Goodbye, Khaleke Hudson

Tag: senior profile


2Mar 2020
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Goodbye, Khaleke Hudson

Khaleke Hudson (image via Detroit News)

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HIGH SCHOOL
Hudson, from McKeesport (PA) McKeesport, committed to Michigan in January of 2016, shortly before National Signing Day (LINK). I initially gave him a TTB Rating of 77 before settling on a final of 80 (LINK). He was a 3-star, the #20 safety, and #386 overall in that 2016 class after having an extremely impressive career playing running back and safety.

COLLEGE
With future 1st round draft pick Jabrill Peppers entrenched as the starting Viper in 2016, Hudson came in and played a backup safety and special teams role as a true freshman, making 8 tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss, 1 pass breakup, and 2 blocked punts. With the perfect build and combination of athletic traits for that hybrid spot, Hudson slid pretty seamlessly into the Viper spot in 2017, making 82 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 8 sacks, 9 pass breakups, and 2 forced fumbles. He seemed to be heading for an excellent career, but his junior season was disappointing: 44 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 1 pass breakup, and 2 more blocked punts. His 2019 season produced 101 tackles but only 3 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and and 3 pass breakups.

CAREER STATS
237 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, 2 interceptions (for 22 yards), 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 16 pass breakups, 5 blocked punts

AWARDS
2nd Team All-Big Ten (2019, coaches)
3rd Team All-Big Ten (2019, media)
Honorable Mention All-Big Ten (2017-2018, coaches; 2018, media)

SUMMARY
Hudson has very good career statistics with 237 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, and 2 interceptions. He had a season with 18.5 tackles for loss and 8 sacks. He had a season with 101 tackles. He had 5 career blocked punts. And yet it seemed like he stagnated. After a standout sophomore year when a lot of people started to say he was better than Peppers, the next two seasons just didn’t have a lot of flash plays. The tackles numbers went up his senior year, but he totaled just 7 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, and 0 interceptions during his final two campaigns.

Khaleke Hudson at McKeesport High School (image via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

I WILL REMEMBER HIM FOR…
…his ridiculous high school highlight film. If recruits were graded based on how awesome their highlights are, Hudson would have easily been a 5-star. It’s what led to a lot of people clamoring for him to play running back in college.

PROJECTION
The strength and athleticism that have been on display since high school were once again apparent at the NFL Combine last week when he ran a 4.57 forty and bench pressed 225 lbs. 30 times, which was the best among his position group. He also had a 33″ vertical and a 10’0″ broad jump. Unfortunately, his on-the-field play hasn’t been as impressive as his athletic feats. Not only is he a tweener at 5’10” and 224 lbs., but his skills make him an awkward fit in space against NFL players. I think he will get drafted in the 6th or 7th round based on athletic potential, but he’s going to have to make a big impact on special teams.

19Feb 2020
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Goodbye, Mike Danna

Mike Danna (image via Toledo Blade)

HIGH SCHOOL
Danna attended Warren (MI) De La Salle, where he was a 3-star prospect, the #95 weakside end, and #2005 overall. He was a part of the 2015 class, and Michigan did not offer him. In fact, the only school 247 lists as offering him was Central Michigan, and that’s where he went for the first four years of his career. I remember him from high school, and he was just a guy. I mean, a good high school player, but not someone who jumps out at you. I mean, what kind of impact defensive lineman wears #73 in high school?

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13Feb 2020
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Goodbye, Sean McKeon

Sean McKeon (image via MGoBlue)

SITE NEWS UPDATE: Thanks to Atishay, Joe, Lee, Lucas, and Luis for the generous donations! Altogether, you readers have donated $1,013.97 of the $1,250 Flywheel bill (LINK). You guys are awesome!


HIGH SCHOOL
Dudley (MA) Shepherd Hill tight end Sean McKeon committed to Michigan in June of 2015 as a part of the class of 2016. Overall, he had been lightly recruited and the Wolverines won out over schools like Boston College, UConn, and UMass. I initially gave him a TTB Rating of 83 (LINK). He ended up as a 3-star, the #45 tight end, and #854 overall. Eventually, I bumped him down to a 77 (LINK).

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3Feb 2020
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Goodbye, Michael Onwenu

Michael Onwenu (image via MGoBlue)

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HIGH SCHOOL
Onwenu, a product of Detroit (MI) Cass Tech, committed to Michigan in June of 2015 (LINK). I gave him a TTB Rating of 74. He wound up as a 4-star, the #4 offensive guard, and #87 overall in the 247 Composite and was a U.S. Army All-American.

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27Jan 2020
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Goodbye, Ben Bredeson

Ben Bredeson (image via Detroit Free Press)

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HIGH SCHOOL
Bredeson committed to Michigan over Wisconsin (a surprising move for a Wisconsin native), and here’s what I had to say about him at the time (LINK):

Overall, I think Bredeson is a player who could slide in at all five positions. He can stay low enough to maintain leverage at the interior positions, and he has the foot quickness to block guys on the edge. I do not see him being an elite left tackle prospect like, say, Taylor Lewan because Bredeson just lacks the length and athleticism that Lewan had. He needs to get in the weight and learn some new technique, and then I think he can be a mauler for a powerful offense. He’s a potential All-Big Ten player.

I gave him a TTB Rating of 88, and he was a 247 Composite 4-star, the #5 offensive tackle, and #39 overall.

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