One of the biggest complaints expressed by Texas Tech football fans during the 2024 season was the limited playing time that former five-star signee Micah Hudson received this year. In fact, the true freshman, who was an All-American in high school, has only been utilized in one specific offensive package: Tech’s five wide receiver looks.
Of course, it’s been a while since we’ve seen Hudson, who missed the past two games with a lower leg injury and is once again listed as “questionable” to play against Oklahoma State on this week’s injury report. But if he is able to play against the Cowboys, Tech fans should expect him to thrive in his new role, according to head coach Joey McGuire who spoke to the media on Monday.
“We hope Micah can go,” he said. “We’ll see this week, because I expect him to be a good punt returner. If he’s available, that’s the plan. If not, then against West Virginia. It’s going to be, because we feel like we should be able to play.” To get him back by then. ”
This news will make many Red Raider fans happy. That’s because the overwhelming majority of the tech population is angry, confused and critical of the lack of playing time Hudson has received this year. He has shown great athleticism on the field, but has been limited to situational usage and garbage time thus far despite being the highest-ranked high school player ever signed to the program.
He appeared in eight games and caught just eight passes for 123 yards. He hasn’t found the end zone yet, but he has come close to scoring his first career TD several times.
What’s frustrating is that the tech companies aren’t trying to come up with a way to get him the ball. He’s probably the most explosive offensive player on the roster, but he’s never been used in the screen game, he hasn’t had a jet sweep that could carry the ball, and he hasn’t been able to carry the ball. There was no obvious packaging. The aim was to take advantage of Hudson’s natural talents.
Using him as a punt returner marks the first time Tech has taken steps to involve Hudson in any aspect this year, specifically as a focal point. It’s something Red Raider fans have been waiting for all season.
Josh Kelley and Koy Eakin have been Tech’s two primary punt returners this year. Neither made an impression in their roles.
Kelly was given the job earlier this year, but was handed the job to Eakin in recent weeks due to a lingering injury that has limited Kelly’s ability to sideline guys in the open field. Ta. This year, Kelly had eight returns for a total of just 29 yards. That’s an average of just 3.6 yards per return.
Eakin, on the other hand, only made fair catches on all of his punts, so he won’t be officially given credit back. The only player on the roster with a punt return this year is senior wide receiver Jordan Brown, who totaled 18 yards on two punt returns.
So Tech clearly needs more playmaking in the return game. Perhaps Hudson can provide that.
If he does, it would be the first time he’s helped the team consistently this year. Of course, he started his Tech career with an uphill battle after undergoing offseason knee surgery, missing all of Tech’s spring practice and most of summer training. As such, he has yet to master the entire offense (as is the case with most freshmen) and has been assigned to one position, being the backup to Caleb Douglas, who ranks second on the team in receptions. (47) yards (610).
Hopefully, Hudson is ready to return against Oklahoma State. Because when he plays again, this coaching staff seems ready to give him a chance to return punts. It won’t be enough to allay all the complaints about his lack of usage this year, but if it happens, it’s a good step toward getting something out of the player McGuire rated as a “generational talent” in the offseason. Probably.