Running back Quinshon Judkins, just over four months beyond capturing a national championship with Ohio State, now starts over from the bottom with a three-win Browns team.
Cleveland's 2025 draft class sparked widespread curiosity -- largely in part to how the team went about shoring up its quarterback position in the middle rounds -- but Judkins is of the mind that he and his fellow rookies joining the Browns can serve as an inflection point for the franchise.
"As a whole, we had a great draft class," Judkins told Sports Illustrated's Gilberto Manzano. "I think everyone brought attention because of our talent, and our work ethic. Really everybody who came in with that mentality of being ready to work. I feel like for myself, as a competitor and as a player, that was one of my goals.
"When I come to be a Cleveland Brown, I'm coming in to change the organization, contribute, do the best I can. I know what it takes to win, so I'm going to bring that mentality here to Cleveland and do the same thing."
Judkins was indeed a winner at the previous level. He eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards in all three of his collegiate seasons and amassed 50 total touchdowns. He played a key role in the Buckeyes going out on top, amassing six scores across the team's four College Football Playoff games.
But there's a huge hill to climb for the Browns, who after scratching their way to 11 wins and a playoff berth in 2023 careened back to earth last season, tying for the league's worst record. There's a QB conundrum to untangle, with Deshaun Watson likely out for the season and Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett joined in the room by rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders.
At running back, too, there are sizable shoes to fill after the Nick Chubb era appears to have come to an end. It didn't garner as much attention, overshadowed by Cleveland selecting Gabriel in the third round before ending Sanders' draft slide a day later, but the team also double-dipped at RB. Cleveland took Judkins at No. 36 overall, and two rounds later added Tennessee's Dylan Sampson.
Those two figure to lead the charge in the new-look backfield alongside Jerome Ford.
It's a familiar situation for Judkins, who formed one of college's most dangerous duos sharing the rock with TreVeyon Henderson last season. He was considered more of a bruiser in that pairing, an aggressive runner who lacked top-end speed.
He's not one to give much credence to outside voices and analysis, though, opting instead to let his past play do the talking as he gears up to add more to his résumé.
"I really don't listen to the good or bad," Judkins said. "That's just how I was raised, that's part of my upbringing, just dialed in and focused as an athlete. The people who know me, who recruited me, they know I have a lot of accomplishments. Freshman of the Year SEC, everything. Turn on the tape. It shows. I do everything as a player. Complete running back, every-down running back, catch, block, run 80 yards, 90 yards, whatever you want me to do, I'll do it. I'm just excited to do it at the next level."
However the backfield carries ultimately shake out in Cleveland, Judkins figures to feature prominently given his talent and second-round status.
Feeling confident following rookie minicamp, his next step in helping to build the Browns back into a winner takes place at organized team activities on May 27.
