‘We are going to the natty.’ Quinshon Judkins made sacrifices to help Ohio State achieve its goals

ATLANTA – Quinshon Judkins has a thing for national championships. Just minutes after Ohio State fans had to watch Michigan celebrate winning their first national title in over a quarter century, Judkins announced he was transferring to the Buckeyes.

That announcement came just over a year ago. “Feels like yesterday, though. It’s crazy,” Judkins said.

The running back sat in the locker room at AT&T Stadium, taking everything in. The Scarlet and Gray had just beaten Texas 28-14 in the Cotton Bowl to book a place in the national championship game.

Judkins, who only had 36 rushing yards but scored two touchdowns against the Longhorns, watched as Ohio State defensive end Jack Sawyer sacked former teammate Quinn Ewers, scooping up the fumbled ball and running 83 yards to the opposite endzone to all but seal the win.

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It was an emotional moment for Sawyer, a fourth-year Buckeye from Columbus, Ohio, and Judkins only had one thing on his mind. 

“We are going to the natty,” Judkins recalled thinking.

A native of Pike Road, Alabama, Judkins doesn’t have the same connection to the Scarlet and Gray as Sawyer. Having only been at Ohio State for just over a year after two seasons at Ole Miss, Judkins doesn’t have the memories of being a Buckeye like many of his teammates.

He will remember the journey the Scarlet and Gray have taken over the last year to get to Atlanta and play for it all against Notre Dame on Monday night.

“Man, to be in the position that we are in right now is truly amazing, and I’m just so blessed,” Judkins said. “Just speaking for myself, like, I believe in this team, we’ve been through so much, and the adversity that everyone has been through on this team, and everyone has a story and it’s just truly amazing how God brought us all together to go out there and just give it our all.”

Like all of his teammates, Judkins has sacrificed to be on the precipice of winning a national championship. But Judkins may have sacrificed more than most. In each season with the Rebels, Judkins rushed for more than 1,100 yards and 15-plus touchdowns. He was the SEC Freshman of the Year in 2023 and a two-time first-team All-SEC performer.

When Judkins transferred to Ohio State, he knew he wouldn’t have the same production. He came to Columbus excited to share the workload with returning senior running back TreVeyon Henderson, looking to lessen his workload after 545 carries over his first two years of college football.

“It’s helped me so much,” Judkins said of splitting carries with Henderson. “And just to be able to, regardless if I got the ball X amount of times or whatever, it doesn’t matter because I’ll do whatever for this team. If they need me to get 500 carries, I’ll go do it, just because this team means so much to me.”

Judkins has been productive for the Buckeyes despite fewer carries this season. The running back averages 5.2 yards per carry and is 40 yards from reaching 1,000 for the third consecutive season. While he hasn’t had the massive rushing production game-by-game, Judkins has churned out yards, becoming a reliable scoring weapon for the Scarlet and Gray with 13 total touchdowns this year, second most on the team.

Judkins has also helped make Henderson better. The senior, who was banged up each of the last two seasons, is on pace for his best season since his freshman year, with 963 rushing yards and 11 total touchdowns. Henderson’s 7.33 yards per carry ranks him in the top 15 nationally.

If Henderson manages 33 rushing yards and Judkins has 40, it will be the third time in Ohio State history two players have rushed for 1,000 yards or more in a single season.

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“Just having Quinshon, that has helped a lot,” Henderson said in November. “Splitting carries and splitting time with him, that has played a huge role.”

In Ohio State’s three Playoff games, the Buckeyes have averaged just under 140 rushing yards per game. While Judkins has averaged only 4.1 yards per carry, he has four postseason scores and is set to play in the national championship on Monday night.

Has his short Scarlet and Gray career worked out like he hoped?

“Most definitely,” Judkins said. “And we’re in a great spot right now.”