Reds Go With the Red-head

It's not easy for Will Hudgens, and it never has been. Going to Ridgeway High School and playing football as an 8th grader, everyone has always expected something of Hudgens. He was one of the top quarterbacks in the state coming out of high school in 2004, but there was one thing a lot of people didn't know about Will.....he was an incredibly gifted baseball player as well.

Hudgens signed with the University of Memphis to play football during a very competative recruiting battle between Memphis and Ole Miss. Hudgens uncle played football for the University of Memphis back in the day and all of Will's family lived in Memphis along with all of his friends. So, he had a lot of pressure to come to the U of M and play for the tigers. After blowing out his knee, he had to red-shirt his entire freshman year and then came back ready to play the next season. Hudgens was called on to replace Patrick Byrne who broke his leg on the third snap from center in 2005. I remember watching the game at college at one of my buddies houses and seeing Will run onto the field for the first time, I couldn't have been more proud. So, how did he do on his first ever college football series in front of national television?....he was unbelievable. He went 3 for 3 for 53 yards including a 34 yard strike right down the center of the Ole Miss defense. The Tigers lost the game 10-6, but I was happy to see my best friend finally get his chance and play a pretty good game.

So, after seasons 2005, 2006 and another injury, Hudgens decided he was going to again take his talents to the baseball field. Will actually got called upon in a road game against Clemson (his first year on the mound) who was then ranked in the top 10 and he got the win! I remember him calling me ecstatic as can be. Hudgens told coach Tommy West he was going to play baseball again this spring and not participate in spring workouts with the football team and coach West allowed him to do what he wanted.

After an awful year for the Memphis baseball squad, Hudgens decided he was going to allow himself to be eligible for the 2008 baseball draft. He was taken in the 23rd round by the Cincinnati Reds and is going to play rookie ball in Billings, MT this summer. The Reds are going to get themselves a fierce competitor and one of the best athletes they have seen in a while. I look for Will to do big things and come out of the crapshoot that is minor league baseball, on top. Hudgens has had to face more adversity than anyone can imagine and I am proud to say he is one of my best friends and I am more excited for him than he will ever know. I guess I have to somewhat become a baseball fan now.