UTC senior receiver Tommy Hudson’s dream job is to work for
General Electric as an industrial engineer and help light up the world.
Before he goes to work for the company co-founded by Thomas
Edison (and possibly discover ways to lower our electric bills), UTC receivers
coach Will Healy just hopes the Colquitt County (Ga.) HS grad produces enough
energy this fall to light up opposing defenses on 12 Saturdays (actually one
Thursday (Central Michigan) and 11 Saturdays).
Hudson was the third leading receiver last season with 28
catches for 261 yards and his first career touchdown, a 41-yard reception in a
42-21 triumph against Western Carolina. He also used his good hands and speed
to rank 26th in the nation in punt return average (9.1 yds).
While coach Healy will rely on Hudson and the second
returning starter in C.J. Board (23 catches for 230 yards) to give leadership
to all the good hands guys, he has 11 talented players who are working each day
to gain reps in practice with hopes of seeing playing time on the weekend.
“We have five new guys who have never taken a snap in a
college game and seven of the 11 (receivers) have never caught a pass, but we
have 11 committed players who come to practice each day ready to compete, are
focused on what we are doing with no distractions,” said Healy now in his sixth
season on the Mocs coaching staff.
“We have seen flashes (in practice) of what we thought they
would be at this level, and while we are young (one senior, 3 sophs, 2 redshirt
freshman, 5 true freshmen) we are not afraid to play a freshman if he earns it.”
Healy and staff have seen plenty of flashes of what Hudson
can do the past three years with hopes he can do more this season.
The Georgia high school record holder for catches in a
season (102 in 2010) has started 19 of 31 games for the Mocs and is glad he
wears the Blue and Gold.
“I came to the Mocs senior camp the summer prior to my
senior year at Colquitt County and was offered a scholarship by Valdosta State
that fall, but I decided not to commit to them with hopes of an offer from
UTC,” said Hudson who also played basketball, ran track and made the honor roll
in high school.
“The Mocs finally offered me a scholarship about two weeks
before signing day (winter 2011) and I am glad I waited.”
Coach Healy stated, “The folks at his high school kept
telling us about Tommy and that he could help us and they were right.”
UTC Receivers:
Returners (5)
Tommy Hudson (Sr. 5-11) – starter in the slot … 19 starts
with 63 catches and 1 TD)
C.J. Board (RS So. 6-2) – 10 starts as wide receiver in 2013
… 23 catches for 23 yards
Xavier Borishade (So. 5-10) – one start, 9 catches, 12 TDs …
one of four true freshmen to play
Riley Davis (So. 6-1) – played in 2 games in 2013
Alphonso Stewart (RS Fr. 6-3) – has made some big catches on
deep routes in camp
Transfer (1)
James Stovall (RS Fr. 6-3) – Bradley Central HS … was at
Naval Prep School in 2013
True Freshman (5)
DeJuan McQuarters (Fr. 5-10) – Mitchell HS in Memphis … 47
catches, 12 TDs in 2013
Bingo Morton (Fr. 6-2) – Langston Hughes HS (Ga.) … 200
meter regional champ
Kota Nix (Fr. 6-2) - played at Baylor School … dad (Steve)
played for the Mocs
Penny Smith (Fr. 6-2) – Knox Fulton HS … played QB in high
school
Wil Young (Fr. 6-3) – McGill-Toolen HS (Ala.) … 53 catches,
12 TDs in 2013
contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net