Ole Miss’ Judkins: ‘Concern’ over RB deals in NFL

• Heather Dinich, ESPN Elder WriterJul 20, 2023, 12:58 PM ET

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  • College football reporter
  • Joined ESPN.com in 2007
  • Graduate of Indiana University

NASHVILLE, Tenn.– Ole Miss sophomore running back Quinshon Judkins, the SEC’s leading rush in 2015, informed ESPN that the constant decline in worth of NFL contracts for running backs is “a big concern” for him as he looks towards the future.Interest in the subject heightened today after a set of the NFL’s best running backs– New york city Giants star Saquon Barkley and Las Vegas Raiders All-Pro Josh Jacobs– both failed to reach long-term deals with their particular teams ‘prior to Monday’s deadline for franchise-tagged players.”That’s why I’ve enhanced my game as far as revealing what I can do in the death

game,”Judkins stated Thursday during the last day of SEC media days.”I have a lot of receptions, a lot of passing yards. I can not only be used in the backfield, but I can also be used in the slot as well.Editor’s Picks 2 Related”So you can put me all over the field no matter what you require me to do as a playmaker. I believe that as far

as the next

level, the way they’re doing those guys is since I feel like you can just do so much at that position because of the people who remain in the league and handling those situations.”Barkley and Jacobs both would prefer long-term agreements to the one-year,$ 10.091 million worth of the franchise tender for running backs, though neither can now work out a long-lasting deal till after the season.Monday’s news prompted an outcry from fellow star running backs such as Christian McCaffrey, who called the circumstance”criminal,”and Derrick Henry, who presumed regarding suggest the NFL eliminate the running back position from the game if it’s not valued.Judkins, who averaged 120.5 rushing lawns per game, became the fastest true freshman in the SEC to reach 1,000 lawns rushing given that Florida’s Emmitt Smith did so in seven games in 1987.

Judkins said he’s working to display his adaptability.”I simply want to be viewed as a guy who can actually do it all,”he said. “You do not need to just run the ball with me, rushing. You can use me all over the field. I can toss the ball, capture it, whatever you need.

“I’ve seen the important things that they have actually done with the running back position and the agreements and the important things in the NFL that the running backs are dealing with. “Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin stated college football is a little bit various from the NFL due to the fact that the college coaches run the ball a little more and don’t have to stress over the players being 28 years of ages.”

I feel like for the a lot of part, the ability is so distinct,”Kiffin stated.” It’s not like they’re not earning money at all [in the NFL] We simply had a couple go high in the draft this year. I do not believe that would change that. I’m more interested in if, do collectives start to determine the value of that? “