The No. 8 Ohio State Buckeyes silenced their doubters on Saturday with a dominant 42-17 victory over the No. 9 Tennessee Volunteers, advancing to the quarterfinals for a highly anticipated rematch with the No. 1 Oregon Ducks on Jan. 1.
Following the win, the Buckeyes made a splash in the transfer portal, officially landing star running back CJ Donaldson Jr. from West Virginia. Last season, Donaldson rushed for 734 yards and 11 touchdowns on 163 carries for the Mountaineers.
After the announcement, Ohio State’s standout true freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, who recorded two touchdowns and over 100 receiving yards against Tennessee, shared his thoughts on the addition. With Smith expected to be a focal point of the Buckeyes’ offense moving forward, Donaldson's arrival brings added excitement for next season.
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— Jeremiah Smith (@Jermiah_Smith1) December 23, 2024
Jeremiah Smith was one of the standout players in the Big Ten this season, making history as the first freshman in Ohio State program history to surpass 1,000 receiving yards. He also became just the 10th wide receiver in Ohio State history to accomplish that remarkable feat.
With the Buckeyes expected to lose both of their starting running backs, Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson—who form one of the nation’s best duos—Donaldson Jr.’s addition becomes even more crucial for next year’s team. Ohio State is poised to once again feature a roster overflowing with talent, and Donaldson's arrival adds an important piece to their backfield.
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