Hudson Discusses Becoming a Dynamic Leader for Wolverines
7/19/2019 9:11:00 PM | Football, Features
By Steve Kornacki
CHICAGO -- Khaleke Hudson is a difference-maker on the football field. The hard-hitting viper best exhibited that when setting a University of Michigan record while tying the NCAA mark with eight tackles for lost yardage and registering three sacks in one game.
The senior from McKeesport, Pennsylvania, also wants to make a significant impact as a leader this season. He took a giant step in that direction while attempting to spur on his defensive teammates during last year's Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl loss to Florida.
Hudson gathered the group on the sideline and let them have it with the fervor of a revival preacher. He shouted and punched the air with his fists, driving home the points that the Wolverines weren't giving enough and that their execution required sharpening.
"In that moment," said Hudson, "everything just came out of me. I wanted to step up and be a leader and get us back on track. Unfortunately, it didn't go that way. But I didn't plan that or anything; it just happened.
"I'm going into my senior year, and I want to be a leader and lead this team to a Big Ten championship and eventually a national championship. On this team, I had never been a vocal leader like that. But I'd always been a leader in my own way, a visual leader, leading on the field. I help get the team on track there. But as far as being a vocal leader, I hadn't been like that since in high school.
"But I had to step up right there and be that vocal leader."
Hudson's dynamic approach definitely caught the eye of Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh.
"Khaleke Hudson may be one of the best leaders on our team, is one of the best leaders on our team," said Harbaugh. "Our viper -- combination safety-outside linebacker -- can really rush the passer, tremendous football player.
"He could be a really good safety or a nickel cover guy. He's a Swiss Army knife, Jim Thorpe kind of player, a Troy Polamalu kind of player."
Harbaugh commented Friday (July 19) at Big Ten Football Media Days that the 2019 team very much sensed the need to improve after finishing 10-3 and tied for first place in the East Division. The Wolverines were No. 4 in the nation with all their goals before them until losing 62-39 at Ohio State and 41-15 to the Gators.
"We're trying to do better, trying to do more, focus on that day-to-day," said Harbaugh. "I think it's good right now. I think it's good. I think it's tight. But like an anaconda, you want to just keep squeezing it tighter and making it better, and that's where our football team is."
Did Hudson sense greater resolve, "focus" and determination because of the way 2018 ended?
"Oh, yeah," he said. "I see them practice and work out every day. Guys are getting better for the team, and everyone is putting the team first. Everything's for the team, and we're all getting closer, working on our chemistry, working in the weight room to be the best team possible.
"Our goal is to win that national championship, but it's about reaching your goals every day. I think it's going to be the best year we've had. We have a lot of freshmen coming back and young guys on offense who are the fastest we've ever seen (such as incoming receivers Mike Sainristil and Giles Jackson and running back Zach Charbonnet). Things are happening fast now, and why not this year?
"We're all working hard to be where we want to be."
Harbaugh mentioned Friday that he's pleased with the progress of the tailbacks in line to replace 1,000-yard rusher Karan Higdon and explosive backup Chris Evans, but he said Hudson is someone he'd consider playing there should depth become a need.
Hudson was the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's 2015 High School Player of the Year as a two-way threat and had impressive statistics as a Wing T formation back. He carried 106 times for 1,118 yards, averaging a first down per carry at 10.5 yards, with an amazing five catches for five touchdowns covering 219 yards.
"If they need me over there," said Hudson, "it'd be a quick switch. I feel like I've still got it in me. I've still got some shake and bake and could score a couple touchdowns. But until they actually need me, my main focus is defense and special teams."
Hudson replaced Heisman Trophy finalist Jabrill Peppers (who also played both ways) as a sophomore in 2017, when he had those record-setting eight hits behind the line of scrimmage and 15 total tackles against Minnesota.
"Oh, man," said Hudson, "that game was the most favorite game I've had in my life. It looked like it was me, but a lot of my teammates were helping me, and (defensive coordinator Don) Brown put me in positions to make those plays. And my teammates had to do their jobs to make my job easier. That was more my coaches and teammates than purely myself."
He had 83 tackles, 18.5 tackles for losses, eight sacks and two interceptions while earning All-Big Ten second team honors two years ago.
However, there was a drop-off last season. Hudson had 44 tackles, 3.5 for losses and two sacks as he received All-Big Ten honorable mention. Missing time for targeting ejections against SMU and Nebraska was a factor, but he knows he must show improvement.
"I need to get back to where I was," said Hudson. "I want to get past where I was two years ago. What happened last year happened for a reason, but now the only thing I can do is focus on this year and be the best teammate I can be to help us win that national championship.
"I'm going all out and I'm going to play my game. I want to go out the right way."
Hudson has grown close to Chris Partridge, his position coach his first two seasons, a special teams coach and his primary recruiter.
"Coach Partridge is my guy, man," said Hudson. "He's always on my butt: 'You've got to get better at this. You've got to get better at that.' Even when things are going well, he stays on me. He teaches me the game and the angles to take. He's helped a lot to develop me.
"And he's really boosted my special teams play by putting me on punt return and punt defend in order to show my ability in blocking punts. I can do more than just play defense."
Hudson blocked punts against Western Michigan and Florida in 2018.
"Those are big plays in games," said Hudson. "You block a punt and you can take the game. You work at it in practice, and being able to execute and do your job is a good feeling."
Brown, who came to Michigan the same season as Hudson, has been his constant mentor.
"When I first came in," said Hudson, "Coach Brown helped me learn the defense. He helped me to be able to show my full potential, gave me the chance to blitz and come off the edge. He's helped me tremendously throughout my career, and I appreciate him for that."
Brown can peel the paint off walls with his pregame speeches, and perhaps some of that vocal, in-your-face fire has rubbed off on Hudson.
"You get pumped up off of Coach Brown's speeches," said Hudson. "But it's really not a speech. It's just him keeping it real with us and letting us know it's time to go, to accomplish what we've worked on all week, and do what we do, play Michigan football and be the best."
However, much of his drive comes from his late father, Carlos Hudson Sr., and his mother, Ravaun Bennett, who has worked at Citizens Bank in Pittsburgh for 30 years. It also comes from his six siblings.
"My drive comes from my family," said Hudson, the third oldest in his family. "I had a tragedy with my father passing away when I was going into my sophomore year (at McKeesport High). That drives me every day. I know my dad's still looking down on me, and I still want to make him happy. I want to make my family proud.
"I want to be a person who keeps my family together, and if you want to talk to somebody, I am here. That's what my father was. My mother drives me, too. The love of the game drives me. It's what I've been playing for my whole life. I came this way, and I have to keep going to be who I want to be. It's all for the love of the game."
That "love" poured out when he strongly requested the best from his teammates in that bowl game scene in Atlanta. He led from the heart and said it was only the start.
