MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — True freshman CJ Donaldson made quite a splash in his college football debut, rushing for 125 yards, scoring a touchdown and blocking a punt in West Virginia’s season-opening loss at Pitt.
Unfortunately for the Mountaineers, Donaldson won’t have an opportunity to also finish the season on a strong note.
During his weekly media session Tuesday, West Virginia head coach Neal Brown confirmed Donaldson will miss the remainder of his true freshman campaign after undergoing surgery Monday for an injury suffered in last Saturday’s 41-31 loss to unbeaten TCU.
“Not a knee. Not something that’ll keep him out a really long time, but he’ll miss the rest of the year,” Brown said.
After the loss to the Horned Frogs, Brown described Donaldson’s injury as “bad” and to his lower leg.
Despite playing wide receiver and tight end at Gulliver Prep High School (Fla.) and initially being looked at as a tight end upon his arrival in Morgantown, the 240-pound Donaldson was switched to tailback and made a seamless transition to the position.
He made the most of his seven carries against the Panthers and followed it with a two-touchdown effort against Kansas before rushing for 101 yards and three touchdowns against Towson and then 106 yards in a victory at Virginia Tech.
The following week, Donaldson suffered the first major injury of his college career when he was concussed during the second half of a loss at Texas. Donaldson remained on the playing surface in Austin for an extended period of time, had his jersey cut from his body and gave a thumbs up as he was carted off the field.
Donaldson did not play 12 days later against Baylor before returning October 22 at Texas Tech.
Against TCU, Donaldson rushed for 104 yards on 19 carries and two touchdowns.
West Virginia’s leading rusher to this point, Donaldson finishes the season with 526 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 87 carries.
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Brown provided several other notable injury updates as the Mountaineers start to formulate a better idea of may or may not be available for Saturday’s 3:30 p.m. contest at Iowa State.
In addition to being down Donaldson, West Virginia will face the Cyclones without a couple other starters: Left guard James Gmiter and spear Davis Mallinger.
Gmiter’s mother, Kimberly Gmiter, unexpectedly passed away Sunday at the age of 52.
“It was sudden. I just ask all Mountaineers to be thinking of James, his family and pray for them,” Brown said.
I’m heartbroken 💔 Heartbroken for my kids, heartbroken for this family you were our rock you put everything before your self. You put up one hell of a fight! We all love you and will always miss you Mom❤️ I will always be your little boy❤️ pic.twitter.com/Wq2XftQWpq
— 74 (@Gmiter74) October 30, 2022
Gmiter, a Bethel Park, Pa., native, will miss his third straight contest after starting each of the first six in what is the redshirt junior’s fifth season at West Virginia.
Mallinger suffered an injury early in the matchup with TCU.
“Davis Mallinger will miss this week and how long he’ll be out, I’m not sure,” Brown said.
A running back group already minus Donaldson may be forced to continue playing without Tony Mathis, who missed his first game this season against TCU after being injured at Texas Tech.
“He will be a later in the week decision,” Brown said of Mathis, who’s rushed for 492 yards and five TDs.
Running back Justin Johnson played through injury against the Horned Frogs after practicing only once in the lead-up to the matchup. Johnson is on track to face the Cyclones.
“He’s going to practice this week with the hope of playing,” Brown said.
Johnson, who has 285 rushing yards and three TDs this season, will be the team’s most experienced tailback Saturday if he gives it a go and Mathis is unable to.
Lance Dixon, also a spear, is “very doubtful”, according to Brown after missing his first game of the season last week due to an injury suffered against the Red Raiders.
There was positive injury-related news:
- Right guard Doug Nester will return to the lineup after missing his first game this season last week.
- Brown deemed cornerback Rashad Ajayi “probable” after he, too, missed his first game this season against the Horned Frogs.
- Brown is hopeful cornerback Jacolby Spells will practice Wednesday and labeled the true freshman probable. Spells sat out against TCU after playing in each of the six previous games.
- Defensive back Mumu Bin-Wahad was to practice Tuesday after being held out last week.
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Perhaps the most significant of the positive injury-related news delivered Tuesday by Brown pertained to cornerback Charles Woods.
Last Saturday, Woods played in his second straight game and third this year after suffering an ankle injury in the season opener that required September surgery. Upon returning October 22 at Texas Tech, Woods was on a limited snap count. He was unable to finish that contest after Brown said Woods was “banged up again.”
However, Woods participated on all 55 defensive snaps against TCU without experiencing a setback.
“It worked in our favor that we didn’t have to play very many defensive snaps. He played well. If you were to ask him, he’d tell you he’s not 100 percent, but he played,” Brown said. “He was matched up against Quentin Johnston a lot and I thought he held his own. Part of the reason we played better in the second half is because we could do some things coverage wise that we hadn’t been able to do, because we felt good about him in 1-on-1. He’ll be available.”
Woods, a preseason All-Big 12 honoree, indicated he felt OK following the loss to the Horned Frogs.
“I’m at a pretty healthy level and my mindset is in a good place,” he said. “I’m just trying to find a way to help my team win. The ankle is getting better day by day.”