University of Georgia Athletics
Photo by: Philip Williams
Quick Chat: Prather Hudson
October 04, 2018 | Football, The Frierson Files
By John Frierson
Staff Writer
Backup running back and special teams contributor Prather Hudson, a Georgia football walk-on from Columbus, Ga., has already seen and experienced more than probably 98-percent of walk-ons ever do.
As a redshirt freshman last fall on the Bulldogs' SEC and Rose Bowl championship teams, Hudson played in all 15 games, finishing with six carries for 15 yards and two tackles. Already this season as the Bulldogs have had significant fourth-quarter leads in several of their games, Hudson has been busy, rushing 10 times for 37 yards.
That the 5-foot-11, 200-pound Hudson is taking the field in a Georgia Bulldogs uniform is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream, but with a twist — he grew up dreaming of playing college football and he grew up a diehard Auburn fan. Georgia's New Year's Day visit to the Rose Bowl wasn't his first, having been in the stands when the Tigers played Florida State for the 2014 BCS national championship.
After practice Wednesday, the outgoing and affable Hudson sat down for a Quick Chat. Here's some of what he had to say:
Frierson: Because you came in as a preferred walk-on and then did your year on the scout team as a true freshman, are you still kind of amazed at what you've been able to do on the field at Georgia? Or is it kind of routine at this point?
Hudson: I think this year I've kind of settled in to my role and I know what's expected of me in games. Last year when I came in against App State it was just like, I was honestly a little taken aback, "Oh my gosh, this is the time."
I think playing in all those games, playing for the national championship and playing in the Rose Bowl, I think that prepared me for all these games, because you can't get any bigger than that.
Frierson: Where does making a tackle on punt coverage in the fourth quarter of a nail-biter of a Rose Bowl rank in terms of special moments in your life?
Hudson: That's pretty high up there (laughs). It's close to number one, I would say.
Frierson: I know you grew up an Auburn fan, and being from Columbus that's not shocking, but the fact that you were at the Rose Bowl when Auburn last played in it and then walked on at Georgia and suddenly you're playing in the Rose Bowl, for Georgia — that's quite a ride.
Hudson: That was pretty crazy. Where [Sony Michel] scored [the game-winning touchdown in overtime], I was actually sitting right there a couple of years back, in that same spot in that little corner. That was the crazy thing about it — I came out of the tunnel and turned around and was like, that's where I was sitting just a few years ago. It's kind of crazy going full circle like that.
Frierson: Looking at your bio, I saw that you also competed in wresting, baseball and track at Brookstone High School. How would you rate your abilities in the four sports you did in high school?
Hudson: I would honestly say, wresting was probably up there. I would say wrestling and football are No. 1; I almost decided I was going to pursue college wrestling — I made [the state tournament] freshman year and I was kind of going that path, but I felt like football was the direction I wanted to take.
I would go wrestling, football, baseball, then track; no, track then baseball.
Frierson: What weight were you wrestling at in high school?
Hudson: My freshman year, when I went to State, I was 140, so I was a little tiny guy.
Frierson: And by senior year?
Hudson: Senior year I was 185.
Frierson: Wow, that's a ton of difference. Was that just natural growth or were you really working to put on the weight?
Hudson: I think football was the driving factor in that, so every year I gained about 10 pounds and I was just trying to pack on the weight.
Frierson: What did you learn from playing with Nick Chubb and Sony Michel?
Hudson: Obviously they're two of the greatest players to come through Georgia and I think watching them and seeing them play — what I tried to do is when they get ready for a game, I watched how they stretched and how they settled themselves. I watched to see if they got quiet, if they talked, just how they prepared for the game. That was the most vital thing, which a lot of people don't understand or see, is under the tunnel before they come out.
What I try to do is emulate what they do and try to prepare myself and get ready for those games, especially the big ones like the national championship. Seeing them, seeing if they got nervous or not, and they didn't. That was the most impressive thing about them — whatever stage they were on, they're always ready for the game. That kind of gave me confidence, seeing that they could do that.
