The Grove Report

Ole Miss' Quinshon Judkins Named Highest-Graded Returning SEC Running Back

Ole Miss Rebels Quinshon Judkins is the SEC's No. 1 running back entering the 2023 season.

Ben King

OXFORD, Miss. -- Ole Miss Rebels running back Quinshon Judkins has already been rated as a Top 15 player in college football entering the 2023 season, and he has now been graded as the No. 1 returning tailback in the Southeastern Conference by Pro Football Focus. PFF released its rankings for the Top 10 SEC tailbacks returning next fall on Tuesday, and Judkins is in first with a grade of 88.2.

PFF grades are determined on a play-by-play basis, and posit how much an individual player "contributes to production" on every snap.

Judkins leads all SEC running backs followed by Auburn Tiger Brian Battie (87.5), Arkansas Razorback Raheim "Rocket" Sanders (83.4), Kentucky Wildcat Ray Davis (82.7), Tennessee Volunteers Jaylen Wright (80.3) and Jabari Small (79.9), Auburn tailback Jarquez Hunter (79.8), Georgia Bulldog Daijaun Edwards (79.6), LSU Tiger Josh Williams (79.0), and Mississppi State Bulldog (77.3).

Judkins was graded as the No. 1 returning tailback in the SEC after he led the league in rushing attempts (274), rushing yards (1,567), and rushing touchdowns (16) as a true freshman in 2022. For his incredible efforts, the Pike Road, Ala., native was named the 2022 SEC Freshman of the Year and earned First-Team All-SEC honors.

Judkins was the most consistent part of Ole Miss football in 2022 and will return next fall to once again be the bell cow back in Lane Kiffin's offense, which featured the No. 1 rushing attack in the SEC last season thanks to Judkins. If the sophomore tailback can improve upon his production from freshman year, Judkins may very well find himself as a candidate for the Heisman Trophy this fall.

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Ben King
BEN KING

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