Sweet 16 preview: Hough, UNC recruit Tad Hudson hope for magical year, deep playoff run

Editor’s Note: The Observer is taking a look at the 16 teams that are ranked in the preseason Sweet 16 prep football poll, released in random order. The true order of the teams will be revealed later this month.

Just a few months ago, Hough High’s football team looked like it was going to advance to the first state championship game in school history. But, playing at home, the Huskies allowed Chambers to make a wild fourth quarter rally to pull an upset in the N.C. 4A Western Regional championship game and move on.

Hough has had a long offseason to think about that loss, and to get more determined than ever to get to the final round.

“We’ve got about 10 returning starters, somewhere in that neighborhood,” head Coach Matt Jenkins said. “Most of them are on offense. We are going to be a little young on the defensive side of the ball but they are very talented.”

Jenkins feels that last year is in the past and that it is, “long gone.”

“If they (the players) need last year to get motivated now, it’s too late,” Jenkins said. “Most of the guys that are going to be key contributors were a part of that game (2021 state semifinal). Having that experience, having that atmosphere I think is great for them, so we will take that from it and see how it translates into this year.”

One of the key returners from last year’s team is senior quarterback Tad Hudson. Hudson is coming off a junior year where he led his team to an undefeated regular season and led one of the most explosive offenses in the state. He says most of the goals for him this season aren’t personal but team-centered.

“I want to win a state championship,” Hudson said. “I haven’t done it yet, I am waiting on it, and that is about it.”

The UNC commit will be the leader on offense, but coach Jenkins feels that he has seen more personal growth from Hudson going into his final year with the program.

“We are excited,” Jenkins exclaimed. “He had a great offseason and I feel there is a real development on the mental side of the game for him. I think he is really confident in the offense. Obviously having a three and a half-year starter is a big advantage for us, and I think that he is going to have an outstanding year.”

One thing Jenkins hit on was just how much growth he has seen from a leadership aspect in Hudson.

“It is one of those positions (quarterback) where you have to be a leader by choice,” Jenkins said. “I think he is kind of a natural leader, but even being a natural leader doesn’t mean you’re a leader or you want to be one. Sometimes you just want to be one of the guys. I think this year I have really seen the step forward in him.”

Jenkins is hoping that all of his players, including his quarterback, raise their level this season. He said it’s important for him to, as he put it, “play to our potential.”

“This is what I told our guys,” Jenkins said. “We have the same goals every year, probably the same goals everybody has; win the first game, win all your home games, win the league, win a state title, all of those kinds of things.”

Hudson realizes that his team has been in a lot of big games and fallen just short of victory, but this season he feels that he is ready to get over the hump in crunch time of big games.

“We have been in a lot of those big games,” Hudson said. “It hurts to lose but to just know that we can get that close, we can win it.”

Hudson is also very excited and optimistic about the returners he has on offense.

“It is exciting because we already have that chemistry built,” Hudson said. “We have got some great guys out there. We have got some good guys on the offensive line this year so we are looking good, and I am excited.”

Inside Look: Hough Huskies

Head Coach: Matt Jenkins (6th season at Hough, 84-39 overall)

2021 Record: 14-1

Returning Lettermen: 25

Returning Starters: 10

Key Returnees: Jack Berlin 6’2 245 OL Sr; Tanner Ward 6’4 250 OL Sr; JT Smith 5’11 205 RB Sr; Tad Hudson 6’3 218 QB Sr; Se’Quan Osborne 6’1 170 WR Sr; Markell Quick 5’11 170 WR Sr; Branden Palmer 6’4 210 OLB/DE Sr; Nick Garrido 6’2 225 LB Sr; Anthony Walker 5’11 215 LB Jr; Nolan Hauser 5’10 165 K Jr; Garvey Sterling 6’0 210 LB Sr

Fresh Faces: Eagan Boyer 6’7 270 OL Jr; Akil Williams 5’9 185 RB Sr

This story was originally published August 8, 2022 at 6:00 AM.