Michigan Football: Penn State Game Is Personal For Khaleke Hudson
Sophomore viper Khaleke Hudson is plenty familiar with the Penn State football program, having been committed to it at one point in high school.
However, once Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines came calling, the McKeesport, Pa., native knew he had to switch.
“I felt like Michigan was a better place for me,” Hudson recalled. “It was important for me to get away from home and find some new friends. I just felt like I was supposed to be here.”
That choice is certainly paying dividends so far, as he has started every game here in 2017 at the position Jabrill Peppers played last season.
This weekend’s game means a bit more to Hudson, and he even admitted that it’s a bit personal to him.
“Yeah, it means more to me, ever since I saw Penn State on our schedule,” he said. “A lot of my family is going to be there, and I’ll be playing against a lot of my old friends.”
Although many of Hudson’s former high school football teammates and foes have each gone their respective ways since their prep days, Hudson said many of them still keep in contact with each other.
“We’ve always texted and talked on the phone with each other, not just this week,” he revealed. “I talk to [Penn State sophomore running back] Miles [Sanders] a lot, and a few guys from Pittsburgh — we have a big group chat going with players who came out of Pittsburgh. There’s not a lot of trash talk though — we all just say it’s going to be a good game.”
Sanders, who attended Woodland Hills High in Pittsburgh, was rated as the No. 2 running back in the country out of high school, and the No. 39 overall player. He left a lasting impact on Hudson’s memory.
“Oh yes, I remember going against Miles Sanders in high school,” Hudson laughed. “He was highly-ranked coming out. I went against tons of other great players in high school too, but he stands out to me.”
Sanders is not currently the Nittany Lions’ feature back, as that honor of course belongs to junior Saquon Barkley.
Hudson talked about what it will be like playing against a player that many are deeming as the Heisman frontrunner.
“He’s a great player, but we’re just going to play our game and do what we do,” he confirmed. “We’re going to play Michigan defense, and try and come out of there with a win.
“Barkley is good at everything he does — he can run the ball and catch it out of the backfield — you always have to account for him on the field. It’s a little more exciting when you go up against somebody of his caliber.”
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