Nine days till Green Bay hosts the NFL’s grandest talent show, and few programs have stocked the main stage quite like Ohio State Buckeyes. The 2025 NFL Draft feels less like a gamble for Buckeye prospects and more like a coronation. One National Championship, an elite offense, and a pair of battering rams that punished defenses all season. TreVeyon Henderson and his 221-pounds 4.48 Pike Road express are both primed for at worst a round 3 call. And while all eyes are on their game tape, one running back is also making sure front offices hear his voice loud and clear.
That voice? It belongs to Quinshon Judkins, who amassed 4,227 yards in his college career. The three-time 1,000-yard rusher didn’t mince words when he sat down with Kay Adams on Up & Adams. When asked about what separates him from the pack, Judkins doubled down on his toolset. “Just my versatility, you know, as a player at my position. My skill set—a guy at my size, you really can’t find players like me,” he said. “I’m 221, great natural hands, speed, vision, power, elusiveness, ability to be anywhere on the field and just have an impact on the game, and [be a] home run threat. So that’s my game.” It wasn’t bragging—it was a bold mission statement. Judkins is done waiting to be noticed. He’s making sure the league knows exactly what he brings.
He’s also not shy about his past—especially when it could become part of his future. When Adams brought up the possibility of reuniting with a familiar face in the NFL, Judkins didn’t hesitate. He lit up….
“I mean, it would be great,” he said, referring to a certain offensive mastermind who’s now pulling strings at the pro level. “I love the way that his versatility with using me this past year, this past season—like different ways he can get me the ball. We can just draw stuff up on the fly.” That coach? None other than Chip Kelly, the man who quietly transformed Ohio State’s offensive rhythm in 2024 before packing up for Las Vegas as the Raiders’ new offensive coordinator with a reported $18M three-year deal.
Chip Kelly and Ohio State RB Quinshon Judkins reunion on the Raiders?
The two met during a formal at the NFL Combine and Judkins is open to the possibility.@heykayadams | @quinshon_ pic.twitter.com/T2FnXkqlcv
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) April 15, 2025
There’s chemistry between the two, and it’s layered. Kelly was the architect behind Quinshon Judkins’ explosion as a do-it-all back in Columbus. Using tempo, mismatches, and misdirection to let Judkins attack gaps before defenses could reset. More than that, Judkins respects the way Kelly operates. “You love coaches like that because they care about how players think about the game and how certain things work out,” he added. “He cares about the players’ opinion, and I think that’s solid as a coach because it matters.” That’s not lip service—that’s a football mind seeing the field like a coordinator. For NFL execs, that’s a goldmine.
It’s not lost on Judkins that a Raiders reunion is within reach. Las Vegas has two serviceable backs in Zamir White and Raheem Mostert—though the latter is more of a short-term bridge than a long-term anchor. Mostert’s one-year, $1.6 million deal is modest and signals more of a stopgap role. Quinshon Judkins, by contrast, could offer that every-down threat that Kelly craves—an inside-outside weapon who can catch, block, and burn. The last time Judkins and Kelly talked was at the NFL Combine, but don’t let the lack of recent contact fool you. The respect is mutual, and the fit is real.
For the other 31 NFL teams, Judkins’ message was loud and calculated. He’s not just ready for the league—he’s daring GMs to see him beyond the stat sheet. He’s 221 pounds of polished aggression, with natural hands and rare vision. And he’s already been part of a system that looks an awful lot like what Sundays demand. “You really can’t find players like me,” he said again, matter-of-factly.
Quinshon Judkins’ reunion with Chip Kelly has to wait
In a recent 7-Round 2025 NFL Mock Draft from PFSN’s Jacob Infante, the OSU running back is projected to come off the board early in Round 3, landing with none other than the dynasty-powered Kansas City Chiefs at pick No. 66. And given the way KC’s backfield was banged up last season, this move would be more than just a luxury—it could be a necessity.
Infante didn’t hold back on the praise, either. In his scouting report, he wrote. “Blessed with a well-built frame and possessing top-notch speed and explosiveness, Judkins is a powerful runner who hits the open running lane hard and has the athleticism to take advantage of what the offensive line gives him.”
That burst is backed by numbers, too—Judkins tested as a 98th-percentile athlete at the 2025 NFL Combine. He racked up 1060 yards and 14 TDs, posting 5.5 yards per attempt last season. Still, there’s room to polish. “The ball-carrier vision Judkins has shown on tape is promising… improving his pad level as he runs could help him change direction better.” Looks like the Judkins-Kelly reunion might have to wait a little longer with this love connection brewing.
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