Lake Belton receiver Micah Hudson (6-0/188) committed to Texas Tech last night. Hudson is the highest rated recruit that has ever committed to Texas Tech so yeah, this is a big deal.
- Rivals: 5-star, 6.1 Rivals Rating
- 24/7 Sports: 5-star, 98 Grade
- ESPN: 5-star, 90 Scout Grade
- On3: 5-star, 98 Rating
Hudson had 30+ offers from every conceivable program and the Hudson commitment to Texas Tech has been trending for quite some time.
What makes Hudson unique is his incredible smoothness, making things look absolutely effortless while going full steam and seemingly slipping by would-be tacklers. That smoothness and explosiveness is one of the more unique qualities of high-end athletes and you typically don’t see players have that sort of smoothness and ability until they mature in college and the pros, but Hudson has it.
Here are some links:
— 1X (@iammike1x) September 12, 2023
Rivals’ Cole Patterson – Texas Tech makes major splash, lands five-star Micah Hudson:
Which ultimately helped push the Red Raiders over the top. Offensive coordinator Zach Kittley, wide receivers coach Justin Johnson, and director of player personnel James Blanchard were all heavily involved in his recruitment.
Part of the Red Raiders’ pitch to the elite pass catcher was his fit in Kittley’s explosive, receiver-friendly offense. Hudson sees a seamless transition to Texas Tech’s scheme and believes that he could thrive in the offense.
“We do a lot of the same things (at Lake Belton). Obviously, they have some different concepts and routes and things like that,” Hudson told Rivals. “But I feel like I could come in and maybe be a better player than even Michael Crabtree if I just put the work in and everything.”
Hudson has spoken highly of rising redshirt sophomore Texas Tech quarterback Behren Morton. Additionally, he has developed a friendship with quarterback commit Will Hammond, who had some strong moments at the Elite 11 earlier this month. He’s confident that he will be surrounded by talent in Lubbock.
Inside The Red Raiders’ Jarrett Johnson – Commit! Texas Tech lands five-star WR Micah Hudson:
Hudson is quite simply, the highest-rated recruit to commit to Texas Tech in the modern recruiting era and perhaps in the history of the football program. The five-star prospect holds an overall rating of 98, is ranked as the No. 19 overall recruit in the country, the No. 7 receiver in the nation and the No. 4 overall prospect in Texas for the 2024 recruiting cycle according to 247Sports.
Hudson is ranked even higher by the 247Sports Composite, an average of the major recruiting rankings services, with a rating of .9961, as the No. 9 overall recruit in the nation, the No. 2 receiver in the country and the No. 2 overall player in the Lone Star State.
“It went well — wasn’t too bad,” Hudson told Inside the Red Raiders following his official visit to Texas Tech back in June. “I enjoyed my time and was very impressed by the coaching staff the coaching and the way they treated my parents was phenomenal.”
On3’s Sam Spiegelman – Inside Five-Star Plus+ WR Micah Hudson’s commitment to Texas Tech:
McGuire’s unique approach resonated well with important figures in Hudson’s recruitment.
“Joey is genuine,” one source said, “and Micah is big on people.”
That source also noted that Hudson’s mother shared a similar view of the Red Raiders’ second-year head coach, and how he differentiated himself in her son’s recruitment.
“Tech won’t negative recruit,” a source told On3. “It’s about them. You can be a five-star at Ohio State or Alabama, and they’ll understand. But that’s not gonna stop them.”
“Micah knows that,” the source continued, “and he liked that straightforward approach.”
That approach lifted Texas Tech over the likes of Texas and Texas A&M. The Longhorns aimed to keep Hudson close to home but faced an uphill climb after Brennan Marion accepted UNLV’s offensive coordinator position.
In between five visits to Lubbock in the past six months, the Red Raiders’ cast of coaches and coordinators and personnel behind the scenes all played a hand. From McGuire to Nance, offensive coordinator Zach Kittley, passing game coordinator/wide receivers coach Justin Johnson and James Blanchard, and on, many bodies were involved in Hudson’s landing at Tech.
“You don’t see this from guys like that,” one source told On3. “It’s about the people in that building. It’s not normal. You normally see guys like that go to blue-bloods, the Ohio States and the Alabamas of the world.”
The Athletic’s Sam Kahn – Texas Tech beats Texas for 5-star WR Micah Hudson: What does this mean for Joey McGuire?:
For now, it further legitimizes Texas Tech’s recruiting efforts under coach Joey McGuire. Being able to land a prospect of this caliber against name brand and perennial power programs speaks volumes of how much McGuire, his staff and his team are changing the program’s image in recruiting circles. Last season they signed a class that ranked in the top 30 nationally, a first for Texas Tech in more than a decade. But that class was largely built on players Tech identified early and recruited aggressively before they rose in the rankings.
Getting a five-star everybody wanted, like Hudson, is a tougher task. The Red Raiders would love to generate some momentum off of this. Commitments from recruits like Hudson have a way of opening eyeballs among others in a class.
On3’s Charles Power – 5-Star Plus+ WR Micah Hudson is the tip of the iceberg of Texas Tech’s recruiting surge:
The Temple (Texas) Lake Belton star makes make big plays in all phases. He’s an above-the-rim athlete who skies to make spectacular acrobatic catches. The ability at the catch point pairs with shifty route-running. Hudson uses his lateral agility and coordination to shake defenders mid-route. He’s capable of lining up anywhere, literally. We see Hudson line up at all receiver spots, in addition to taking carries out of the backfield.
Micah Hudson is also arguably the best receiver after the catch in the 2024 cycle. He takes short passes to the house, using his change of direction and balance to forced missed tackles in the open field. At 5-foot-11.5, 195 pounds, Hudson has a developed, stout build that helps him become a running back after the catch.
In watching a number of Lake Belton games last fall, I was struck by the number of ways Hudson was used and targeted. He came across as a competitive, high volume target. He finished the 11-game 2022 season with 65 receptions for 1,198 yard and 14 touchdowns along with 243 rushing yards and two touchdowns.