Ohio State's Quinshon Judkins donates $10K to former high school football program

Quinshon Judkins is using his NIL platform to give back.

The Ohio State running back transferred in from Ole Miss this winter. After wrapping up spring practice with the Buckeyes, he’s back in his hometown of Pike Road, Alabama. On Tuesday night, he presented a $10,000 check to his former high school program.

Thanks to profiting off his name, image and likeness, Judkins gave some of his endorsement dollars back to Pike Road. He also stopped by the Alabama Kidney Foundation Walk during his time at home. According to WSFA 12, for every touchdown he scores $1,000 will be donated to the Alabama Kidney Foundation.

“You know, I’ve done some great things at Ole Miss,” Judkins said in January. “I learned a lot. But just for me in my third year, you want to be somewhere at a place like Ohio State. Great culture, great teammates, great coaches. The best players and the best fanbase.”

What a moment at the end of Pike Road’s practice. @qaj4_ and the Judkins family donates $10,000 to the football program.

“This is puts NIL in a positive light” @GrangerShook pic.twitter.com/QflUTA8Fcy

— Jerry Humphrey III (@Jerryhump3) May 7, 2024

He’s the latest college football star to use NIL dollars to give back. Dillon Gabriel presented new uniforms to his Mililani, Hawaii, high school football program last week.

Judkins is one of the top returning tailbacks in the nation. The 2022 SEC Freshman of the Year could have had his pick of any school in the transfer portal when he entered college football’s free agency this winter, but he decided on Ohio State. With 2,725 career rushing yards and 31 touchdowns, there’s no question about what he brings to the Ohio State rushing game. Known for his elusiveness and home-run abilities, he referred to Christian McCaffrey and Alvin Kamara as the top backs he likes to watch and shape his game on this winter.

Coming to Ohio State ensures that Judkins will get quality carries while saving some of his mileage for the next level. The running back has signed NIL deals with Marathon Gas, EA Sports and the Ohio State NIL collective The 1870 Society in recent months.

With nearly 200,000 social media followers, Quinshon Judkins won’t have trouble identifying endorsement deals in the Columbus community.