'Stay Focused' is Quinshon Judkins' Mantra for the Ole Miss Rebels in 2023

Judkins is hoping to help his team not falter down the stretch like it did in 2022.

OXFORD, Miss. -- The Ole Miss Rebels were one of the hottest teams in the country in the first half of the 2022 season. By the year's end, however, the magic had faded, and the team finished with an 8-5 record after starting 7-0.

Quinshon Judkins, the Rebels' top running back option and one of the leading backs in the country entering this season, spoke at SEC Media Days about how his team can avoid similar setbacks in 2023. In his mind, it's about controlling the controllable and staying focused.

"I would say this year, the thing that will help us the most with keeping the main thing the main thing and not losing certain games," Judkins said in media availability. "At one point, we were 7-0. I think the biggest thing for us is just stay focused and not get distracted by certain things that we can't control."

Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin admitted in the big room at Media Days that he did not do a great job of keeping his team together down the stretch last season amidst rumors that he would be departing for the job with the Auburn Tigers.

"To recap, we went on a really good run," Kiffin said. "I'm not going to say a great run because we have really high standards. Last year, we were 8-1 with the ball in our hands and a chance to beat Alabama. I didn't do a very good job at the end of the year of keeping our team together.

"I said it up here a year ago, the challenges when you have such a roster overhaul and are so portal-heavy. I've said I've always been concerned about culture issues when you do that because you don't have kids that have been there very long. I think down the stretch there after the Alabama game, I didn't do a good enough job of finding a way to keep our guys playing at a high level. We didn't play to our standards at the end of the season."

Judkins himself has some off-the-field distractions that could hinder any player, although his don't revolve around drama or trouble. The running back is touted as one of the top returners at his position as he enters his sophomore season, and some even speculate that he could find himself as a dark horse candidate for the Heisman Trophy.

"You know, I don't focus on the awards. I focus on what matters, which is winning games, contributing to my team, playing my role, just doing what I can," Judkins said.

If he can put together an individual season similar to a year ago, his team should see its fair share of wins in 2023. Ole Miss begins its campaign at home against the Mercer Bears on Sept. 2.

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You can follow John Macon on Twitter at @JMakeGillespie.

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