Taylor Hudson is a man of
many helmets. Hudson has been seen most often wearing a football helmet
on the offensive line for the Mauldin (SC) High School football team.
But during the football
offseason, weekends and summer vacation, Hudson dons a fire helmet as an
aid with the Mauldin Fire Department. His father, William, has been a
firefighter in Mauldin since he was 18.
Hudson became involved
with the department through a Fire Explorer program that educates youths
from 15 to 21 about the fire service and provides some on-the-job
experience for those who complete certain training.
“I get to run calls and
all that stuff,'' Hudson said. “I've grown up around firemen since I was
a little kid. My Mom and I used to go see my Dad at the firehouse and
I'd get on the trucks and just hang out. I just love it.''
The combination of
Hudson's interest in possibly becoming a full-time fireman some day and
his talent wearing that other helmet will land him in Greenville
sometime in 2010.
The 6-foot-4, 270-pounder
became the sixth player to make an oral commitment to play football at
East Carolina last month after first receiving the offer in early June.
The Pirates were the only school to have offered a scholarship to
Hudson.
The Pirates began
recruiting Hudson about midway through his junior season. He sent a
highlight film to the coaching staff after Mauldin's 2008 season and
soon began conversations with ECU recruiting coordinator Donnie
Kirkpatrick.
“He (Kirkpatrick) came
down to watch me in spring practice and they offered me the week after
that,'' Hudson said. “I really didn't know that much about them, but I
had seen them play on TV.
“But when I went up there
for a visit and all the coaches were just super. It felt like I was
supposed to be there. It felt like family.''
ECU also had two majors
Hudson is interested in — fire science and criminal justice.
The football Pirates are
getting a player in Hudson who has been a starter at offensive tackle at
Mauldin since his sophomore season. Doug Shaw remembers seeing Hudson as
a freshman during his first year as Mauldin's head coach.
“He's always been a big
kid,'' Shaw said. “He always stood a little taller than everyone else.
But what actually impressed us was how good he moved. He has really good
feet. When you see big boys come through the gym or the weight room, the
first thing you look at are their feet. He moves very well for a big
guy.
“He actually got thrown to
the wolves very early in his sophomore year. We just told him to go and
play. And he did a fine job for us at right tackle. We moved him to left
tackle last year.''
Shaw cited a play in a
state playoff game against Clover last season as a great example of
Hudson's talent.
“We run a spread offense,
but we run the ball a great deal out of it,'' Shaw said. “One play last
year not only made his highlight tape, but it made the running back's
tape, too. During our playoff game against Clover, he just absolutely
demolished the MIKE linebacker and sprung us for a big touchdown in the
first half. We put that one on the running back's tape, too.
“You can see that he's one
of those guys who, when he gets his hands on you at the high school
level, we feel like you're blocked. He has big, strong legs and uses
them to his advantage. He doesn't just lean on you. He brings all his
weight and girth with him, and tries to pancake block you every time he
can.''
The Pirates have recruited
Hudson to play tackle, but others were interested in him as a guard.
“East Carolina hasn't said
anything to me about moving to guard,'' Hudson said, “so I'm pretty sure
I'm going to be a tackle.''
Hudson is the second
offensive line prospect to make a commitment to the Pirates for 2010. He
joins 6-6, 300-pound
Drew Gentry from Tallahassee,
FL, who pledged in April.
