PHILADELPHIA– Ole Miss running back Quinshon Judkins has been selected as a semifinalist for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award, the Maxwell Football Club announced on Thursday.

The Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award has been presented to the College Freshman Player of the Year since 2018 and is named in honor of Shaun Alexander, a former standout at the University of Alabama and with the Seattle Seahawks in the NFL.

Judkins has burst onto the scene as a true freshman and made an immediate impact for an Ole Miss offense that leads the SEC and ranks No.  3 nationally in rushing yards per game (267.4 ypg). Judkins ranks top 20 nationally in total touchdowns (3rd, 14), rushing touchdowns (3rd, 13), total points (4th, 84), rushing yards (8th, 1,036), rushing yards per game (11th, 115.1) and scoring (18th, 9.3/game).

Judkins’ 1,036 yards rushing and 13 rushing touchdown are the most in program history by a freshman. He also tied the school record for fastest to reach 1,000 yards rushing in a season, previously set by Kayo Dottely in 1949. Judkins leads all FBS freshmen in rushing yards by 245 yards over Baylor’s Richard Reese (791), while also leading freshmen in yards per game and rushing touchdowns.

The Pike Road, Alabama, native is coming off a career-best performance in which he rushed 34 times for 205 yards and a touchdown. His 34 carries were the most by a Rebel since Deuce McAllister ran 36 times against Mississippi State in 1999 and his 205 yards rushing rank ninth on Ole Miss’ single-game list.

The award’s past winners include; Trevor Lawrence (Clemson) – 2018, Kenneth Gainwell (Memphis)-2019, Will Anderson Jr. (Alabama) – 2020 and Brock Bowers (Georgia) – 2021.

Finalists for the 5th annual Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year award will be announced Dec, 6, 2022 and the winner of the award will be announced on Dec. 29. The award will be presented at the Maxwell Football Club Awards Gala in March 2023, along with several of the other top awards in college and professional football.

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Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award
Terrion Arnold, DB, Alabama
Kelvin Banks Jr., OL, Texas
Jaishawn Barham, LB, Maryland
Will Campbell, OL, LSU
Abdul Carter, LB, Penn State
Nick Emmanwori, DB, South Carolina
Gabe Jacas, LB, Illinois
Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ole Miss
Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
Harold Perkins Jr., LB, LSU
Richard Reese, RB, Baylor
Malaki Starks, DB, Georgia
Deone Walker, DL, Kentucky