Ole Miss beat LSU in an all-time classic last weekend and Brian Kelly refused to take responsibility. The 61-year-old head coach pointed fingers elsewhere but forgot that four fingers point right back it him.
Fortunately, Quinshon Judkins’ mother is here to remind Kelly whose fault it was that the Tigers lost.
Judkins, a former three-star prospect, is one of Lane Kiffin‘s best recruiting finds. The Alabama-native burst onto the scene in 2022 and was named the SEC’s Freshman of the Year after a dominant season.
He went for 1,567 yards and 16 touchdowns on 274 carries last year. To call him a “workhorse” would be understated.
Although Judkins had multiple offers to transfer during the offseason, the Rebels’ NIL collective was able to secure his future with a lucrative contract and kept him in Oxford. However, the start to his sophomore year was not quite as strong as expected.
Judkins ran for 60 yards or less yards per game in each of Ole Miss’ first four games, including 37 and 48-yard performances in Weeks 2 and 3. It was not the dominance for which the college football world became accustom from the dark horse Heisman Trophy candidate.
A couple of different injuries kept him limited during practice throughout the first month of the season and led him to see just 13 carries in three of the first four weeks. Judkins had 18 touches in Week 2.
That changed on Saturday.
Judkins carried the ball 33 times for 177 yards and a touchdown in the win over LSU.
After the loss, Kelly initially pointed to a lack of inexperience — which infuriated a former player. A few days later, he turned focus toward Judkins and threw some shade in his direction.
Brian Kelly spoke on Quinshon Judkins’ behalf.
(Judkins) showed he was a guy who was intentional and willing to give it everything he had.
Didn’t seem as interested in the first few games but he was certainly interested in this game and he played up to his capabilities.
We knew what kind of player he was so it didn’t take us by surprise in any shape or fashion […] We were expecting him to have a really big game and he did.
— Brian Kelly during the SEC Coaches Teleconference
Judkins didn’t seem as interested? Or was he injured, perhaps?
Even if it was not the latter, it was not the former. Judkins’ mom made that very clear when she clapped back at Kelly on Friday.
Could it be that Brian Kelly wasn’t that interested in coaching against #OleMiss😏 #ExcusesDontMatter #WelcomeToTheSEC👊🏾
— Teva ‘Momma T’ Judkins via X, formerly known as Twitter
Pow pow! Got heem!
Mrs. Judkins had the time. She buried Kelly six feet under, just like Ole Miss did LSU.