Quinshon Judkins Punishes Defenses

Running back Quinshon Judkins caught my attention while playing for Ole Miss in 2023.

He’s since transferred to Ohio State, but that’s not what this scouting report is about.

This prospect is a combination of patience, excellent vision, quick initial explosive acceleration, and inspiring determination.

It’s the determination that makes him.

What he lacks in flexibility and home-run breakaway speed, he makes up for with a lot of singles and doubles, so to speak.

Judkins is the epitome of a workhorse.

He’s also a legit receiver out of the backfield with dependable hands and he’s one of the most selfless prospects I’ve ever seen. He picks up blitzes and blocks for teammates with the same fervor as when he’s running with the rock. He’s even more of a nightmare for defensive backs, as they attempt to tackle him out in space as a receiver.

Another thing I noticed ⎯ when Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart went play action (which he did often) and even faked a handoff to Judkins, it noticeably affected opposing defenses in their pass coverage.

That’s how much they respected him as a runner.

Run Quinshon Run!

In the spirit of the movie Forrest Gump, it’s now time to talk about when Judkins takes the handoff. He’ll find even the slightest of creases and he hits the holes like a sledgehammer. Then he’ll do it again and again and again…

I sat through 13 games of him chipping away at defenses and eroding them.

The best chance a defense has is to stop him is before he gets going, otherwise, it’s a certain 2-15 yard gain on every handoff. Most seemed to go for four to eight yards. Arm tacklers need not apply. He runs with extreme physicality. It takes a defender bringing their “A” game to bring him down, and he has this nasty habit of making the first man miss.

Judkins has phenomenal contact balance.

He’s also durable. It doesn’t matter how many times he gets tackled, he pops right back up like a jack in the box. Part of the magic is he runs defensively. He dishes it out more than he absorbs it, and he’s always falling forward.

Is it written in the stars?

Dallas needs a legit running back to become a two-dimensional offense again and Judkins would be a great fit there. Not only that, but there’s history to consider.

I’m big on playing connect the dots. I played ‘connect the dots’ in books a lot as a kid on airplanes traveling with my parents. My dad was a traveling salesman.

Second-best rushing season by a freshman in SEC history, trailing only Herschel Walker’s 1,616 yards at Georgia in 1980 …

Became the fastest true freshman in the SEC to reach 1,000 yards rushing since Florida’s Emmitt Smith did so in seven games in 1987 (third-fastest overall)

– Ole Miss School Website

What do Walker and Smith both have in common?

They both played for the Cowboys.

#4 Quinshon Judkins 6-foot-0, 219 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s 2024 Fall Grade: First-Round (I would select him)

Projected by 29.0% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of November 6, 2024 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

2023 game film evaluated: Mercer, Tulane, Georgia Tech, Alabama, LSU, Arkansas, Auburn, Vanderbilt, Texas A&M, Georgia, UL-Monroe, Mississippi State, and Penn State (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Muscular compact back with strong leg drive who is endzone-minded. Occasional Wildcat snaps. Sudden. Inside the tackle runner. Looks like a sprinter who starts fast and levels off with his speed. Inconsistent going east-west and winning the edges. Upright shifty darting cut back downhill hard-nosed runner. Windmills his arm occasionally when changing direction for assistance and to maintain his balance. Stiff arms and fights for every yard. Solid job maintaining his balance overall. Flashed spin move. Excellent safety valve who pays attention when his quarterback is in trouble. Takes what’s there to take after receptions and nothing more. Shows emotion.

What to watch for during the 2024 college football season:

1. Hitting home runs?

2. How does his speed look?

3. Does he look elusive?

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, and has written for Sports Illustrated (Lions, Jets, and 49ers), NFL Draft Diamonds, and Yardbarker, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. Follow on Twitter @firstroundmock.