There's the NFL draft, and then there's the frenzy after, in which teams scoop up players as undrafted free agents. Historically, Ohio State has seen a lot of guys get shots in the NFL in both ways, and it is the same this year. One guy that didn't go in the seven rounds of the draft was running back CJ Donaldson, but it didn't take long for him to find a home when all the shenanigans in Pittsburgh were over.

Donaldson was signed to an undrafted free agent contract by the New Orleans Saints, according to his Instagram, and if that's the way he has to try and make a roster at the game's highest level, then that's surely all he's asking.

The 6-foot, 2-inch, 232-pounder from Miami (FL) started his career in West Virginia and became the starting running back his sophomore season. Through the next two seasons, he rushed for 1,532 yards and 22 touchdowns, averaging 46 yards per carry. He transferred to Ohio State for his senior season and was expected to get a heavy load, but the emergence of Bo Jackson took some of those expected carries away. He was still used in short yardage situations and carried the ball 96 times for 361 yards (3.8 ypc) and 10 touchdowns.

It'll be an uphill climb to make the Saints roster, but he's going to get a chance because of his ability to be a short-yardage, bruising back, something teams see as a commodity in the League. We'll follow his and all other Ohio State players' journeys as they try to carve out their NFL careers.

Signing with the Saints ✍️⚜️@Sp3Cj | @Saints pic.twitter.com/1AAX9sBnDD

— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) April 26, 2026

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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Ohio State running back CJ Donaldson signed as undrafted free agent