Ole Miss' Quinshon Judkins views himself as 'the best running back' in college football

Confidence is key and that is something Quinshon Judkins is not in short supply of as he is days away from starting his second season at Ole Miss.

The sophomore running back led the Southeastern Conference in rushing a season ago, edging out Arkansas’ Raheim ‘Rocket’ Sanders for the 2022 crown. The trophy case is full from last year and everything Judkins has accrued in the preseason leading up to his 2023 campaign.

With breakout success like the kind Judkins experienced last year when leading the Ole Miss offense that means defenses are a year wiser and are hip to what to expect out the backfield this fall.

Knowing there is film on him for the entire college football world to see is not something that fazes Judkins. This happens all the time with players who go from under-the-radar unknown to the best in college football’s top conference.

For a running back who nearly hit the 1,600 mark in rushing his first try in the SEC is not worried about the challenge being greater his second time around the block.

“As an athlete, you always compete everyday to better your game and get better at what you do,” Judkins said after Monday’s practice. “I think, as an athlete, you aim for success and to be the best you possibly can. For my game to be as great as it was last year, that’s what I prepare for, and just coming into this year I’m doing the same thing. I think I know what to prepare for and what defenses are doing, so it’s just me going harder and getting much better”

What Judkins’ second chapter at Ole Miss will be is unknown as of now but one thing is for certain he will not be limited.

The Pike Road, Alabama product is a year wiser himself in head coach Lane Kiffin‘s offense. That means Judkins is able to grasp the intricacies of the playbook now that the basics have been mastered.

Whether that means more unique run calls or coming out of the backfield as an option at receiver is something that is not going to get divulged until Kiffin is ready to do so. But a cap on production is something he is not considering with his start running back.

“We’re not going to put numbers on his touches,” Kiffin said during his weekly press conference. “Every game’s unique, every season’s unique. We’re going to do the best things to win, whatever that is each week. That may vary and be different but I can’t tell you that right now.”

The quiet whispers of Heisman Trophy talk have gotten louder in areas as the season gets closer and Judkins finds himself on the preseason watch lists of prominent national awards. Plenty of work is needed from both Judkins and Ole Miss if he is to enter that conversation at all.

Along with Sanders, Judkins is considered one of the top running backs in the country. Throughout the preseason awards and All-America teams Judkins continually found himself paired up with Michigan running back Blake Corum.

Both are viewed as where the the best running back in college football conversation begins, but Judkins is thinking himself more of a solo act in that category.

“Yeah, definitely. I view myself as the best running back and just being the best I can be honestly,” Judkins said. “I feel that what separates me is just my overall game on my speed, my change of direction, how I can be used everywhere on the field. (I’m) not only (going to) run around you, but I can also run through you as well. It’s just being able to do everything at my position…and other positions too.”

Judkins gets his chance to start proving that point on Saturday against Mercer in the season opener at 1 p.m. CT.