with the game, but in terms of shining at the running back role, Donaldson is ready.
“I wouldn’t say (running back) is still new to me,” Donaldson said. “New to me was probably like sophomore year. I’m a junior now. It’s time to grow up, you know, step into that role.”
Luckily for Donaldson, that role is not something he has to step into alone. As Donaldson struggled with injuries last season, freshman Jahiem White stepped up to the plate and put college football on notice.
Starting in three of his 12 game appearances, White led WVU with 1,086 all-purpose yards, including 842 rushing, 125 receiving, and 119 from kickoff returns and earned Freshman All-American honors from three publications. With White emerging so quickly as a talent, he seems at the surface as another road block for Donaldson to accomplish his goals, but as Donaldson puts it, the pair is only stronger together.
“We’re stronger together than divided,” Donaldson said. “People try to separate us, you know, make it ‘he’s the one, I’m the two, I’m the one, he’s the two.’ We strong together. Speed and power.”
Working alongside White is a perfect fit for Donaldson. In fact, the two grew up together in Miami before White moved to York, Pa. and are not strangers in any sense.
“He’s like my little brother, man,” White said.
“It’s so funny to say that me and Jahiem grew up in the same neighborhood, so like when he came in, I definitely took him under my wing. Now he emerged to where we basically like co-partners in this running back room.”
As part of that relationship, Donaldson says the two help each other with issues ranging from how White can avoid a sophomore slump to improving each other’s energy every moment.
With a strong partner alongside him and an equally strong mindset for growth, Donaldson will prepare to take a step up as a junior as WVU fights to improve from last year’s 9-4 campaign. The season will start at home against Penn State on Aug. 31.
Photo by Aaron Parker, Blue Gold Sports
