Khaleke Hudson
Name: Khaleke Hudson
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 206 lbs.
High school: McKeesport (PA) McKeesport
Position: Safety
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #7
Last year: Hudson was a senior in high school (LINK). He rushed 106 times for 1,118 yards and 17 touchdowns; he also made 60 tackles and 3 interceptions (2 for touchdowns).
Final TTB Rating: 80
Hudson wasn’t on the Michigan recruiting radar for a long while during the 2016 recruiting cycle. He earned an offer in late fall and took an official visit to Ann Arbor in January. After that he was all Wolverine. And after having ample time to see what he brings to the table, Michigan fans were pretty excited. He was a stat machine in high school, averaging over 10 yards/carry. He has a long, ridiculous highlight reel. And against other elite high schoolers in the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl, he was all over the field and one of the primary standouts in the game.
I pegged Hudson as a nickel corner coming out of high school, much like what Jabrill Peppers played last season. Word came out this summer that he will start his career at safety. Whether that’s a long-term thing or just an indication of how thin Michigan is at the safety position, we’ll just have to see. It would not be surprising at all to see him move down to the SAM linebacker spot to replace Peppers someday, but that would depend on Michigan becoming flush at safety, which is questionable since another two seniors will graduate after this season. For this season I expect him to back up Delano Hill at strong safety, and I also think he has the abilities to help out on special teams. Physically, I think he’s ready for the college game, but safety can be a tough position to play from a mental standpoint, so hopefully he’s up to the task.
Prediction: Backup strong safety
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I’m conceding up front here that there is no viable alternative beyond rumors of another miracle Glasgow, but I hate even the thought of freshman safeties.
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AJ Pearson! He’s pretty not bad! There’s also Kinnell.
Michigan should be OK as long as Thomas and Hill don’t miss too much time. If they do, they can always move Peppers back to safety and play more corners (Stribling/Clark) or other LBs in his place.
The bigger worry is 2017, especially since Brown’s D is supposed to depend on reliable safeties.
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I think if there is every a team that UM had that the safety position is going to be made simpler to play because of the guys up front this is it! Hopefully the big guys up front get enough pressure / to the RB that it simplifies the job for the safeties.
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We’re on a run of rankings I generally agree with. Hudson, like a lot of freshman, is hard to rate. I don’t think he’s an important player in 2016, but the talent and hype make you wonder if he can be a difference-maker, even if just as a backup in low leverage situations.
Hudson has the kind of talent that makes you want to keep the red-shirt season an option, but you can also see the benefit of getting him on the field to prepare for a big role in 2017. I suspect he’ll play because Michigan doesn’t have a ton of ideal options if Peppers or the safeties are hurt.
I buy the hype. It reminds me a bit of Mike Hart (because I”m old enough to remember him as a recruit) where there wasn’t a TON of buzz before he committed but it seemed to grow through the spring and summer. Perhaps like Hart he’ll shock the world and jump ahead of some veterans quickly. I sure wouldn’t mind having another Peppers-like athlete flying around our defense.
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No suspect about it… Hudson is playing this year. Harbaugh is stressing that he does not care about seniority, and redshirting is not a priority outside of OL and QB. Hudson will be fast tracked to start in ’17. Kid is a stud and he will play.
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