Lane Kiffin details Quinshon Judkins' early season struggles, breakout vs. LSU

A year ago, running back Quinshon Judkins took the SEC by storm at Ole Miss. He ran for 1,567 yards and 16 touchdowns as a true freshman, one of the best performances in the country.

Prior to Saturday’s game against No. 13 LSU, he simply hadn’t done much this season.

“Well he was hurt,” coach Lane Kiffin explained Wednesday on an SEC teleconference call. “He got hurt in the Tulane game and then he pushed himself to play the next week and was not full strength at all.”

After getting a chance to recover a little further, Judkins was much closer to his normal self against the Tigers and it was readily apparent.

The talented Ole Miss back snapped off 177 yards rushing and a touchdown on 33 carries, showing he could carry a hefty load while bringing the kind of production the Rebels had grown accustomed to getting out of him last season.

According to Kiffin, just about everything was working better against LSU.

“Our running game was working a lot better, we were making first downs, which helps our tempo in the run game,” the Ole Miss head coach said.

Overall, Kiffin’s pleased with where Quinshon Judkins is at after the early season injuries. He expects Judkins will return to form now that he’s a little healthier.

“He’s been really missed in the run game, for the first three games of the year,” Kiffin said. “And he’s made a big difference.”

Sam Pittman confident in limiting explosive plays

With Arkansas and Ole Miss set to collide this week, Razorbacks head coach Sam Pittman expressed confidence in his team’s ability to stop explosive plays. In part that means being able to limit Quinshon Judkins on the ground.

During his Monday press conference, Pittman was asked about Ole Miss’ explosive offense and if he was confident in Arkansas’ ability to stop those explosive plays.

“Yes, I am, against a really good offensive team,” Sam Pittman said. “And that might be limiting it to five. It might be limiting it to three. They’re gonna get some. I mean, you know it, I know it, everybody knows it. You know what I mean.

“It can’t be 10, it can’t be 12, it can’t be, I mean, can’t let them get behind us. LSU, obviously, did. Yes, to answer your question, I’m very confident. I’m confident in our defense and I think they’re making huge strides as the season goes on.”

Arkansas and Ole Miss are set to meet at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday with a broadcast on the SEC Network.