Two explosive seasons at Ole Miss positioned running back Quinshon Judkins as one of the top players in the transfer portal. He’d find his way to Ohio State for a national championship run in 2024 where this Alabama native would pair with the more explosive TreVeyon Henderson to create one of the most lethal backfields in FBS action.
Good for 1,699 total yards and 17 scores in 2022, Judkins was a Freshman All-American and First-Team All-SEC member, also garnering SEC Freshman of the Year and conference All-Freshman honors.
Height: 6-foot
Weight: 221 pounds
40 time: 4.48 seconds
Even though his production slipped a little as a sophomore, Judkins still made the First-Team All-SEC roster. After transferring to Ohio State, he’d be recognized for his contributions in the aforementioned split backfield, settling in as a Third-Team All-Big Ten selection.
Table: RB Quinshon Judkins Ohio State (2021-24)
*includes postseason/bowl games (stats from Sports Reference)
Pros
- Formidable combination of power and quickness
- Explosive lower body with 38 1/2-inch vertical and 11-foot broad jump
- Dangerous on the perimeter with patience, vision, and burst
- Not a burner but certainly quick enough to turn the corner and fast enough long speed to create chunk plays
- Excellent contact balance and functional strength to shed arm tackles and glancing blows — he’s the type of where wrapping up is necessary
- Rapid feet that never stop, whether it be driving for yards after contact or creating yardage through setting up jukes and cuts
- Great upside as a pass protector with proper coaching
- Highly productive in multiple programs and has a clear nose for the end zone
- Built to withstand the rigors of being a three-down back in the NFL
- Capable hands for dump-offs and has displayed reliable ball security
- Scheme versatility for gap and zone blocking
Cons
- Lacks experience in the route tree
- Gets caught from behind too often — much better short-area burst than long speed
- Heavy workload prior to transferring to Ohio State
- Lacks technical skills in pass pro — more of a size/aggression blocker for now
- Extra chop steps required to make cuts compared to more flexible backs
- Wasn’t as effective vs. tougher competition in 2024
Fantasy football outlook
Judkins should find himself as an immediate contributor in 2025, but the question of where he lands decides whether he has RB2 fantasy appeal as a rookie or is best suited for depth material.
The likely Day 2 selection shouldn’t slip past the early fourth, and his game is reminiscent of a blend between Joe Mixon and Todd Gurley.
Several teams make sense for his services, regardless of what those franchises have done to address the position in free agency. In Cleveland, he’d make for a fine replacement to Nick Chubb, and landing in Denver would give Sean Payton a workhorse option. Dallas added two backs in free agency and could be in play if Judkins falls to a point in which he is too good of a value, and Pittsburgh makes some sense as a complement to Jaylen Warren, but the addition of free agent Kenneth Gainwell might nix that idea.
