Quinshon Judkins was a one-year sensation for Ohio State at running back. Judkins has rushed the ball a bunch and has tread on his proverbial tires. He is ready-made to be a productive running back in the NFL. He was instrumental in the Ohio State National Championship. He was part of a two-headed monster Ohio State had at running back.
Projections have Judkins going No. 31 overall to the Kansas City Chiefs or No. 32 to the Philadelphia Eagles. It was the Super Bowl matchup, and neither needed a running back. Judkins is a 6-foot 219-pound player from Alabama. Do you think getting drafted at the end of the first round is advantageous for a player?
Quinshon Judkins’ Statistics
Judkins, a running back from Ohio State, became one of the most exciting players in college football. It was like every time he touched the ball, he could score. He came from Pike Road, Alabama, and played at Mississippi before transferring to Ohio State. Judkins dominated the high school scene, racking up 4,220 career rushing yards and 67 touchdowns. That is why he became a sought-after recruit, though the best was yet to come.
As a freshman in 2022, he broke Ole Miss records with 1,567 yards and 16 touchdowns on 274 carries. Judkins, in 2023, amassed 1,158 yards and had 15 touchdowns. He added 149 receiving yards and two scores catching passes. In all, he carried the ball 545 times at Ole Miss. After his two busy seasons at Ole Miss, Judkins transferred to Ohio State for the 2024 season. He excelled for the Buckeyes, even though he split carries with TreVeyon Henderson.
The running back brings a rare combination of power, explosiveness, and production. He also benefitted from the reduced workload. He carried the ball only 194 times for the Buckeyes. He declared for the NFL Draft following his junior season. Many Ohio State fans wished he would return for his senior season.
NFL Strengths
Despite his carries at Ole Miss, Judkins has some strengths that should attract NFL teams. However, in the NFL, running backs are being devalued. Judkins could fall victim to that. Here are his strengths according to NFL Draft Buzz:
- Exceptional burst and acceleration allow him to hit holes with lightning speed and turn small creases into big gains.
- Displays impressive contact balance, consistently breaking arm tackles and fighting for extra yards after initial contact.
- Possesses the vision and patience to set up blocks effectively in zone running schemes.
- A compact, well-built frame enables him to run with power and absorb hits without losing momentum.
- Demonstrates quick feet and sharp cutting ability to make defenders miss in tight spaces.
- Productive workhorse back who has proven he can handle a heavy workload at the highest level of college football.
- Shows good hands out of the backfield and the ability to create yards after the catch.
- Runs with a low center of gravity and good pad level, making him difficult to bring down.
Judkins is also a good blocker. This trait will make him attractive to NFL teams since many NFL teams are blitz-happy.
NFL Weaknesses
The biggest problem for Judkins is his heavy workload at Ole Miss. He has lots of tread on his tires. Here are his weaknesses according to Draft Buzz.
- Long speed is very good but not quite elite; can be caught from behind on longer runs.
- Sometimes relies too heavily on his physical tools and misses opportunities to bounce runs outside.
- Pass protection skills are still developing; needs to improve technique and recognition of blitz pickup assignments.
- Has room to grow as a receiver out of the backfield, particularly in route running and creating separation.
- Can improve ball security, as he has had a few fumbles in crucial situations.
His lack of foot speed that enables him to get caught is not much of a concern. If he breaks free in the NFL, it will be all good.
Conclusion
Although it is not mentioned by NFL Draft Buzz Judkins’ biggest problem is his heavy workload at Ole Miss. Judkins is an excellent running back. However, the trend in the NFL is to devalue running backs. He may benefit in the draft from having split time at running back with Henderson.
