BYU may get help in backfield

Ray Hudson hopes BYU is The Place.

Right away, Hudson says, it's a "blessing" to be in Provo.

Guess he's getting the lingo down.

Hudson is the latest to pitch himself into the Cougar backfield, hoping to tote the ball and challenge for playing time in Provo.

A late qualifier who received early recruiting attention from Texas A&M and Clemson, Hudson signed to play junior college football at Cisco Junior College when a Division I football spot appeared beyond his reach.

But Hudson got his academics in order late and his coach, Russell Roberts, told him BYU had lost running backs Rey Brathwaite and Marcus Whalen. Hudson was all ears.

On Tuesday, Hudson arrived in Provo. He seeks to enroll in school and will wait to see if a grant-in-aid is available in weeks to come.

"I think it's going to work out just fine," Hudson said.

BYU has already given all its NCAA-mandated "initials" to 25 recruits. If Hudson receives a scholarship after two-a-days start in mid-August, it would be outside the initials as a non-recruited player.

Quarterback Jackson Brown said coach Gary Crowton made good on a promise to get him on scholarship this summer after reserve Todd Mortensen decided to transfer to San Diego University. "He took care of me," Brown said.

Hudson believes the same thing will happen to him.

Hudson stood on the sidelines watching BYU players go through voluntary workouts on Wednesday morning. He was eager to get involved. "I'm a hard worker, and I'm dedicated to what I do," he said. "Hopefully, this is the school that will get me to the next level."

Hudson wants to get a degree in business and start his own enterprise someday.

Hudson was a first-team all-district running back for Wharton, a 3A school outside of Houston. He is 5-foot-11, 185 pounds and has been clocked at 10.8 seconds in the 100 meters this season in track.

"But I didn't really get involved in track too much this year," he said. "I hurt my hamstring, and I've been taking it easy through track."

His best 100m time came as a sophomore when, he says, he ran a 10.6. Hudson said Wednesday he has run 4.36 in the 40-yard dash.

Hudson averaged just less than seven yards per carry for an 8-4 Wharton team, rushing for 1,150 yards and a dozen touchdowns on the ground.