Ohio State Running Backs TreVeyon Henderson, Quinshon Judkins Named To Doak Walker Preseason Watch List
Ohio State received some more notable preseason recognition on Tuesday, with running backs TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins both being named to the preseason watch list for the Doak Walker Award, presented annually to the nation’s top tailback.
The honors for both Buckeye tailbacks come as no surprise considering the Buckeyes boast what many people believe is one of the — if not the best — running back tandems in the nation.
Henderson is named to the preseason watch list for an impressive third consecutive season after putting together a strong 2023 campaign with the Buckeyes. After battling injuries as a sophomore and only rushing for 571 yards in eight games, the Hopewell, Va., native returned to his explosive self, rushing for a team-high 926 yards and 11 touchdowns on 156, good for a 5.9-yard average.
Henderson has tallied 2,745 rushing yards and 32 touchdowns on 446 carries across his three seasons with the Buckeyes, putting him just 808 yards shy of reaching the top five of all-time Ohio State rushers along with 21 touchdowns away from Pete Johnson’s 48-year-old school record of 58 touchdowns.
Judkins is entering his first season at Ohio State but joins the program this season as an established and explosive collegiate rusher. Also a Doak Walker preseason watch list honoree in 2023, the former SEC tailback totaled 2,725 rushing yards and 31 touchdowns in his first two seasons at Ole Miss, a total that earned him back-to-back first-team All-SEC honors.
The Pike Road, Ala., native led the SEC last season with 15 rushing touchdowns while adding 1,158 yards and two receiving touchdowns. He is also featured this offseason on the Walter Camp and Maxwell Awards, which is presented to the player of the year and best overall player in college football, respectively.
Henderson and Judkins are two of 88 running backs featured on the list, which also includes last year’s winner Ollie Gordon II of Oklahoma State along with Penn State’s Kaytron Allen and Nic Singleton, Michigan’s Donovan Edwards, Georgia’s Trevor Etienne and Rutgers’ Kyle Monangai, among others.