WVU's C.J. Donaldson Jr. continuing to develop skillset as running back

If you've watched West Virginia football running back C.J. Donaldson Jr. run the ball at any point in time over the past few years, you likely wouldn't guess that he hasn't played the position very long.

Donaldson joined the WVU roster in 2022 as a tight end, before being converted to running back. He immediately found a groove, having a breakout performance in the 2022 season opener against Pitt. He's battled with injuries and bounced around the rotation depending on who fit the game plan best each week, but he's remained a steady and consistent piece of the Mountaineers offensive attack since that first game -- he's rushed the ball 390 times for 1,945 yards and 28 touchdowns over the past three seasons in Morgantown.

But even with his success so far, he's still honing his craft at the position. WVU Head Coach Neal Brown talked following the team's 31-21 win over UCF -- during which Donaldson rushed for 96 yards and 2 touchdowns -- about what Donaldson brings to the team in the run game.

"He’s a tough tackle," Brown said. "He’s 240 pounds and when he gets behind his pads, he’s a really tough tackle. I was really pleased with how he played [against UCF]."

Brown said it best -- one of Donaldson's best qualities is his ability to keep moving after contact. It's pretty common to think that Donaldson is going to the ground once a defender wraps him up, only to see him chug forward for another 3-5 yards.

However, he doesn't always "get behind his pads" as Brown described -- in other words, he's not always in a position with his pad level while running the ball to use his size and strength to his advantage. That's something tight ends aren't taught and developed on as much as running backs, of course, but it's something Donaldson is learning to use to his advantage.

"[I'm picking up] just how you need to approach the position, how you need to run against these Big 12 opponents. Coach [Chad] Scott and Coach Brown, they get on me every day, every week -- CJ, you're running the ball too high," Donaldson said.

“I am a 240-pound running back who needs to be running behind his pads at all times. That was critical to me helping the team get those third-and-shorts.”

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On those many instances where he is quite difficult to bring to the earth, it seems to fuel Donaldson even more. He discussed exactly what it does mentally for you as a running back when you begin to understand the opposition is consistently struggling to bring you down.

"Coach Scott always tells me, you know, bleed yard. You know, like, get every yard, every yard matters tonight," Donaldson said. "It just definitely gives you that like confidence of knowing like, man, I could just keep running the ball harder, they can't tackle me...eventually I, you know, get that big one, so it definitely brings a confident boost to the game."

Donaldson also talked about crucial the coaching staff at WVU, particularly offensive coordinator running backs coach Chad Scott, has been in his development at the position and as a Division 1 athlete in general.

"That guy can bring a different animal out of me," Donaldson said. "He knows how to push my buttons in a good way. He knows how to get me ready for the game and get my mindset ready."