Never Ordinary Moments with Commanders LB Khaleke Hudson

At bet365, we don’t do ordinary.

And neither does Washington Commanders linebacker Khaleke Hudson.

Selected by Washington in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft, Hudson came into the pros off the back of four impressive years at Michigan. During his time in Ann Arbor, Hudson equaled the NCAA record for most tackles for loss in a single game (8).

But his profile as a standout linebacker didn’t immediately carry over into the NFL. In his first two pro seasons, Hudson started three games, playing just 80 total snaps on defense. 

The McKeesport, Pennsylvania native was primarily used on special teams, where he played almost every snap. But an ankle injury in 2021 Week 13 forced Hudson to miss the rest of the year, plus the first four games of 2022 before he returned to the special teams unit in Week 5.

It wasn’t until Week 7 of the 2023 season that Hudson claimed the starting linebacker role. Over the past three months, Hudson has started seven games at linebacker and played 337 defensive snaps, more than double his tally across the first three and a half years of his NFL career. 

“Opportunities on defense weren’t there as much, but I was still able to contribute a lot on special teams, which I’m very grateful for,” Hudson said. “Later in the season, opportunities started to rack up and rack up. Now, I was able to start the last four games.”

What makes Khaleke Hudson ‘Never Ordinary?’

“Being able to be a three-level player,” Hudson said. “Being able to play on the line of scrimmage, come off the edge, play linebacker, read my keys, guard tight ends, guard running backs, and I can play back deep if you ask me to.”

“Doing that brings more value to yourself and allows you to be a playmaker all over the field.”

Hudson has rightfully earned a reputation as a freak athlete, something that started well before he suited up in burgundy and gold.

Back in May 2015, as a junior in high school, Hudson posted a clip on Twitter of him jumping over his friend while making a one-handed catch, edited in slow motion. The video, which showed off Hudson’s insane vertical and catching ability, went viral, earning thousands of like and reposts while being picked up by several news outlets.

Eight years later, Hudson remembers that day well.

“That wasn’t even the craziest catch I had, it was just the one I posted,” Hudson said. “I didn’t know it was gonna do numbers like that, but I’m glad I did post it.”

In a time every high school player has a highlight tape, Hudson says he was ahead of his time with his viral catch. “I started the trend,” Hudson said. 

bet365 News Team

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