Quinshon Judkins to Leave Ole Miss, Enter Transfer Portal; Had 34 TD in 2 Seasons

One of the best returning running backs in all of college football could be on the move ahead of the 2024 season.

Ole Miss running back Quinshon Judkins announced on Thursday he is entering the transfer portal:

"This decision to enter into the transfer portal was not made lightly, but I believe it is the best decision for my personal and athletic growth," he wrote.

Matt Zenitz of 247Sports and Max Olson of The Athletic initially reported he told the team's coaching staff he plans on entering the transfer portal. Losing him would be quite the blow for the Rebels but would allow another team to add an instant contributor on the offensive side.

Judkins is a touchdown machine.

He posted 1,567 rushing yards, 132 receiving yards and 17 total touchdowns as a freshman in 2022 and then followed up with 1,158 rushing yards, 149 receiving yards and 17 total touchdowns as a sophomore in 2023.

Zenitz noted he is the first SEC player since Herschel Walker to finish with 15 or more touchdowns in each of his first two seasons.

Judkins made an instant impact for Ole Miss and would likely do the same for whichever team landed him in the transfer portal. He was also at his best in some of the biggest games with 120 total yards and a touchdown in the Peach Bowl win over Penn State, 124 total yards and a touchdown in the rivalry win over Mississippi State and two touchdowns against Georgia this season.

The timing of his potential departure is difficult for Ole Miss, as the program is trending upward under head coach Lane Kiffin and is primed to make another leap in 2024.

The Rebels won 11 games for the first time in program history and are one of the teams that would likely benefit the most from the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff field. The expanded field will put less pressure on games against SEC powerhouses such as Alabama and Georgia and give Kiffin's squad a path to the postseason that would include one or two losses.

Yet that path will be more difficult if Judkins isn't in the backfield.