Frierson: Speaking of stages, what was it like for you last Sunday when both Nick and Sony went over 100 yards rushing for the first time?
Hudson: That was amazing. I knew that was going to happen at some moment in the season and I was glad I was able to watch it, seeing Nick go and Sony go like that.
Frierson: Where would you go if you were given all the time and money you needed to travel anywhere in the world?
Hudson: Ooh, Bora Bora.
Frierson: Why did that immediately come to mind?
Hudson: That's where my parents had their honeymoon and it's so far and so exotic and so out there that it's almost untouched, so that's where I want to go. I want to be out there and be in that moment with everything.
Frierson: What's something you could eat every day and never get tired of it?
Hudson: I would say baby-back ribs, for sure.
Frierson: Do you have a preferred place in town or do you like to do it yourself?
Hudson: I do love to cook it myself, but my favorite place in the whole world is Salt Lick BBQ in Austin, Texas. We were out in Texas for some reason, I think for my sister, and we went there. Now, I think it was this past year, for my birthday we flew it in. It was expensive but we just ordered it and they mailed it and I had Salt Lick BBQ.
If I had only one meal for the rest of my life it would be Salt Lick ribs.
Frierson: When you think of your home or hometown, what sights, sounds or smells immediately come to mind?
Hudson: I would say I have a really good relationship with my high school, Brookstone, and when I think of Columbus I think of Brookstone. Every time I come back, especially if they're playing a game, I'm always going to try to go to their game. I think on our off week I may go to one of their away games.
I would definitely think Brookstone because it's a family atmosphere that's not really replicated a lot, because a lot of people just forget about their high school. I would say I have a really close-knit relationship with the faculty there and the coaches there.
Frierson: Who is someone that inspires you every day.
Hudson: I would say my dad, and I know a lot of people say that. The way he's taught me to go about my life and as cliche as it sounds, he's instilled that idea that with hard work good things happen and that preparation breeds confidence and that kind of gets you to take the next step in whatever you're trying to achieve.
Whatever you're doing, if you want to be a writer, a painter, a football player, I think that good things come to those that work hard and I think he has always driven that into me.
(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)
Staff Writer
Backup running back and special teams contributor Prather Hudson, a Georgia football walk-on from Columbus, Ga., has already seen and experienced more than probably 98-percent of walk-ons ever do.
As a redshirt freshman last fall on the Bulldogs' SEC and Rose Bowl championship teams, Hudson played in all 15 games, finishing with six carries for 15 yards and two tackles. Already this season as the Bulldogs have had significant fourth-quarter leads in several of their games, Hudson has been busy, rushing 10 times for 37 yards.
That the 5-foot-11, 200-pound Hudson is taking the field in a Georgia Bulldogs uniform is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream, but with a twist — he grew up dreaming of playing college football and he grew up a diehard Auburn fan. Georgia's New Year's Day visit to the Rose Bowl wasn't his first, having been in the stands when the Tigers played Florida State for the 2014 BCS national championship.
After practice Wednesday, the outgoing and affable Hudson sat down for a Quick Chat. Here's some of what he had to say:
Frierson: Because you came in as a preferred walk-on and then did your year on the scout team as a true freshman, are you still kind of amazed at what you've been able to do on the field at Georgia? Or is it kind of routine at this point?
Hudson: I think this year I've kind of settled in to my role and I know what's expected of me in games. Last year when I came in against App State it was just like, I was honestly a little taken aback, "Oh my gosh, this is the time."
I think playing in all those games, playing for the national championship and playing in the Rose Bowl, I think that prepared me for all these games, because you can't get any bigger than that.
Frierson: Where does making a tackle on punt coverage in the fourth quarter of a nail-biter of a Rose Bowl rank in terms of special moments in your life?
Hudson: That's pretty high up there (laughs). It's close to number one, I would say.
Frierson: I know you grew up an Auburn fan, and being from Columbus that's not shocking, but the fact that you were at the Rose Bowl when Auburn last played in it and then walked on at Georgia and suddenly you're playing in the Rose Bowl, for Georgia — that's quite a ride.
