NFL News NFL News, Reports and Updates
DAYTONA BEACH — Christian Hudson toured the college football landscape last month, making stops at Iowa State, Maryland and Iowa in consecutive weekends. But, Mainland’s coveted defensive tackle decided that the best fit was the one closest to home.
Hudson, who recently cracked the ESPN 300 list of the nation’s top high school football players, committed to UCF in front of friends, family, coaches and teammates at a ceremony Saturday evening. He waited until exactly 5:55 p.m. to drop the news, the two numbers he plans to wear this fall as Mainland aims for another state football title.
“The process was hectic, but it was a good hectic just with all the coaches that were recruiting me. It was a tough battle; I’ll say that,” Hudson said. “But the relationship I have with Coach (Kenny) Martin and Coach (Gus) Malzahn can’t be beat.”
Big 12 preseason football poll released: Where does UCF rank in 16-team conference?
Hudson (6-foot-2, 290 pounds) started all 15 games for Mainland on both sides of the ball — at left guard and defensive tackle — and piled up 72 tackles, 29 tackles for loss and nine sacks as the Buccaneers captured their first FHSAA football title since 2003. He first received a verbal offer from UCF courtesy of offensive line coach Herb Hand after his performance at a summer camp, though he later became a target of defensive tackles coach Martin, a key figure in Hudson’s decision.
“My relationship with him has been great ever since it started,” Hudson said. “He calls me, checks up on me out of nowhere to make sure I’m OK. That’s really what college football is — relationships — and he built a great one with me.”
Iowa made a significant impression during his final trip, but Hudson said his official visit to UCF “sealed the deal.”
Recruiting “hometown heroes” has been a point of emphasis in Malzahn’s…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/espn-300-prospect-mainland-defensive-233910834.html
Author : Daytona Beach News-Journal
Publish date : 2024-07-06 23:39:10
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
