Quinshon Judkins, TreVeyon Henderson ready to share backfield for Buckeyes

COLUMBUS — Ohio State running backs coach Carlos Locklyn made it quite clear that his two star tailbacks don’t have a choice: they’re going to be happy splitting the load in the Buckeyes backfield.

But even if they had the option, TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins will be more than happy to see each other succeed on the field this fall — and fuel a reinvigorated Ohio State ground game.

After a few seasons of inconsistent rushing attacks, Ohio State brought Henderson back for a senior season and landed Judkins in the transfer portal after he had back-to-back All-SEC seasons at Ole Miss. Expect the dynamic duo to power the Buckeyes offense.

“It’s going to be really good,” said Henderson, the senior back who returned to Ohio State instead of heading to the NFL last offseason. “You know, long season, a lot more wear and tear. And so being able to share that load with Quinshon, man, he’s such a great back — and so, so talented, man.

“He’s going to be a huge part of this offense and this team, helping us win games.”

Henderson would have garnered buzz as a senior superstar for the Buckeyes entering this season regardless of who else was in the running back room. Last year, Henderson was the leader. The fact that he returned to the Buckeyes rather than going to the NFL was a massive win for the Ohio State offense — and he made that decision public just four days after Judkins decided to join the program as a game-changing transfer from Ole Miss.

Judkins understands exactly why he was brought in to work alongside Henderson in creating the best backfield in the country. That’s beginning to become reality as camp continues.

“My job is to come in and run the football and just be the best teammate that I can be to my teammates, to support my team overall,” Judkins said. “I don’t really focus on how many carriers I get or things like that. I just come in and just do my job.”

Why would either of them want to worry about carries? They’re both already top-notch NFL Draft prospects for next April, and this season should only highlight that further as they run behind an improved offensive line and new Chip Kelly-designed run game. They both already have 1,000-yard seasons to their college football resume, and keeping tread on their respective tires will only help them once they get to the NFL — whenever that is.

Bottom line: They each think this is going to be a special season in the Ohio State backfield. And they’re excited to share it.

“We’ve just both been helping each other, sharpening each other,” Henderson said. “And just, you know, the biggest thing is just God has been helping me to love him, you know. However I can encourage him along the way, I’m willing to do so. And so I’m just so thankful that God has brought him here. It’s gonna be a great opportunity this year to just become closer to him.

“And just build that brotherhood, that friendship.”

Neither of them really needed to be reminded of what this backfield split could look like. Ohio State coach Ryan Day made sure to ask Henderson what he thought about bringing in Judkins back in January before any moves were actually made, and it was cleared through all necessary parties. Everyone understands the assignment.

But new running backs coach Carlos Locklyn, who inherited the room in April when he replaced Tony Alford, who left Ohio State midway through spring ball for rival Michigan after nine years with the Buckeyes, told both Henderson and Judkins more of what they had already been hearing: they’re teammates, not competitors. This backfield split will make them both better.

Locklyn has stayed on message, even as Henderson and Judkins have been on board with that plan all along.

“I told them on Day One: they’ve got to feed off one another,” Locklyn said. “But they work well together. They pushing one another. We’re all competing. They’re competing to be the best backs in the country. I’m competing to be the best running back coach in the country. So it’s all healthy.

They both are being great leaders in the room. They’re doing a good job.”

Alford and Day laid out the plan for how a two-back system can work for this Ohio State offense. Locklyn and Chip Kelly, along with Day, have hammered that point all offseason.

It’s now on the field in training camp, and what was expected is becoming the reality. TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins are willing and able to split the load for the Buckeyes backfield — and potentially do it all the way to a national title.

“I think we’re both just players that complement each other in every single way,” Judkins said.

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