Ohio State star and first-team All Big Ten running back TreVeyon Henderson will return to the Buckeyes for his senior year, he announced Friday. His announcement comes after Ohio State landed a commitment from Ole Miss transfer Quinshon Judkins, who is the top-ranked running back of the transfer cycle, according to 247Sports.
The two will combine to give the Buckeyes what should be an electric backfield tandem in 2024. Henderson is merely the latest Ohio State star to spurn the draft in favor of an another college season as Ohio State seeks a return to its title-winning ways.
As the No. 2 ranked running back in the 2024 CBS Sports NFL Draft Prospect Rankings, Henderson could have been an early-to-mid round selection in April after rushing for 926 yards and 11 touchdowns in 10 games last season.
Once Judkins committed, many assumed Henderson’s departure was imminent. However, his return will give head coach Ryan Day the option of pushing his offense in a more run-oriented direction next season as Ohio State seeks to reclaim Big Ten superiority. Henderson ranked as a five-star prospect in the Class of 2021 and has delivered on the hype by amassing 2,745 yards rushing in three seasons, even while dealing with injuries the past two years.
Henderson and Judkins together
With Henderson and Judkins in the backfield, Ohio State will be better equipped to deal with diminished quarterback play in 2024. Following a wave stellar quarterback play that predates Day’s coaching tenure, the Buckeyes dealt with a drop off at the position in 2023 as Kyle McCord took the job.
McCord threw for 3,170 yards and 24 touchdowns, but fell short of the elite standard set by his predecessors such as CJ Stroud and Justin Fields. He transferred to Syracuse after the regular season. Even with Kansas State transfer Will Howard in the fold at quarterback, the Buckeyes are unlikely to produce as potent a passing game in 2024 as they have enjoyed for much of the past decade.
But with Henderson and Judkins together, they can shift into a run-oriented style that relies more heavily on an ever-improving defense. At 5-foot-11 and 210 pounds, Judkins profiles similarly to Henderson, who is listed at 5-foot-10 and 212 pounds. Judkins surpassed 1,000 yards rushing each of the past two seasons at Ole Miss and is ranked the No. 5 overall transfer of the cycle by 247Sports. Both are punishing runners and capable pass…
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