Quinshon Judkins‘ journey with Ohio State football could come full circle on Monday.
Judkins announced his commitment to the Buckeyes last January, just as Ohio State rival Michigan pulled off a national championship victory. Judkins, the top transfer running back in the portal last offseason, brought a bright light for Buckeyes’ fans as their most-hated rival won an elusive championship.
On Monday, Judkins will try and help the No. 8 Buckeyes (13-2) defeat No. 7 Notre Dame (14-1) for the program’s first national championship since 2014. Ohio State is coming off a 28-14 win over Texas, which included a two-touchdown performance from Judkins.
Judkins, who has built a strong running back duo with TreVeyon Henderson, has 183 rushes for 960 yards and 12 touchdowns this season. He’s also added 20 receptions for 140 yards and one touchdown through the air. Henderson has 967 rushing yards and 10 scores.
REQUIRED READING: Notre Dame loves playing man coverage, but will that work against Ohio State football?
Here’s a look at why Judkins opted to transfer from Ole Miss to Ohio State this offseason:
Why did Quinshon Judkins transfer from Ole Miss to Ohio State?
Judkins was rated a three-star running back recruit out of Alabama and landed at Ole Miss under coach Lane Kiffin. In his first season in 2022, he proved his recruiting ranking was too low, rushing 274 times for 1,567 yards and 16 touchdowns. He earned CBS Freshman of the Year honors and was named All-Southeastern Conference.
As a sophomore, Judkins was once again a workhorse, rushing 271 times for 1,158 yards and 15 touchdowns. Overall, he totaled 545 totes in two seasons with the Rebels, as the team posted a 19-7 record in that span.
While Kiffin and Ole Miss attacked the portal hard this past offseason for a CFP run, Judkins was seeking outside options for his best chance at a national championship. Judkins entered the portal on Jan. 4, 2024, and three days later, he committed to Ohio State as the top-rated transfer running back and the ninth overall-ranked player in the transfer class.
“In simple terms, I want to win a national championship,” Judkins told the Dispatch in November. “You want to come where there are the best players, the best players, the best fan base on the national level of college football. Everybody here wants to win. Everybody here is going to push you to be your best self. Everybody here wants to be their best self, so why not go to Ohio State?”
Quinshon Judkins 247 rating
As high school recruit:
-
Star rating: Three stars
-
National ranking: No. 562 overall
-
Positional ranking: No. 46 RB
-
State ranking: No. 25 player from Alabama
As a transfer:
According to 247 Sports’ Composite rankings, Judkins was a three-star recruit and the No. 562 overall recruit in the 2022 class. The running back out of Pike Road High School (Alabama) was also the No. 46 RB in the class and the 25th-ranked player in Alabama.
Judkins committed to Ole Miss on Sept. 29, 2021, after receiving offers from Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Michigan and Notre Dame, among others.
Quinshon Judkins stats
Here’s a look at Judkins’ stats at Ole Miss and Ohio State:
-
2022 (Ole Miss): 274 rushes, 1,567 yards, 16 touchdowns; 15 receptions, 132 yards, one touchdown
-
2023 (Ole Miss): 271 rushes, 1,158 yards, 15 touchdowns; 22 receptions, 149 yards, two touchdowns
-
2024 (Ohio State): 183 rushes, 960 yards, 12 touchdowns; 20 receptions, 140 yards, one touchdown
-
Career: 728 rushes, 3,685 yards, 43 touchdowns; 57 receptions, 421 yards, four touchdowns
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Quinshon Judkins transfer to Ohio State from Ole Miss, explained
