Ole Miss RB Quinshon Judkins Among SEC's Top 5 Heisman Trophy Candidate in 2023

Ole Miss Rebels running back Quinshon Judkins is one of the few players in the SEC set to contend for the Heisman Trophy in 2023.

OXFORD, Miss. -- There is little doubt that Ole Miss Rebels running back Quinshon Judkins is the No. 1 returning tailback in the Southeastern Conference this upcoming season. The reigning SEC Freshman of the Year has been graded as the No. 1 returning runner in his conference and ranked as a Top 15 player in college football entering the fall. 

After leading the SEC in rushing attempts (274), yards (1,567), and touchdowns (16) as a true freshman, Judkins is set up for a productive sophomore campaign as the bell cow back in Lane Kiffin's offense. As mentioned above, experts are expecting a big year out of Judkins, but does he have Heisman Trophy potential? Unfortunately for the Ole Miss tailback, running backs have started to become overlooked in the Heisman Trophy race, as the winner has been a quarterback eight times in the last 10 years.  

On3 released its Top 5 SEC Heisman Trophy candidates on Monday and Judkins made the cut as the only running back listed. The other four Heisman contenders from the SEC include LSU Tigers quarterback Jayden Daniels, Georgia Bulldogs tight end Brock Bowers, Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Joe Milton, and Georgia quarterback Carson Beck. 

As noted, tailbacks have become completely overshadowed in the Heisman Trophy field, but if one were able to buck the recent trends then Judkins is the surest pick.

Ole Miss’ standout led the SEC in rushing as a freshman in 2022 (1565 yards, 5.7 yards per attempt), scoring a school-record 16 touchdowns. Judkins was extremely productive while splitting carries with former 5-star Zach Evans (936 yards, nine touchdowns).

But with Evans off to the NFL and Ole Miss pony’ing up with a big NIL package to make sure Judkins didn’t transfer elsewhere, the sophomore will be the bell-cow ‘back in Lane Kiffin’s offense. Could Judkins flirt with 2,000 yards and 25 touchdowns — ala: Derrick Henry’s 2015 Heisman Trophy season? 

The last time a running back was awarded the Heisman Trophy was in 2015 when Alabama Crimson Tide tailback Derrick Henry was crowned the most outstanding player in college football. Henry rushed for 2,219 yards and 28 touchdowns on 395 carries total, setting the SEC's single-season rushing record (1,986) along the way. At the time, Kiffin was Alabama's offensive coordinator so he knows what it takes to send a running back to New York. 

With Judkins being the No. 1 option in Ole Miss' rushing attack this fall, the Pike Road, Ala., native has a chance to become the second running back to win the Heisman under Kiffin.

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You can follow Ben King on Twitter at @BKing_2023.

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