We continue our 2025 NFL Draft preview of draft prospects that could interest the Dallas Cowboys. Today we are looking at running back Quinshon Judkins from Ohio State.
RB
Ohio State Buckeyes
Junior
3-star recruit
6’0”
221 lbs
Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images
History
Quinshon Judkins, born on October 29, 2003, in Montgomery, Alabama, emerged as a standout running back during his collegiate football career at Pike Road High School in Alabama, where he rushed for over 1,500 yards and 26 touchdowns as a senior. Despite his high school success, he was considered an underrated prospect and was given a three-star recruit rating.
Judkins would join Ole Miss in 2022 where he made an immediate impact. He would set school records with 1,567 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns on 274 carries. He also added 15 receptions for 132 yards and a touchdown. His performance earned him numerous accolades, including SEC Freshman of the Year.
In his sophomore year, Judkins continued to excel, rushing for 1,158 yards and 15 touchdowns on 271 carries. He also caught 22 passes for 149 yards and two touchdowns. His consistent performance led to a second consecutive First-Team All-SEC selection.
After transferring to Ohio State, Judkins played a crucial role in the Buckeyes’ national championship run. He rushed for 1,060 yards and 14 touchdowns on 194 carries and caught 22 passes for 161 yards and two touchdowns. His 86-yard run against Marshall was the third-longest in Ohio State history. Notably, he scored three touchdowns in the national championship game against Notre Dame, helping secure the title.
2024 Statistics
265 Offensive Snaps
194 Rush Attempts
1,060 Rush Yards
5.5 YPC
16 Total TDs
22 Receptions
161 Receiving Yards
1 Fumble
58 First Downs
43 Missed Tackles Forced
1 Penalty
NFL Combine/Pro Day
10-Yard Split- 1.51s (90%)
40-Yard Dash- 4.48s (76%)
Vert- 38.5” (90%)
Broad- 132” (99%)
Bench- 24 (85%) PD
Awards
Third-team All-Big Ten (2024First-team All-Big Ten (2023)
First-team All-Big Ten (2022)
Scorecard
Overall- 84.4
Speed- 79
Acceleration- 91
Agility- 60
Strength- 88
Contact Balance- 90
Vision- 89
Elusiveness- 66
Receiving- 61
Blocking- 51
Discipline- 95
THE GOOD
- Showcases excellent patience and vision waiting for blocks to develop.
- His excellent spatial awareness allows him to read leverage and anticipate defenders’ positioning.
- Compactly built with a strong lower half, he breaks arm tackles and finishes runs with authority.
- Exceptional contact balance lets him absorb hits and keep churning forward.
- Quick-footed and sudden through the hole, though not a burner in the open field.
- Shows adequate burst to turn corners and gash defenses.
- Willing and physical in blitz pickup.
THE BAD
- Doesn’t possess breakaway speed to consistently outrun defensive backs.
- Occasionally waits too long for blocks to develop, leading to stalled plays.
- Not a naturally twitchy or sudden mover in the open field.
- Logged over 700 touches across three seasons, which could raise durability flags.
- Relies more on power and balance than jukes or shake to make defenders miss.
- Willing blocker but can struggle with positioning and recognition.
THE FIT
Quinshon Judkins thrives as a downhill, one-cut runner with the vision and toughness to handle a heavy workload. He excels in inside-zone and gap schemes, using his sharp vision and footwork to hit creases decisively. His ability to turn minimal gains into chunk yardage by shedding tackles and falling forward adds real value. His knack for showing up in big games, like his three-touchdown performance in the national title game is a testament to his mental toughness. He’s built like a workhorse and plays like one.
He lacks elite top-end speed, which limits his ability to consistently break long runs. He’s more of a chunk gainer than a home-run hitter. At times, he can be a bit too patient, resulting in negative plays when the line doesn’t hold up. While he’s improved as a pass-catcher, he still needs to refine his route-running and become more dynamic in space. His pass protection, while gritty, will need technical polish at the next level to handle NFL-caliber blitzers.
Since Ezekiel Elliott’s departure, Dallas has lacked a physical runner. Judkins would instantly give them a tough, downhill option who thrives in short-yardage and red zone situations. He shares similarities with early-career Zeke as he runs physical, has great contact balance, and can wear down defenses. While not as explosive or has the pass blocking prowess of Zeke, his no-nonsense running style fits the mold Dallas fans are used to.
If Dallas wants to get back to a physical run game to support Dak Prescott and take pressure off the passing attack, Judkins would be a great value pick on Day 2. He brings toughness, consistency, and a chip-on-the-shoulder mindset, all things Cowboys fans and coaches tend to love. He might not be flashy, but he’s the type of back who helps close out games in the fourth quarter.
COMPARISON:
Chris Carson, Seattle Seahawks
BTB GRADE:
66th
CONSENSUS RANKING:
54th
(Consensus ranking based on the average ranking from 90 major scoring services, including BTB)
