2025 NFL Scouting Report: Quinshon Judkins

Prospect Summary:

Over the past three seasons, Judkins has been one of the dangerous backs in college football showing the ability to produce on a consistent basis. In his debut season with the Ole Miss Rebels, averaged 5.7 yards per carry for 1,567 yards with 16 touchdowns. In 2023, he averaged 4.3 yards per carry for 1,158 yards with 16 touchdowns. He also caught 22 passes for 149 yards and two scores. Prior to the 2024 season, Judkins transferred to Ohio State to form the top running back tandem in the nation with TreVeyon Henderson. In 2024, Judkins averaged 5.5 yards per carry for 1,060 yards with 14 touchdowns. He had 22 catches for 161 yards and two touchdowns. Judkins split the carries with Henderson with each back producing some huge plays to help the Buckeyes win the National Championship.

For the NFL, Judkins is a special back as he is big, fast, and explosive. Judkins has a serious burst to hit the hole and accelerate to the second level. With his strong build, Judkins runs through tacklers and is capable of ripping off lots of yards after the first defenders hit him. He has easy speed to explode into the secondary and is a threat to produce a chunk run on any carry. To go along with his size, Judkins has nice knee bend to run behind his pads along with contact balance. He can be a devastating one-cut, downhill runner as Judkins has good instincts and feel for how to attack a defense.

As a runner, Judkins is a tighter athlete so he is not super elusive. Against NFL defenders, he will not be juking them left and right or zig zagging through a defense. Judkins will use his explosive speed and power with yards after contact to be an effective starter.

Judkins was a solid outlet receiver in college football and he should be in the NFL. He is too tight to line up as a slot receiver like Christian McCaffrey or Jahmyr Gibbs, but Judkins could be dangerous on screens and passes to the flat. At Ole Miss, Judkins was not asked to pass protect very much, but he showed a huge jump in ability at Ohio State. Under offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, Judkins was a good blocker and did not get beat when called on to protect Will Howard. Judkins has the upside and ability to turn into a good blocker at the pro level.

Judkins is one of the more talented players in the 2025 NFL Draft. If teams were drafting purely on best football player and skill set, Judkins would be a first-round pick. However, because teams downgrade drafting running backs early in the draft, Judkins might slide some and end up being a second-round pick. As long as he stays healthy, Judkins should become a three-down starter and he could be a Pro Bowl player during his rookie contract. Judkins has an excellent skill set with explosion and power. He has a ton of upside for the NFL.