Ole Miss running back Quinshon Judkins named semifinalist for Doak Walker Award

OXFORD, Miss. – Ole Miss true freshman running back Quinshon Judkins has been named a semifinalist for the 2022 Doak Walker Award as announced Tuesday. Judkins is one of 10 semifinalists for the award presented annually to the nation’s top college running back.

Against Arkansas Saturday, the Midseason Freshman All-American eclipsed 200 yards rushing for the second time in three games, going for a career-high 214 and one touchdown on 24 carries. 

Judkins has scored a rushing touchdown in nine straight games and has six multi-TD games in that span.

Amid his fifth consecutive triple-digit running performance Saturday, Judkins shattered Ole Miss’ 73-year-old single-season rushing record of 1,312 yards, set by Kayo Dottley in 1949. 

Quinshon Judkins for the score, breaking the single-season rushing record held by Kayo Dottley with 1352 yards and 16 TDs!! pic.twitter.com/aVzbP70Zps

— The Rebel Walk (@TheRebelWalk) November 20, 2022

Judkins now has 1,382 rushing yards on the season, tying Georgia’s Todd Gurley for fourth all-time among SEC freshmen. He enters the final week of the regular season 231 yards shy of the conference’s freshman rushing record.

Judkins leads the SEC in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. He ranks fifth nationally in rushing touchdowns and seventh in rushing yards. He leads all freshmen nationally in both categories.

Judkins is the lead back in the No. 1 rushing offense in Power 5. Judkins and Zach Evans have combined for 2,284 rushing yards on the season, more than any other pair of teammates in the nation.

It’ll be a quick turnaround for Judkins and the Rebels, who will work through a short week to prepare for Thursday’s Egg Bowl matchup with Mississippi State. The Thanksgiving Day kickoff is set for 6 p.m. CT on ESPN.

The 2022 Doak Walker Award winner will be unveiled live on The Home Depot College Football Awards, televised by ESPN on Dec. 8. The annual banquet, where the winner and the recipient of the 2022 PwC Doak Walker Legends Award will be honored, will take place in February on the SMU campus.

The Award is named after three-time SMU All-America running back and 1948 Heisman Trophy winner Doak Walker. Walker, who also punted, returned kicks and kicked extra points, led the Mustangs to two Southwest Conference Championships. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions and led the league in scoring his rookie year. During his six years with the Lions, he led the team to two NFL championships and was chosen All-Pro four times. Walker is a member of both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame.

Evelyn Van Pelt

Evelyn has covered sports for over two decades, beginning her journalism career as a sports writer for a newspaper in Austin, Texas. She attended Texas A&M and majored in English. Evelyn’s love for Ole Miss began when her daughter Katie attended the university on a volleyball scholarship. Evelyn created the Rebel Walk in 2013 and has served as publisher and managing editor since its inception.