Hudson enjoyed a return to the post-season last fall. Unfortunately, the bracket was unkind and the Cobras were sent to Clearwater for the first round. They have some talent returning that has them confident in their ability to remain a playoff contender. However, with the dynamic duo of quarterback Hunter Young (2,567 passing yards/28 touchdowns) and wide receiver Ladamian Starks (881 receiving yards/11 touchdowns) is graduating, there are some holes to fill.
2024 WR/DB A.J. McFarlane (5’10” 160 lbs) was Hudson’s second-leading receiver in 2021 with 768 yards and 10 touchdowns and should be their top target for the next two years. He is quick and shows off reliable hands. As he grows and develops more speed, he will become even more of a homerun threat.
2024 DE Elias Williams (6’3” 225 lbs) is a player we previously highlighted in the “2024 Defensive Linemen to Watch” feature in February. As a sophomore, he tallied 55 total tackles, 16 tackles for loss, and 8 sacks. He has added some strength and size since the fall. I think he will be the top defensive player on the west side of Pasco County this upcoming season and he is still just a rising junior.
2023 OLB/ATH Shane Hagen (6’ 180 lbs) was a disruptive edge player for Hudson in the fall. He collected 54 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, and 13 hurries. He is an athletic and physical player who showed the ability to do a little bit of everything for his coaches. Expect more of the same out him this year as he will continue to play anywhere his talents are needed on the field.
2024 OT/DT Chris Forsell (6’4” 350 lbs) is expected to be a force on both lines starting this spring. The massive rising junior showed a ton of potential during his sophomore season. He is a big boy who gets after it and has that nastiness you want out of your linemen. Improving his mobility and getting stronger will be the key for him if he wants to develop into a big-time lineman prospect.
In the backfield, the duo of 2023 RB Tanner Testori and 2024 RB Logan Shawell should keep opposing defenses on their toes. They combined for 1,080 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. Both of them are smaller backs but have they the speed and athleticism needed to create separation from defenses. They both have solid hands as well. 2024 QB Riley Blevens is the likely successor to Hunter Young. His reps were limited this past fall, but he was efficient completing 5 out of 9 attempts for 108 yards and 2 touchdowns. He will have plenty of weapons at his disposal and the Cobras’ coaching staff does a great job of scheming with their offensive players. This spring will be give us a great idea on what to expect out of Hudson in the fall.