Having described him as his top priority, Ryan Day has finally revealed a fantastic signing to solidify his team walls.
Quinshon Judkins, a running back via the Ole Miss transfer portal, committed to Ohio State on Monday night, making the Buckeyes their third top-tier addition since the College Football Playoffs ended. This makes Judkins’ acquisition of Judkins this month. He joins Alabama center Seth McLaughlin and Kansas State quarterback Will Howard. Over the weekend, Judkins, the second-highest rated player available and the top-rated ballcarrier in the portal, paid Ohio State a formal visit.
Following last week’s Rebels bowl victory over Penn State, Judkins logged onto the portal. During his first two seasons, Judkins played in 26 career games and scored 34 touchdowns in all. Judkins had followed a number of Buckeyes on social media in recent days, and on Sunday night, Ohio State wideout Brandon Inniss responded with a handshake emoji, giving many people hope that a decision was about to be made.
The Buckeyes acted swiftly to sign Judkins when he became available because Ohio State running back Miyan Williams had left to enter the 2024 NFL Draft, Chip Trayanum had transferred to Kentucky, and starting quarterback TreVeyon Henderson was still undecided about his future.
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The response to Ohio State’s victory and its implications for the Buckeyes are as follows:
As the final seconds of the national championship game drew near, Judkins announced his decision, securing Michigan’s first championship since 1997. In his social media post, Judkins stated that defeating the Wolverines, who are frequently referred to as “Team Up North” by Ohio State players, was one of his objectives.
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Before making his announcement to the public, Judkins stated in an interview with Bucknuts that he was “definitely very excited” and “happy to be” in Columbus, starting the next phase of his college career. After three years away from his prep career, Judkins will be eligible for the NFL Draft following the 2024 season.
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Reading between the lines here, one could conclude that the Rebels made a business decision regarding Judkins and his roster value for 2024, especially since Ole Miss currently has the best transfer class in college football. Nevertheless, Ohio State had to cover a significant hole at the position, and they succeeded in doing so by bringing in one of the most exciting players in college football for the backfield. This is one of the few times that it might be advantageous to both sides.
After losing this year’s starter, Kyle McCord, to the transfer portal in December, Ohio State will undoubtedly have a strong, every-down threat on offense in 2024 with the addition of Judkins. This is because Howard will be the starting quarterback. This season, Ohio State’s rushing output ranked eighth in the Big Ten—its lowest total on the ground since 2018 and its lowest average per game in over ten years.
With six 100-yard games this season at Ole Miss, Judkins is one of the most complete running backs in the country when he’s at his best. In 2022, he recorded eight such rushing totals as a freshman, including two contests (against Arkansas and Texas A&M) where he went over 200 yards. Under Lane Kiffin, the Rebels used a heavy running game and Judkins received a ton of carries (545) in just two seasons. As an undervalued three-star recruit, Judkins burst onto the SEC scene.
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Judkins is one of nine former Ole Miss standouts who used the transfer portal to find new homes this recruiting cycle. After rushing for 1,158 yards on 271 carries at an average of 4.3 yards per carry and 15 touchdowns, Judkins was named to the first team of the SEC. In addition, he hauled in 22 passes for 149 yards and two scores. Judkins ran for 1,567 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2022 as a first-year player, earning him the title of SEC Freshman of the Year.
With Judkins in the mix, Ohio State’s attention now shifts to running back Henderson, who hasn’t decided on his 2024 plan yet. When asked what matters most to him regarding his upcoming call before the bowl game, Henderson emphasized that his faith will be the most significant factor.
Henderson stated, via Bucknuts, “I’m just really leaning on God to lead me toward my destiny and what he has planned for me.” “I’m not sure which direction to go if I rely just on my own understanding. I will therefore rely on God, my father, to guide me to the precise place I need to be.
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Former program star Maurice Clarett believes Ryan Day needs to win now in Columbus and do it big, given the roster he has assembled for the 2024 with the addition of Judkins, two other impact portal guys, and an elite signing class. He was among many who expressed his thoughts on Monday night following the championship victory of Ohio State’s bitterest rival.
