Lyndell Hudson Jr. Talks Transfer to Florida: ‘Time for Me To Bet on Myself’
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With one season of eligibility left to exhaust, ample playing experience to offer and favorable blocking grades posted throughout his five-year career, Florida International offensive tackle Lyndell Hudson Jr. took his talents from South Beach to the spring transfer portal in hopes of an upgrade in competition.
"I just knew my ability. I've played against players in the league and all that," Hudson told All Gators in an exclusive interview. "I just felt like it was time for me to bet on myself, and that's what I did."
That March 24 gamble resulted in a jump to the SEC, as Hudson teamed up with the Gators via transfer commitment on Saturday afternoon following a two-day official visit to Florida.
A brief pledge to USF head coach Alex Golesh and the new-look Bulls bridged Hudson's portal entry and Gators' commitment, but Florida extended hints of desire for Hudson's services along the way until his May 12-13 visit was etched into the calendar.
"I had heard from a little birdie that they had me on their board since I hit the portal," Hudson explained, which led to his eventual introduction to offensive line coaches Rob Sale and Darnell Stapleton and head coach Billy Napier.
"Just gradually over time, coach Sale followed me on Twitter, coach Stapleton and coach Napier followed me on Twitter. And then everything came full circle."
The 6-foot-6, 300-pound Hudson was quickly impressed by Sale and Stapleton's development résumés, highlighted most recently by the Buffalo Bills selecting former Florida guard O'Cyrus Torrence in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft and signing former UF left tackle Richard Gouraige as an undrafted free agent the next day.
In their first season as Florida's tandem of offensive line coaches, UF's front five allowed 17 sacks and paved the way for 200.2 rushing yards per game on average. Those marks respectively ranked No. 4 and No. 5 in the SEC.
"They know their ball and I trust them," Hudson said. "That's the biggest thing, trust. I trust them with my development in the game, me continuing to learn the game and learning different schemes and all that, learning to recognize things quicker. I trust them with that."
Hudson also trusts his fit in head coach Billy Napier's run-dominant offensive scheme.
He pointed to his performance during FIU's shortened 2020 season as an example, in which current Indianapolis Colts running back D'Vonte Price emerged as the driving force of the Panthers' offense behind Hudson's blocking. Hudson earned a single-season career-high 82.3 (out of 100) run-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus that year.
"[Price] had a breakout year in just those five games. He ran behind the right side," Hudson described. "I was at right tackle and my boy, Mershawn Miller, he was at right guard. So he ran behind us and rushed for damn near 700 yards in five games."
With junior Montrell Johnson Jr. and sophomore Trevor Etienne returning to lead the rushing attack after combining for 1,560 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2022, paired with Tulane super senior transfer Cam Carroll and freshman Treyaun Webb offering depth, Hudson is confident his prowess as a run blocker can be maximized in Napier's offense.
"We've got a stable," Hudson said. "We've got four backs that can go. So I feel confident, I feel good."
Ultimately, Hudson hopes his move to the SEC will result in positive exposure that can result in NFL opportunities similar to those Torrence and Gouraige earned this offseason.
His 1,564 offensive snaps of collegiate experience — the second-most of any member of Florida's offensive line, only behind center Kingsley Eguakun (1,747) — should offer Hudson the chance to start for UF and potentially produce strong tape in 2023.
1,452 of Hudson's previous reps were at right tackle, a position in which the Gators don't have a solidified starter entering the season despite winter transfer acquisitions of Damieon George Jr. (Alabama) and Kiyaunta Goodwin (Kentucky).
"I'm a team player, man. Whatever needs to be done, I'm gonna do it," Hudson said about his goals for the upcoming season. "I'm a team player first and I'm just trying to win. And I know we're gonna win."
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