Hudson Wants To Finish Strong For Teammates
November 21, 2014 | Football, General
By Mason Kelley
GoHuskies.com
Andrew Hudson was feeling the bumps and bruises. The aches and pains that are a byproduct of a season's worth of collisions had taken a toll on Washington's senior defensive end.
Then one day he found himself looking across the field at teammates James Atoe and Micah Hatchie. He started to realize how much time had passed since the teammates joined the program in 2010. He thought about everything they had been through and everything left to accomplish.
All of a sudden, the bruises and pain didn't mean as much. He understood he only had a few more Saturdays left in his college career, so instead of focusing on his body, he shifted his attention to his teammates.
“It really gave me a lot of energy and a new insight to play for the man next to you,” Hudson said. “It was just being there with them. The experience of looking at those guys and realizing I've been here the whole time with these guys.
“I just wanted to really hone in on that and just keep that for the rest of the season.”
Hudson carried that mentality into last week's game at Arizona, finishing with seven tackles – two for loss, including one sack.
“I just gave it my all,” Hudson said. “It's one of the most lively games I've played.”
But, while he was happy with the way he played, he made a point to praise his teammates.
“I'll give credit to the whole defense,” he said. “To be able to slow down a team like that is a credit to the coverage, the linebackers and the D-line next to me. We were all able to get back there, because we were all on top of it.”
After entering the season with a mindset that, “you're never guaranteed your spot,” Hudson is now putting the finishing touches on a successful season. He has started every game. He is tied for fourth on the team in tackles with 61 and is third on the team in sacks (seven) behind Hau'oli Kikaha and Danny Shelton.
Hudson isn't done yet. He stood on the practice field earlier this week and decided to challenge himself.
“Don't let up,” he thought. “Keep pouring it all in there and end this with my head held high, no matter what happens.”
With two Pac-12 games left before a potential bowl trip, Hudson said he hasn't spent much time thinking about his career coming to a close as he prepares for his final game at Husky Stadium this weekend.
“It is crazy that it will be my last game here, a little unreal to think about,” he said. “I don't think I'm really aware of that or thinking about it that much. I think it will hit me a little more later, especially once I'm away from it.”
Hudson entered the year focused on finishing with no regrets. Now he wants to wrap up his career playing for those around him, working for a few more wins with the teammates he has spent the past five years with.
“The game, these last opportunities, there's really nothing else other than the last couple of weeks I'll get with these guys, my teammates,” he said.
