Ohio State running back Quinshon Judkins declares for 2025 NFL Draft

Quinshon Judkins is moving on with his heading to the NFL after helping Ohio State reach the pinnacle of the college football world, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported on Friday.

“Ohio State star running back Quinshon Judkins is leaving school early and will declare for the NFL draft, he told ESPN,” Thamel reported. “He ranks as the No. 5 overall running back in the upcoming draft in Mel Kiper Jr.’s position rankings.”

While Judkins only spent one season with the Buckeyes, he made an everlasting impact. During his final game with the program, the running back scored three touchdowns in their national title win over Notre Dame. What a way to go out, and end your college football career.

Moreover, Judkins started his collegiate career with the Ole Miss Rebels, where he spent two seasons and carried the ball at least 270 times in both of them. It took some getting used to, as he split carries with fellow star tailback TreVeyon Henderson this season with Ohio State, but both future NFL stars thrived in their role.

All told, Judkins amassed 194 carries for 1,060 yards and 14 touchdowns with Ohio State. He also had 22 grabs for 161 receiving yards and two touchdowns through the air for the Buckeyes in their 16-game national title run.

His time in Columbus almost didn’t come to fruition, but Ohio State sure is happy it did. Judkins previously committed to playing another season in Oxford for his junior year, but then he surprisingly entered the portal.

Following two strong seasons with the Rebels, he had plenty of suitors, as he ran for 1,158 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2023. Additionally, Judkins was a weapon out of the backfield, catching 22 passes for 149 yards and two touchdowns.

While he was an all-SEC tailback in two seasons with the Rebels, the big win eluded Ole Miss, and Judkins needed a change of scenery. As it would turn out, he and Henderson formed one of the best running back duos in Big Ten history, with both players carrying the ball for more than 1,000 yards on the ground on their way to a national title.

Moving forward, Quinshon Judkins will have the support of Ohio State faithful with him wherever he goes, as he makes his move to the NFL after one season with the Buckeyes.

— Letterman Row’s Spencer Holbrook contributed to this article.