15. Taylor Hudson - East Carolina

Taylor Hudson -  74   East Carolina    6-5 285


2014: First-Team All-American Conference selection by the leagues head coaches. Named one of five game captains four times (SC, SMU, UCONN, CIN). Started all 13 games at center. Member of an offensive line unit that is averaging 532.8 yards of total offense (165.4/ rush, 367.3/pass) on the season, which ranks fifth nationally. Helped ECU’s offense put up a school record 789 yards of total offense (446/pass, 343/rush) against North Carolina. Member of an offensive unit that has surpassed 500 yards of total offense in 7 of 12 games (582/NCCU, 502/VT, 789/UNC, 581/SMU, 580/UCONN, 579/CIN, 510/TLS) - 411-plus in all 12 contests. Helped provide running lanes for four 100-yard rushers (3/Breon Allen, 1/Chris Hairston). Provided pass block protection for all five of Shane Carden’s 400-yard passing games (427/VT, 438/UNC, 410/SMU, 445/UCONN, 425/CIN) - the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth 400-yard contests of his career. Part of an offensive unit that ranks second nationally in passing (367.3 ypg) and 14th in scoring (37.2 ppg).
2013: Played in 10 contests and made a pair of starts (Florida Atlantic and vs. Ohio in the Beef `O' Brady's Bowl) at center. Did not experience action against Virginia Tech, North Carolina and Middle Tennessee. A member of an offensive unit that recorded 440 or more yards of total offense in eight of the 10 games played in, with a season-high 625 against UAB. Helped provide running lanes for three of Vintavious Cooper's four 100-yard rushing performances, including a career-best 198 ground yards against Ohio at Tropicana Field. Part of a line that produced a 4,000-passer (4,139/Shane Carden), a 1,000-yard rusher (1,193/Cooper) and a 1,000-yard receiver (1,284/Justin Hardy). Assisted the Pirates to a No. 7 national rank in third down percentage (51.0), a No. 8 standing in scoring offense (40.2 ppg) and a No. 11 clip in passing offense (328.1 ypg).
2012: Started seven of nine games at center after appearing in seven contests as a redshirt freshman on special teams unit a year earlier. Recorded first career start in the season opener vs. Appalachian State. Followed by booking successive starts vs. South Carolina, Southern Miss, North Carolina, UTEP, UCF and Memphis before suffering back injury and surrendering top job to Josh Clark for the remainder of the year. Returned to action after missing three games with the aforementioned injury in a reserve role at Tulane. Credited with helping first-year starter Shane Carden's acclimation during his first five starts at quarterback.
2011: Experienced action on the special teams' blocking units in seven games during initial season on the active roster. Appeared against North Carolina, Houston, Tulane, Southern Miss, UTEP, UCF and Marshall. Part of a group that helped kicker Michael Barbour convert 39-of-40 point after touchdown attempts. Blocked along the line for Barbour's program record-tying 58-yard field goal at Marshall during the season finale.
2010: Redshirted during first campaign with the Pirates and served on the scout team. Officially signed with East Carolina in February.
High School: A three-year starter at offensive tackle at Mauldin High School in South Carolina. Helped the Mavericks and head coach Doug Shaw capture a 32-21 Class AAAA Division I playoff victory over Fort Dorchester. Anchored a line that allowed MHS average 40.8 points per game. Named to the All-Greenville County First Team as a senior and junior. Rated by ESPN.com among the top 60 (55) offensive guards in the country and was labeled a three-star recruit. A High School Playbook All-Area Team selection as a senior. Recipient of the Mauldin team's Maverick Award. Participated in the 2009 Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas. Helped propel Mauldin from a 6-6 record in 2008 to a 10-3 mark in 2009. The Mavericks' 10 wins tied the 1976 school record for most victories in a season. Reportedly timed at 5.68 seconds in the 40-yard dash during prep testing.
Personal: Full name is Taylor William Hudson. Born November 27, 1991 at Greenville, S.C.. Son of William and Lynne Hudson.. Earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice during ECU's Spring Commencement Exercises in May, 2014. Selected to the ECU Honor Roll for classroom work in the spring semesters of 2011, 2013 and 2014. Currently pursuing second undergraduate degree in management. Volunteers for the Mauldin Fire Department in his spare time. Hobbies include fishing, hunting and riding four-wheelers. Says favorite NFL player is Michael Oher of "The Blind Side" fame. Parents have served as most influential figures during career.