Could Ole Miss RB Quinshon Judkins Be A Heisman Finalist?
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OXFORD, Miss. -- The Ole Miss Rebels are officially out of contention for the SEC championship after their loss to Alabama.
The Rebels' loss to Alabama stings, but there is still plenty left on the table for this season, and there is a lot to be excited about. Ole Miss started the season 7-0 after losing Rebel legend Matt Corral, bruising running back Snoop Connor, versatile running back Jerrion Ealy, reliable pass catchers Dontario Drummond and Braylon Sanders, and every quarterback’s worst nightmare, defensive end Sam Williams to the draft.
Then, the Rebels brought in a ton of transfers from all over the country and had to acclimate them to a new culture and system. There is plenty of room to grow, but sophomore quarterback Jaxson Dart showed a lot of promise and the defense showed flashes too. But the most exciting player of them all is freshman running back Quinshon Judkins.
He is not just good for a freshman or just the best running back on his team. Judkins is having a Heisman Trophy-caliber season.
On 205 attempts this season, he has 1.171 rushing yards to go along with 15 touchdowns for an average of 5.7 yards per carry. Judkins has eclipsed 100 rushing yards or more in seven games.
There have only been three games in which he has been held to less than 100 yards rushing. Judkins ran for 98 yards against Georgia Tech, 87 yards against Troy, and 46 yards on only eleven carries against Vanderbilt.
He has a rushing touchdown in every game this season except for one and six games with two rushing touchdowns. In his last four games, Judkins has rushed for 111 yards or more, accumulating 590 rushing yards and seven touchdowns in this span.
He ran for 139 yards and two scores against Auburn, 111 yards and two touchdowns against LSU in Death Valley, 205 yards and one trip to the end zone against Texas A&M in College Station, and 135 yards and two trips to pay dirt against Alabama.
He is tenth in the country in rushing yards, with less attempts than everyone in the top ten except for UAB's running back Dewayne Mcbride. Judkins is the only player in this group that plays in the SEC.
Judkins is having a remarkable season in spite of the fact that he is a true freshman. His statistics speak for themselves: Judkins should be a Heisman Trophy candidate.
And not that it matters, but Judkins is the only freshman in the top 10 for rushing yards on the season out of the group.
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