Hudson wastes little time
After earning an offer from Wisconsin on Monday, Austin Hudson turned right around and made a commitment to the Badgers on Thursday evening.
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During his one-day camp stop in Madison earlier this week, the 2014 prospect from Plant High School in Florida did enough to impress defensive coordinator Dave Aranda, who extended a scholarship offer to the 6-foot-2, 188-pound senior-to-be.
"I committed to Wisconsin today," Hudson told BadgerBlitz.com. "Their academics are great and their people are as nice as they come. The coaches were excited during camp about football and that's the type of person I am.
"I also heard the players are real good guys. I really think it's a program that will do big things in the future, so I wasn't hesitant about pulling the trigger. I'm fully committed to Wisconsin."
Wisconsin was the first high-major program to extend a scholarship to Hudson, who is being recruited as a safety by UW despite extensive one-on-one work Monday with wide receivers coach Chris Beatty.
"They were fired up when I told them I wanted to commit," Hudson said. "They wanted an athletic safety in this class and I think I fit that mold. I'm fired up to work right away because I'll be there in January as an early graduate.
"Coach Aranda said my athleticism fits the scheme well in what a safety would be asked to do in their defense. I was just happy that someone recognized the work I put in; it's been a journey."
Aranda first took notice of Hudson during a spring practice he attended at Plant. It was then that Aranda believed he was watching a Division 1 player.
"Coach Aranda mentioned watching me play at safety and how I made a nice jump on the ball for an interception," Hudson told BadgerBlitz.com in a previous interview. "He said that he'd want to take a look at my transcripts but he thinks of me as a full-scholarship player."
Pittsburgh, Purdue, Illinois, Cincinnati, Air Force, Louisville and Duke, according to Hudson, also showed interest. Holy Cross, Florida Tech and Jacksonville State made offers.
The Badgers now have 10 verbal commitments in the 2014 class, with Hudson being the first defensive back.