'I'm just where my feet are': Quinshon Judkins and Lane Kiffin had similar choices to make
There is something between Ole Miss running back Quinshon Judkins and head coach Lane Kiffin that will link them forever.
No, it is not the now infamous photo of Kiffin sitting in the stands by himself watching Judkins lead his team in an Alabama state high school championship game.
The bond is one with more serious implications. One that involves major life- and career-changing factors. While Kiffin was weighing the options to head back to Alabama and become the new head coach at Auburn, Judkins was also considering if he wanted to remain at Ole Miss.
After having opportunities to go elsewhere Judkins and Kiffin chose to stay at Ole Miss.
“I love Oxford. I love the people,” Judkins said. “Most definitely my teammates, the coaches, and I’m just where my feet are and I just love this community. I don’t want to be nowhere else.”
After a record-setting freshman season where Judkins earned the 2022 Southeastern Conference rushing title the Pike Road, Ala. native became a hot commodity. The performance earned Judkins All-American honors and accolades.
It also led to plenty of attempts to lure Judkins into the transfer portal and to a new team.
“I didn’t pay attention to any of those things,” Judkins said. “I just focus on football and where my head is, where my team is, where my coach is and just focus on what matters and win games. …No, it wasn’t difficult.”
The relationship between Kiffin and Judkins started before that photo was taken, but it helped solidify it.
Ole Miss running backs coach Kevin Smith, who returned this offseason, helped Kiffin in recruiting Judkins.
Both helped land what became one of the top high school signings of 2021.
“Coach Kiffin and coach Smith recruited me throughout my whole high school career,” Judkins said. “Just for them to show up it really shows they gave their time for me and just to be there.”
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Ole Miss did not recruit Judkins “harder” than other schools, according to him, but it was an approach that felt more “genuine” than others.
Though, this offseason Kiffin had to once again put the full court press on and recruit Judkins for a second time. This time the it was not as easy as showing up and using the genuine touch after the season Judkins had.
“You had two rounds of recruiting (Judkins),” Kiffin said. “You had the initial one where he had a lot of good offers. Then you had the last one, I say last hoping it’s the last. Then you had the last recruiting where, again, had it seemed every offer that he’d want or anybody would want.
“It says a lot that he came here, but it says a lot more that he stayed when, you know, for all of us it’s challenging. I’m the best one to speak about this that the grass isn’t always greener. We think something’s better so we take another job. Imagine being 19 years old and everyone telling you, ‘Well go here or the stadium’s bigger here or we’re going to do this or we’re going to have better Heisman campaign.'”
Judkins is firmly at Ole Miss and wrapping up a spring where he is heading towards a summer and 2023 season that will feature him and Ole Miss greatly in the college football conversation.
Watch Judkins full post-practice interview below. Video provided by Ole Miss Sports Productions.
