2021 NFL Draft: James Hudson III is an exciting, but raw project

ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 01: James Hudson #55 of the Cincinnati Bearcats recast at the conclusion of the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl against the Georgia Bulldogs at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 1, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 01: James Hudson #55 of the Cincinnati Bearcats recast at the conclusion of the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl against the Georgia Bulldogs at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 1, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
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James Hudson
James Hudson.  Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports

The 2021 Reese’s Senior Bowl has sadly come and gone, and many players made a name for themselves. The 2021 NFL Draft process is officially underway.

A week in which scouts and football media entities alike get to spend an entire observing and reporting on some the nations top senior prospects. This of course, is an important week for said prospects, as they showcase their best play for all of the onlooking football. Obviously some fare better than others, but ultimately it provides a key opportunity for players to improve their stock.

This can be particularly crucial for the offensive and defensive line groups. At multiple points during the event, both groups slug it out in one on ones to showcase their technical prowess and  athleticism. Although it won’t entirely discredit years of game tape, the one on one drills and team reps in addition to game itself, can at times make or break a prospects stock.

Usually scouts will and teams will hedge their bets on raw or unheralded players who have especially promising weeks. This can be players from many different positions, but as mentioned before this is particularly crucial for linemen.

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James Hudson makes a name at Senior Bowl

The 2021 NFL Draft class has been no different thus far, with quite a few linemen who helped their stock this past week in Mobile. For specific examples, we could look at players such as Division III phenom Quinn Meinerz or North Dakota State’s Dillion Radunz.

But for the purposes of this article, we’ll be taking an in-depth look at Cincinnati left tackle James Hudson III. Going by the practice film and the reactions of people on Twitter, Hudson had himself a week down in Mobile. Coming into the week as a relatively unknown, Hudson managed to get his name out there to a wider audience. While there is still plenty of deliberation to be had about how he fits into the hierarchy of the 2021 NFL Draft, what he’s done so far is enough to get excited over.