PonyFans.com

For some, spring workouts can be a a necessary evil, a month of drills and workouts that can be tiring and monotonous and carried out without the reward of the games that are played in the fall.

For senior safety Bryce Hudman, this year's spring workouts represent a rebirth of sorts. One of the Mustangs' top defensive players in 2007, Hudman was dismissed from the team with no assurance that he'd ever return.

But after spending the year as "a regular student," Hudman is back on the team as a senior walk-on, learning the new SMU coaches' defensive schemes to compete for playing time at safety and linebacker. The more mature Hudman is doing what is asked of him, on and off the field, and enjoying every minute of it. He is impressing his coaches and teammates alike, and is as eager as anyone to show he belongs on the SMU team.

http://www.ponyfans.com/features/index.php?id=98

Enjoy!

Webmasters
PonyFans.com

Great article. Hopefully Bryce can be a leader on this team.

Great story PP! Let's hope he can show some disclipine, and act like a 22 year old man. Bryce could really help this defense, if he keeps his nose clean.

Fear the 2nd chance giving June Jones!

Absolute must-read for all PonyFans - maybe your best ever.
And I really agree with ALEX about Bryce helping the defense. We really could have used him last year, and I can't wait to see him this year.
Great job, guys

Outstanding story. It's easy to root for a guy like that.

awesome

Pride,
One of the better stories you have written about this team. Congratulations.

Our June is a merciful June, he rewards those who obey.

Anyhow, I have high hopes for Hudman. He's one of those Mustangs out there that actually has the prototypical size and speed for his position. While I never think that Tackles is a good stat to guage a Safety by (I mean really, when you safety is making a tackle 4 out of 5 times something went wrong), but I still think that his experience, ability, and hopefully, maturity will get him on the field, and that he can really contribute in the coming season. If his increased discipline can translate to the field, he may very well be a starting option in a position that has seen a lot of emphasis.

Here are a few of the Safeties that we've brought in to try and solidify the position:

Rock Dennis 5-9 186 JC **
De'Von Bailey 6-2 200 ***
Chris Banjo 5-10 190 ***
Deyon McElroy 6-0 179 JC ***
Ryan Clark 6-1 195 JC ****
James Scott 6-2 180 ***

Considering all that, we SHOULD be stacked at the safety positions. Yet we've lost the two recruits who should be helping us the most now (McElroy and Bailey), we haven't seen Clark yet, Dennis was hit or miss, Banjo and Scott are still young... If Hudman can hold down a spot this year, we'll start to see a continuing improvement as these young guys get their sea legs.

-CoS

I would say Hudman has adequate speed-read good for SMU-he certainly doesn't have prototype speed for a top flight Free Safety at the Division 1A level. There were way too many home run big plays made against him when he was starting too-probably more than in just about any years in SMU Football history but I admit he was still learning his position. Remember Aldridge at UH-remember the string of about 8-9 receivers in one season gaining 100+ yards in receiving. He was in there for a lot of that. I think he should move over the SS.

Stallion wrote:I would say Hudman has adequate speed-read good for SMU-he certainly doesn't have prototype speed for a top flight Free Safety at the Division 1A level. There were way too many home run big plays made against him when he was starting too-probably more than in just about any years in SMU Football history but I admit he was still learning his position. Remember Aldridge at UH-remember the string of about 8-9 receivers in one season gaining 100+ yards in receiving. He was in there for a lot of that. I think he should move over the SS.

I admit I was looking at his unofficial 40 time from rivals, and not paying enough attention to his field speed when I said "Prototypical." But I always felt that his problem had more to do with being out of position to make the play before the catch, and less to do with foot speed.

-CoS

Cadillac wrote:But I always felt that his problem had more to do with being out of position to make the play before the catch, and less to do with foot speed.

You're absolutely right.
He wouldn't be prototype speed at CB or WR, but he can run with a lot of the top S's out there.

Hudman ~ Jacob Patek at Hawaii.

Thanks for the report, fellas — Bryce is a guy we've been waiting to hear about. So glad this guy is back — I really think he could be a huge addition to the defense, and we sure could have used him last year. Sounds like a really well-grounded guy, which is not what I'd heard about him when he was younger.

pretty sure i heard JJ say in an interview that he has the tools to play at the next level

SMU21TCU10 wrote:pretty sure i heard JJ say in an interview that he has the tools to play at the next level

He needs to play first, and that requires staying off "the list". Hopefully, he will be able to do both.