“Quinshon Judkins Reveals OSU’s Secret Sauce: The Culture Shaping NFL Stars”

When Quinshon Judkins decided to transfer from Ole Miss to Ohio State, it’s safe to say the news wasn’t exactly what you’d call, “common.” Here comes one of the SEC football wunderkinds, leaving the fortress of his team in Greensboro, NC for the vibrant, sometimes unpredictable, life of a Buckeye in Columbus. My initial thought, “Thisu2026 this could be interesting.”

But, heavens, did it pay off! The team’s fortunes on the ground and, indeed, the excitement amongst fans, took a turn for the better. Judkins teaming up with TreVeyon Henderson? Now that’s what I call a power duo! Together, they racked up over a whopping 1,000 yards each, steering the Buckeyes to a season that’ll be recounted around the water coolers, on sports podcasts, and, yes, even in the hallowed halls of college football lore. Capping off with that jaw-dropping run through the debut of the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff, culminating in OSU’s ninth national title.

However, it wasn’t just about the plays on the fields. There was a cultural shift too. And who better to ask about that transformation on ESPN’s Sportscenter than Judkins himself. His take? Well, let me quote him: “You’ll forever be a Buckeye,” he shared as if unveiling a secret. And when challenged to unpack Ohio State’s unique culture further, he delivered his insight with an eloquence that would get a nod of appreciation, if not a silent golf clap, from yours truly:

“It’s one of a kind,” he stated, and while I might’ve added a poetic flair or two, his words, “it’s like none other,” capture the sentiment entirely. You simply can’t put a price tag on the passion that flows through the fan base and the coaching staff at Ohio State, nor the sense of community that envelops newcomers, making them true Buckeyes.

As Judkins gears up for the NFL Draft, his impact on Ohio State Football will live on, as will the culture that nurtured him.

Now, I’m curious to see the talents young Quinshon will show in the professional leagues…

LEARN MORE

“You’ll forever be a Buckeye,” Judkins said. “When you go to Ohio State. You don’t truly know what it means to be a part of that culture but when you step into the locker room and you see the community. You get involved in how valuable everything is and how passionate the fans are and the coaches. You appreciate everything, and everything it takes to get to that point and everything a part of the process honestly.”It was a bit of a surprise when Ohio State landed All-SEC running back Quinshon Judkins out of the transfer portal during the 2023 offseason. The Buckeyes convinced the former Ole Miss star to come to Columbus despite OSU already having a dynamic back in TreVeyon Henderson already returning for his final year.But boy, did that work out just fine, thank you. Judkins and Henderson comprised arguably the best running back tandem in college football, each finishing with over 1,000 rushing yards on the way to a memorable season that culminated in the program’s ninth national championship after one whale of a run through the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff.

Judkins will now prepare to hear his name called in the upcoming NFL draft. He’ll be taken fairly early because of his ability to do a little bit of everything, and there’s little doubt the culture of Ohio State has a lot to do with it.Judkins recently appeared on ESPN’s Sportscenter and was asked about being a Buckeye and what the culture was like after coming up north from the SEC, and he was quick to compliment the environment on the banks of the Olentangy.

“One of a kind, I’d say it’s one of a kind,” continued Judkins. “It’s like none other. You just go there and embrace it. It takes a special type of person to be a part of an Ohio State team.”

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.

When pressed to describe the culture further, Judkins finished things up with a style.