See some of 5-star WR Micah Hudson’s catches during Texas Tech football practice
See some of 5-star WR Micah Hudson’s catches during Texas Tech football practice
Last September, more than 56,000 people filled Jones AT&T Stadium for the Texas Tech football team’s most anticipated nonconference game in over a decade in Lubbock.
Oregon, ranked 13th, traveled to the Hub City with a quarterback hoping to win the Heisman Trophy and realistic dreams of making the College Football Playoff. The Red Raiders, on the other hand, entered their most highly anticipated season since Mike Leach left the sidelines with a thud. A second-overtime loss at Wyoming prompted head coach Joey McGuire to issue an early ultimatum.
“Either you’re there or you’re not,” he said between games.
Despite the surprise loss in Laramie, the Ducks were able to give McGuire’s team a crucial trump card. If they beat Oregon at home, they will be forgiven for last week’s mistakes.
That wasn’t the case, however. After a close game throughout, Oregon left town with a 38-30 victory, leaving many Red Raider fans hearing a familiar refrain.
Maybe the preseason hype was unjustified. Maybe this is exactly what Texas Tech football is supposed to be: close, but not quite good enough.
But the Oregon game had a different resonance for others in the stadium.
Micah Hudson, a five-star recruit with numerous college options, felt the energy, excitement, joy and pain along with the team as if he were a part of it. In a way, he was. Hudson had committed to McGuire and his team a few months ago. He just hadn’t announced it yet.
This defeat, this game, made Hudson more confident than ever.
“I felt like we were really going to kick their butts and beat them,” Hudson said of the Oregon game. “After that day, I just felt like I really needed to step up, cheer the city up. Cheer the coaches up and everything, because I felt like I really lost the game, too.”
“Instant Contribution” to Texas Tech Football
Hudson’s commitment and eventual signing in December generated a lot of buzz. That’s because he is Texas Tech’s highest-rated recruit of the 247Sports era, which spans roughly 20 years. He was ranked as the 16th overall prospect in the country and the fourth-best in Texas.
“He’s one of those guys that I’d be shocked if he didn’t contribute right away,” McGuire said on National Signing Day. “… I don’t think you’ll ever hear me say we’re not going to play Micah Hudson.”
Fans and coaches, however, had to wait for Hudson to take the field. Hudson, who enrolled early in the 2024 class, missed spring practice while recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his left knee to repair an injury he suffered at Temple Lake Belton, where he accounted for more than 5,000 yards and nearly 60 touchdowns between rushing and receiving in his four years.
A few days before Texas Tech opened preseason training camp, McGuire took to social media as usual to announce that Hudson would be a full participant in the first practice.
These first few training sessions showed both the fascination that surrounds Hudson and the learning curve that the 6’0″ and 195lb receiver must go through.
On the second day of camp, Hudson began his route at the 25-yard line and stretched for a throw at the 45-yard line. The ball flew through Hudson’s hands before the freshman could touch it with his two pinkies. From there, he heaved the ball into his hands, secured it with his chest, twisted his body and somersaulted it for the 30-yard gain.
McGuire, who was standing a little way off the practice field, saw the whole thing.
“Good job, 1,” McGuire said twice.
A clip of the catch quickly went popular on X (formerly Twitter), generating more than 100,000 views and even catching the attention of Patrick Mahomes, who recently signed Hudson as a founding member of the adidas NIL branch, Team Mahomes.
“This is crazy,” said the three-time Super Bowl champion.
Hudson’s incredible catch in practice didn’t surprise McGuire. Eventually, the head coach was so impressed with the rookie that he prompted McGuire to change his policy and let Hudson wear the No. 1 jersey ahead of more experienced players.
“There’s nobody questioning Micah Hudson (as No. 1),” McGuire told the Avalanche Journal this offseason. “As much as I believe in him and his team … if you ask Behren Morton, he would tell you, ‘This guy is different.’ Just the way he carries himself, everything.”
“Great willingness to learn”
The spectacular display of athleticism in the second practice wasn’t necessarily the only image from Hudson’s preseason training. According to McGuire, Hudson struggled through the first few days of practice as he tried to make up for missing spring ball. For every great catch, there were drops and mistimed routes, as befits a true freshman just finding his feet.
“Micah is very willing to learn,” said Justin Johnson, Tech’s receivers coach. “He’s always on the go. Behren will attack him if he has to. I’ll attack him if he has to, and he accepts it.”
Morton said there is no limit to Hudson’s abilities. The quarterback admitted he will work him just as hard as any other receiver, and with Hudson, Morton wants to make sure they get the best out of each other during their time together.
Hudson also has no problem getting a dressing down from Morton. He enjoys all aspects of the experience.
“I need to know those things,” Hudson said. “Hearing him and seeing the passion that he brings to me, like, ‘Hey, man, we need to know this,’ and stuff like that, it really helps me because … I like to hear the bad stuff, I like to hear the hard stuff because I feel like that’s what drives me. And just knowing that he really cares about me, that he’s looking out for me, just knowing that I have people around me and good teammates.”
Maturity factor
In years past, Texas Tech freshmen have typically not been available to the media, especially before the season. Hudson was a special case, speaking to the press about a week after training camp began. That’s in part because Hudson is widely believed to be a key part of this year’s team.
Part of that can also be attributed to the word McGuire has used countless times since December to describe Hudson. He is mature and can handle the spotlight and attention, which he attributes to his upbringing and belief system.
“That’s what really keeps me busy, God and football,” Hudson said. “I say that every day, God and football. That’s what really gave me a good structure. And I just learned from my mom and dad and my family at home, just knowing how to conduct myself and do everything right.”
As a highly touted recruit, there are distractions, but Hudson says he’s learned to deal with them. He has two phones, one dedicated to Instagram and brand promotions — a signed mini helmet or football costs about $100 at local retailers — and the other for all other means of communication.
Through the main phone, Hudson regularly receives personal messages from McGuire, the coach who sends special messages, clips and quotes to keep the rising star motivated. Hudson said he appreciated that, but admitted he had no idea who Peter Warrick – the former Florida State All-American and Heisman candidate – was when McGuire sent a clip of the former Seminole.
McGuire and the other Texas Tech coaches have come up with ways to use Hudson in the same way Florida State has used Warrick. Hudson, who is already getting a decent amount of playing time as a receiver since the season opener against Abilene Christian, could also be used as a punt or kick returner. Offensive coordinator Zach Kittley said in the spring that the team is still figuring out how to use Hudson when he finally takes the field.
Whatever the Red Raiders need from Hudson, he is ready to do it.
“Coach McGuire, I would run through a wall for him,” Hudson said. “So I’m just trying to do everything I can to become a better player and just do everything I can for him.”
