Ole Miss running back Quinshon Judkins signed a lucrative NIL deal in December, and reportedly made at least one splurge of a purchase.

Judkins, a Montgomery-area native, told ESPN’s Chris Low he bought a Mercedes-Benz from a Birmingham-area dealership co-owned by Alabama head coach Nick Saban. The 19-year-old Judkins starred at Pike Road High School, but was famously not offered a scholarship by the Crimson Tide, as Low noted.

Judkins said that during the purchase process, he spoke with Nicholas Saban, the coach’s son. The younger Saban is assistant general manager/sales manager at Mercedes Benz of Birmingham.

“It was the second time when I bought it and met his son,” Judkins told Low. “He told me he was coach Saban’s son.”

Judkins led the SEC in rushing as a freshman in 2022, totaling 1,567 yards and 16 touchdowns. He led Pike Road to the Class 5A state championship in 2021.

As of 2020, Saban owned stakes in four Mercedes dealerships, including one in Irondale and one in Hoover. Mercedes released a “Saban Signature Series” luxury van in 2015.