A big part of the Ohio State Buckeyes’ championship run in 2024 came down to their ground game, and running back Quinshon Judkins played a massive role in their success.
After shining at Ole Miss, Judkins made the leap to the Big Ten and helped Ohio State get over the hump. Now, he figures to be one of the top running backs in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Quinshon Judkins’ Draft Profile and Measurements
- Height: 6’0″
- Weight: 221 pounds
- Position: Running Back
- School: Ohio State
- Current Year: Junior
Judkins’ Scouting Report
Judkins attended Pike Road High School in Alabama, where he was an all-state running back who recorded 51 touchdowns between his final two seasons. He was a three-star recruit coming out of school, committing to Ole Miss to play college football.
Ole Miss had brought in former five-star recruit Zach Evans from TCU in the transfer portal, so he was expected to be the school’s starting running back in 2022. While Evans played a role in the backfield and ended up getting drafted, it was Judkins who took over as the Rebels’ primary starter at running back.
As a true freshman, Judkins exploded for 1,567 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns on 274 carries. He led the SEC in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns, and he also added 15 receptions for 132 yards and a touchdown through the air. For his tremendous production, he was named a first-team All-SEC player and won the 2022 SEC Freshman of the Year.
Expectations were high for Judkins in his sophomore year, and he was able to largely deliver. Though his yards-per-carry average fell from 5.7 to 4.3 in 2023 on a similar workload, he still ran for 1,158 yards and 15 touchdowns, the latter which led the SEC. He was a first-team All-SEC running back yet again.
After two strong seasons at Ole Miss, Judkins decided to hit the transfer portal. Despite star running back TreVeyon Henderson returning to Ohio State for the 2024 season, Judkins chose to join the Buckeyes, giving them one of the more powerful running back tandems in recent memory.
Naturally, Judkins’ snap count fell a bit as he split time with Henderson in 2024. That said, he was still incredibly efficient with the touches he got. He finished with 1,060 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns on 194 carries, with his yards per carry rising back up to 5.5. He also caught 22 passes for 161 yards and two receiving touchdowns.
Both Judkins and Henderson surpassed 1,000 rushing yards, but it was Judkins who ended the year with more carries and touchdowns. He made third-team All-Big Ten and declared for the 2025 NFL Draft after Ohio State won the CFP national championship, skipping his final year of collegiate eligibility.
Strengths
- Brings a tremendous combination of size and athleticism to the running back position.
- Well-built running back with ideal physicality and power in between the tackles.
- Does a good job of varying his tempo out of the backfield as he approaches his aim points, letting the play develop as he tries to find the open running lane.
- Top-notch athlete at running back with great short-area acceleration and the breakaway speed needed to outrun defenders in space.
- Fights hard for extra yardage through contact and did a good job of improving his power as a runner over the course of his collegiate career.
- Demonstrates solid creativity with the ball in his hands, helping him maximize his raw athleticism.
- Momentum he generates as an explosive, bigger running back means defenders need to be on their A-game and tackle with proper form in order to bring him down.
- Capable of winning on outside-zone runs and has the patience to let those plays and wide-zone runs outside of the tackles develop, utilizing his trademark speed to accelerate once he finds a hole.
- Has three years of top-notch collegiate production against some of the top defenses in college football.
- Touchdown fiend who should be able to thrive in short-yardage situations in the NFL, as well.
- Competes hard in pass protection, as he maximizes his bigger frame for his position with a determined approach when incoming defenders crash in on him.
Weaknesses
- Runs with a higher center of gravity, which can make it tougher for him to change direction as seamlessly as shorter or more flexible running backs in this class.
- Could further maximize his natural power as a runner by running with better pad level.
- Struggled with consistent efficiency on his carries, having too many plays where he runs up the middle into a crowded spot for a short gain.
- Elusive rating graded below-average by PFF in the 2024 season.
- North-south runner who won’t be the type to juke out multiple defenders and make guys miss with lateral movements.
Current Draft Projection and Summary
From a physical standpoint, Judkins is a prototypical running back for today’s NFL.
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Blessed with a well-built frame and possessing top-notch speed and explosiveness, Judkins is a powerful runner who hits the open running lane hard and has the athleticism to take advantage of what the offensive line gives him. It’s no surprise he tested as a 98th-percentile athlete at running back at the 2025 NFL Combine.
The ball-carrier vision Judkins has shown on tape is promising, but he’ll need to be more consistent in how he processes up the middle when he needs to gain more than just a yard or two. Additionally, improving his pad level as he runs could help him change direction better.
It seems unlikely Judkins goes in Round 1, simply because of the perceived value of the running back position and just how strong the running back class figures to be. However, he likely projects best as a second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Given his physical gifts and his success at a high collegiate level, Judkins looks like he has the talent to serve as a viable back at the pro level pretty quickly in his NFL career. If he improves his consistency a bit, he has the potential to be a consistent 1,000-yard rusher in the league.