After running a close race in January, Baylor edged out Texas for the services of Silsbee offensive lineman Patrick Hudson. Following the termination of Art Briles, Hudson was granted a release from his letter of intent along with several of his classmates. Texas figured to be heavy in the race for the blue chip prospect. After taking his release from Baylor, Hudson chose the Longhorns and will enroll in Austin for the second summer session. Hudson held offers from Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Georgia, Alabama, and LSU among many others. Hudson ranked fourth overall in the state on the final HornSports Top 50 for 2016.
Hudson is a small town kid with a small town mentality. He keeps his circle very tight, and has a rough history with some things in his recruitment. Texas handled the big fella with care, bringing him in under the radar on several occasions as opposed to the fanfare reserved for other highly regarded prospects. His size and athleticism make him a likely candidate to play early at multiple positions. Hudson could be a candidate to fill the immediate need at either right tackle or left guard from the moment he steps onto campus. He’s perfectly built for Sterlin Gilbert’s power spread offense, and new offensive line coach Matt Mattox has to be excited with the first group of freshmen he gets to work with in Austin.
Film Analysis:
Daniel Seahorn:
I love guys like Big Pat for a couple reasons. First, I love me some country strong big bodies because you just can’t teach that natural strength they are blessed with. Secondly, he isn’t even close to his ceiling as a player and if placed with the right coach has a chance to be a heck of a player. I will say that I’m not sure Hudson is destined to be a left tackle at the next level, but I definitely can see him as a right tackle or getting kicked inside as a guard, which could be the faster route to the field. He’s an absolutely mauler as a run blocker, but is a little rough around he edges technique wise as a pass blocker. He bends well, he has great feet, and you don’t see him off balance a lot on tape, so he checks all of those boxes for me. Last thing, while Hudson is a guy who is capable of burying you, he doesn’t seem to possess that nasty streak that you love to see in lineman. Plain and simple, that is something you simply have or you don’t.
Mike Roach:
Hudson has a big frame at 6’5 330 lbs., with good weight and a cut frame. Simply put, humans his size should not be able to move the way he does. In space Hudson moves like a dancing bear. He’s incredibly light on his feet and has the ability to engage defenders in the open field. He can also pull to open up lanes on counter plays. He shows good flexibility and coordination, but he sometimes gets caught reaching and over extends himself. He comes off the ball quickly with fast hands and incredible strength. Against the run he is an impact drive blocker capable of carrying his man down field and putting him on his back. When pass blocking he sometimes gets lazy with his feet, which causes lapses in technique and consistency. Hudson is at his best in the screen game where he can lead the way out front. Most think he’s destined to play guard at the next level, and while he does think he has some Larry Allen in his game, his size and quickness also make him an ideal match at tackle.
Final Verdict:
What a tremendous win for Charlie Strong in a race that he never expected to be in at this point in time. Hudson could be a boom or bust player with an incredibly high ceiling, but also a pretty low basement. If he reaches his potential, we are talking about an All-American level player with a chance to go high in the first round of the NFL draft. His skillset and combination of size and speed doesn’t come along often.
