Kobe Hudson, WR, UCF
Size:
Height: 6006
Weight: 193
Arm: 30 ⅝”
Hand: 9”
Accomplishments:
All-Big 12 Honorable Mention (2023)
“Kobe Hudson is a quick, savvy route-runner who can immediately fill the important role of a short-to-intermediate receiver for an NFL offense.”
Strengths:
Savvy route-runner
Ball tracking
Hands
Alignment-versatile
Concerns:
Speed to separate vertically
Catch radius
50/50 contested catch balls
Film Analysis:
Kobe Hudson transferred to UCF from Auburn for the 2022 season. He made an immediate jump and increased his production as a receiver. Hudson is entering his fifth-year senior year after having 900 yards receiving and eight touchdowns last season, positioning himself as one of the best receivers in the Big 12. Hudson is a high-IQ player who understands the details of playing receiver and how to be a productive part of an offense.
Starting pre-snap, Hudson can be an alignment-versatile player due to an athletic skill set that allows him to play anywhere from the true X position to the slot or Z position. At the snap, it becomes evident that Hudson understands releases and can mix tempos and provide a varying release package, working a jab step, speed release, or other various moves to get into his route. As a route-runner, Hudson can win with quickness against man coverage, being able to quickly get in and out of breaks to create separation at the top of routes. Against zone, Hudson does a good job of identifying coverage and mixing in different tempos to free himself up in zone courage and finding the soft spots. Hudson is a high-IQ player with a certain amount of savviness to him as a route-runner who simply understands the art of getting open.
Hudson has above-average ball skills. He can adjust his body to the ball and make difficult catches. On deep balls, he does a good job of tracking the football and can catch it over his shoulder in stride or he can stop and work back to the football on short or back-shoulder throws. As a runner after he catches the football, Hudson shows his quickness and can make defenders miss in one-on-one situations and then get upfield to pick up extra yardage.
Hudson’s limitations as a player appear to be his inability to consistently separate vertically. Hudson thrives in short-to-intermediate situations where he understands how to get open but in situations where he has to separate from defenders, they can usually stay stride for stride with Hudson. This forces Hudson into a position where he has to find a way to make the 50/50 catch or the defender has a great opportunity to make a play on the football.
Overall, Hudson showcases to be a crafty route-runner who understands the details and nuance of playing the receiver position and should be an immediate contributor to a receiver corps in the NFL.
Prospect Projection: Day 2 — Adequate Starter
Written By: Keith Sanchez
