Redskins select McKeesport’s Hudson in NFL draft

By jose negron

jnegron@yourmvi.com

Long before he watched him take the field at “The Big House” in Ann Arbor, Mich., McKeesport head football coach Matt Miller knew Khaleke Hudson was destined to be a special football player. 

Miller, who spent time as an assistant coach during each of Hudson’s four years in a Tigers uniform, met the former University of Michigan standout when he began showing up to high school weightlifting sessions as an eighth grader in spring 2012. 

“When I first met him, I thought he was five, six years older than he actually was,” Miller said. “He was a big, strong kid and he wasn’t overly tall, but he had a presence about him and you just knew he would be something special.” 

Hudson has proven to be special everywhere he’s played, whether it’s at the midget football level, high school level or collegiate level. 

Now, he’ll have the opportunity to do the same at the NFL level. 

Hudson became the 15th McKeesport graduate in history to be taken in the NFL draft when he was selected Saturday in the fifth round (No. 162 overall) by the Washington Redskins. 

He was one of 10 Michigan players taken during the three-day, virtual event. 

“He knew he wanted to play big-time college football, he knew he wanted to play professionally and anybody who knows him at all, this is not a surprise to them,” Miller said. “I think he’s going to have a great career because he’s so driven and he’s so tough.”

To read the rest of this story, please see a copy of Monday’s Mon Valley Independent, call 724-314-0035 to subscribe or subscribe to our online edition at https://e.monvalleyindependent.com.