Quinshon Judkins Scouting Report
By: Michael Higgins
(Image courtesy of Jay LaPrete/AP Photo)
School: Ohio State
Class: Junior
Position: RB
HT: 6’0
WT: 219 lbs
College: Quinshon Judkins was a 3-star running back out of Pike Road, Alabama. He was not heavily recruited but was a top-25 player in Alabama and a top-30 running back in the country. Judkins was a First Team all-state selection and Offensive MVP. He led Pike Road High School to a championship. Quinshon participated in the Mississippi/Alabama All-Star Game after rushing for 26 touchdowns as a senior. Judkins committed to Ole Miss over Notre Dame, Georgia Tech, and other SEC schools.
College: He came to Ole Miss and immediately was the head guy in the backfield. He was a First Team All-SEC in 2022 and 2023. He led the SEC in 2023 with 16 rushing touchdowns. After two dominant seasons at Ole Miss, Judkins transferred to Ohio State. In a running back-by-committee situation, Judkins ran for 839 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Strengths: Quinshon Judkins is an elusive runner who makes defenders look silly in the open field. While being a slippery runner and hard to track down, he also has a strong lower body which allows him to turn into a physical runner in those short yardage situations. When running between the tackles, Judkins keeps the legs moving and consistently falls forward for optimal yardage. Judkins is a threat as a receiver as well, he does well to get open in the shallow areas of the field and can work his magic once he brings the ball in. Quinshon can get to his top speed quicker than most and will beat defenders with acceleration and top-end speed. Judkins can cut on a dime to change direction and make a defender miss. He has incredible contact balance which allows him to take contact while remaining on his feet.
Weaknesses: Judkins often tries too hard to create a highlight and can get caught up in traffic instead of taking the easy yards. He has put far too many fumbles on tape – he will need to work on his ball security in order to be a workhorse in the NFL. Tends to make a bad read and take the wrong rushing lane.
Conclusion: Judkins is a top-tier running back and would likely be the top running back in other classes. Splitting the backfield cut into his production and caused him to not receive the hype or accolades that were expected of him. He may not be a workhorse in the NFL, but he can be relied on to get chunk yardage when needed. If he develops the receiving part of his game, he will be a three-down back.
Scheme Fit: Gap Rushing Offense
Ideal Role: Lead RB
Best Team Fits: LAC, NE, CLE
Player Comparison: D’Andre Swift
Player Grade: Round 2 (87.4)
