50 For 50: Will CJ Donaldson Be Latest Transfer RB To Lead OSU In Rushing?

Welcome to our daily feature that I am calling “50 for 50” where I attempt to get us to Big Ten Media Days — which are 38 days away — with a daily sampling of what we can look forward to this upcoming college football season. Today’s edition features Ohio State running back CJ Donaldson, quarterback Julian Sayin, wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, and more.

As always, we will do this via the following categories: the 50 biggest individual matchups for the Buckeyes this season, the 50 most important college football games this season, 50 Buckeye things to look forward to this season, 50 national predictions, 50 Big Ten predictions, and 50 predictions involving the Buckeyes.

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Biggest Buckeye Matchups

OHIO STATE QB TBA VS. MICHIGAN SAF ROD MOORE

Rod Moore was one of the Big Ten’s best defenders in 2023, but missed last year with an injury. He should be back to full strength, but it was his timing and intelligence that made him so good when he was healthy. He is a quarterback’s nightmare, and whichever Ohio State quarterback is taking the field against him is going to have a challenge on his hands.

Most Important Games

TEXAS A&M AGGIES AT LSU TIGERS

If the Aggies can get past South Bend in week three, there’s a chance they could show up in Baton Rouge with a 7-0 record. For LSU, this is another landmine in a season full of them. One of these two teams is going to the College Football Playoff, and it will probably be the team that wins this game.

Things To Look Forward To

CJ DONALDSON’S EMERGENCE AS OSU’S LATEST RB TRANSFER.

The last couple of times the Buckeyes went into the transfer portal, they ended up with Trey Sermon in 2020 and Quinshon Judkins last year. Both times, the transfer led Ohio State in rushing. This year, the Buckeyes went out and signed CJ Donaldson out of West Virginia. Donaldson rushed for over 2,000 yards in his time with the Mountaineers, which is much more than anybody else at Ohio State has rushed for in their respective careers to this point. Sophomore James Peoples will be very involved in OSU’s running game, but it’s going to be interesting to see what Donaldson can do with a full-fledged passing game helping him out.

National College Football Predictions

UNLV WILL BE A TOP 5 RUSHING TEAM.

Dan Mullen is now at UNLV, which means that UNLV is going to be a run-heavy team. Of course, the Rebels were a run-heavy team last year as well, so this will be nothing new for them. But they’ll still be better. UNLV finished seventh nationally last, averaging 243.5 yards rushing per game. With Mullen now designing the offense — and former Michigan quarterback Alex Orji possibly taking the snaps — the running game should be on full display for everyone to see. It doesn’t hurt that last year’s leading rusher Ja’Den Thomas returns as well.

Big Ten Football Predictions

WASHINGTON RB JONAH COLEMAN WILL LEAD THE B1G IN RUSHING.

Jonah Coleman has rushed for 2,500 yards in his career, with 1,053 of them coming last year with the Huskies. He is the third-leading returning rusher in the conference, behind Penn State’s two-headed attack of Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen. Coleman’s 5.5 yards per carry was one of the Big Ten’s best last year. The Washington running game should be bolstered this year by improved quarterback play from sophomore Demond Williams. Expect Coleman’s home-run-hitting ability to only increase this season.

Ohio State Football Predictions

JEREMIAH SMITH WILL HAVE 2+ 70-YARD RECEPTIONS.

Only three Ohio State receivers have had two 70-yard receptions in a season over the last nine years: Marvin Harrison in 2023, Parris Campbell in 2018, and Curtis Samuel in 2016. Jeremiah Smith had one last year, but he will double that number this year. Actually, I’m not even going to limit him. Maybe he will have more than two. If you are wondering, Nebraska’s Trey Palmer in 2022 is the only player in the Big Ten in that span with three 70-yard catches.

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