Hudson: That was pretty crazy. Where [Sony Michel] scored [the game-winning touchdown in overtime], I was actually sitting right there a couple of years back, in that same spot in that little corner. That was the crazy thing about it — I came out of the tunnel and turned around and was like, that's where I was sitting just a few years ago. It's kind of crazy going full circle like that.
Frierson: Looking at your bio, I saw that you also competed in wresting, baseball and track at Brookstone High School. How would you rate your abilities in the four sports you did in high school?
Hudson: I would honestly say, wresting was probably up there. I would say wrestling and football are No. 1; I almost decided I was going to pursue college wrestling — I made [the state tournament] freshman year and I was kind of going that path, but I felt like football was the direction I wanted to take.
I would go wrestling, football, baseball, then track; no, track then baseball.
Frierson: What weight were you wrestling at in high school?
Hudson: My freshman year, when I went to State, I was 140, so I was a little tiny guy.
Frierson: And by senior year?
Hudson: Senior year I was 185.
Frierson: Wow, that's a ton of difference. Was that just natural growth or were you really working to put on the weight?
Hudson: I think football was the driving factor in that, so every year I gained about 10 pounds and I was just trying to pack on the weight.
Frierson: What did you learn from playing with Nick Chubb and Sony Michel?
Hudson: Obviously they're two of the greatest players to come through Georgia and I think watching them and seeing them play — what I tried to do is when they get ready for a game, I watched how they stretched and how they settled themselves. I watched to see if they got quiet, if they talked, just how they prepared for the game. That was the most vital thing, which a lot of people don't understand or see, is under the tunnel before they come out.
What I try to do is emulate what they do and try to prepare myself and get ready for those games, especially the big ones like the national championship. Seeing them, seeing if they got nervous or not, and they didn't. That was the most impressive thing about them — whatever stage they were on, they're always ready for the game. That kind of gave me confidence, seeing that they could do that.
Frierson: Speaking of stages, what was it like for you last Sunday when both Nick and Sony went over 100 yards rushing for the first time?
Hudson: That was amazing. I knew that was going to happen at some moment in the season and I was glad I was able to watch it, seeing Nick go and Sony go like that.
Frierson: Where would you go if you were given all the time and money you needed to travel anywhere in the world?
Hudson: Ooh, Bora Bora.
Frierson: Why did that immediately come to mind?
Hudson: That's where my parents had their honeymoon and it's so far and so exotic and so out there that it's almost untouched, so that's where I want to go. I want to be out there and be in that moment with everything.
Frierson: What's something you could eat every day and never get tired of it?
Hudson: I would say baby-back ribs, for sure.
Frierson: Do you have a preferred place in town or do you like to do it yourself?
Hudson: I do love to cook it myself, but my favorite place in the whole world is Salt Lick BBQ in Austin, Texas. We were out in Texas for some reason, I think for my sister, and we went there. Now, I think it was this past year, for my birthday we flew it in. It was expensive but we just ordered it and they mailed it and I had Salt Lick BBQ.
If I had only one meal for the rest of my life it would be Salt Lick ribs.
Frierson: When you think of your home or hometown, what sights, sounds or smells immediately come to mind?
Hudson: I would say I have a really good relationship with my high school, Brookstone, and when I think of Columbus I think of Brookstone. Every time I come back, especially if they're playing a game, I'm always going to try to go to their game. I think on our off week I may go to one of their away games.
I would definitely think Brookstone because it's a family atmosphere that's not really replicated a lot, because a lot of people just forget about their high school. I would say I have a really close-knit relationship with the faculty there and the coaches there.
Frierson: Who is someone that inspires you every day.
Hudson: I would say my dad, and I know a lot of people say that. The way he's taught me to go about my life and as cliche as it sounds, he's instilled that idea that with hard work good things happen and that preparation breeds confidence and that kind of gets you to take the next step in whatever you're trying to achieve.
Whatever you're doing, if you want to be a writer, a painter, a football player, I think that good things come to those that work hard and I think he has always driven that into me.
(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)
John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files. He's also on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.
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