Four-star defensive end breaks down Purdue official visit
Purdue wasted no time this recruiting cycle in getting a blue-chipper on campus for an official visit.
After hosting all of its early official visits last year during the summer, Jeff Brohm and his staff hosted this weekend Rivals.com four-star defensive end Greg Hudgins.
"They really impressed me," Hudgins said, "exceeded my expectations, in fact."
The 6-foot-4, 225-plus-pounder from D.C.'s St. John's College High School said he took the Purdue visit right away so that his mother, who's in the Army, could attend, along with him and his father.
"And because I'm looking to make a decision either right before the season or during the season," Hudgins said.
Purdue's message to the defensive end: Opportunity.
"The main thing was that they don't really have anybody like me on the roster at the moment," Hudgins said, "as far as athletic ability, talent and size, they said. So if I did decide to go there, I might be looking at a chance to play early."
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Purdue will hope that sort of projection can set it apart in a highly competitive pursuit.
He's already visited LSU and may again this summer, and also has a November official visit to Baton Rouge on the books, though he might have a commitment made well in advance of that date. Tennessee, Maryland, Vanderbilt and Mississippi are a few others at or around the top of his list, along with Purdue.
"They're a heavy contender," Hudgins said of Purdue. "I'm really considering them. They're one of the top schools for me."
Before leaving West Lafayette, Hudgins met with head coach Jeff Brohm.
"His main thing was just, most importantly, academics, that that's a major part of their program, and me coming from St. John's, one of the top high schools in the area as far as academics go, he knows that wouldn't be a problem for me," Hudgins said. "He knows I could handle my work, and anything I couldn't handle they'd have people to help me. And it was about making me and my family feel comfortable, trust them.
"Almost all his coaches on his staff have been with him, either from other schools or knowing him in some way. That speaks to their loyalty to the program, and when he passed on the Louisville job, that too. It shows what they're building."
Hudgins was hosted by junior-to-be Derrick Barnes, a linebacker who's transitioning to Purdue's hybrid Leo position. He also spent considerable time with fellow defensive linemen Giovanni Reviere and George Karlaftis, while also obviously meeting with Purdue's coaches.
"They like my motor, that I put in effort," Hudgins said, "and when you put in effort, you're going to end up making plays."
Hudgins said he'll likely take at least two more official visits during the spring/summer, and decide as early as the end of the summer.
"It's just going to come down to where I feel most comfortable, where I'm able to trust the coaches, because I feel like a lot of times coaches just try to sell you, and trust is a major thing," he said. "I don't want to go somewhere and find out I was told lies. I want to feel comfortable, be able to fit in the defense and, hopefully, be able to play fairly quickly, maybe not necessarily starting, but getting some valuable playing time as a freshman. I'll put in the work."
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