Wake Forest Athletics
Deacon Sports Xtra: Special Team Champ Taking Talents to New Position
4/3/2023 11:44:00 AM | Football
“I’m proud of it. Back-to-back champ. It’s something I take pride in.” - Jaylen Hudson
Earning 60 points while making 258 special teams plays, Jaylen Hudson won the 2022 Wake Forest Football Special Teams Champion Award. It was the second-straight year of earning this recognition for Hudson, who is transitioning this spring from linebacker to defensive end.
"For me, it's one thing I've really prided myself on the last three years," Hudson said about his work on special teams. "My role hasn't always been as big as I might have wanted it to be, but when there are times to make an impact, I try to do that. Special teams is one of those areas, whether it's making good blocks, getting tackles on kickoff or punt — those points accumulate to that overall goal.
"I'm proud of it. Back-to-back champ. It's something I take pride in. There have been so many good special teams players here, from Jermal Martin, AJ Williams, Christian Beal-Smithm, Ja'Sir Taylor and Keegan Good. If my role is going to be that, I want to be the best at it."
Wake Forest finished 1-3 in one-score games in 2022, and coach Clawson attributes some of that inability to finish to lapses in special teams, especially in the kicking game, where punts and kickoffs didn't travel as deep last season as in seasons past.
"Every yard counts," Hudson said. "We talk about it all the time. The greater the field position is for the other team, the more likely they will score. If we can keep them on their side of the field, we can do so many other things. Kickoff returns for touchdowns are game-changing plays. Flipping the field is the most important thing you can do. Every defense is going to do better when the offense is backed up."
Late in fall camp, each Wake Forest player is usually assigned to play on one or two special teams units. Hudson contributed in all five units last season: field goal, kickoff coverage, kickoff return, punt coverage and punt return.
"I was on every one of them at some point," Hudson said. "I enjoy them all. On punt, being next to Jahmal Banks is the most fun. He's so aggressive. Jahmal is going to make sure whoever he is blocking on punt, he's going to win that one-on-one. Being on the same side of him, I like going back and watching the film to compare what we do. Jahmal makes his opponent twist and turn several times before they go even 10 yards.
"As a defensive player, I love kickoff and punt. I always get points on the board. They're always fun."
Hudson contributed 20 tackles with one tackle for loss and a forced fumble last season for the Deacs, who finished 8-5 after a Gasparilla Bowl Championship victory over Missouri in Tampa, Florida. Spring Camp has seen Hudson focusing on a change from linebacker, where he resided for his first four years at Wake Forest, to the defensive line.
"I'm just really embracing the challenge," Hudson said. "The defensive line has been incredible. The guys have been incredible and invited me in — guys like Kendron (Wayman), KP (Kevin Pointer), and my boy Zay (Isaiah Chaney). They've allowed it to be an easy transition. I'm figuring out the intricacies, but embracing the challenge.
"I was debating if I should do this, but then I spoke with God about it. He told me this is the route I need to go. I'm hitting it as hard as I can, and just want to help the team win in whatever capacity I can."
The position he's playing is what was once called the hybrid drop-end role, now labeled "The Deacon" by the Wake Forest staff.
"I'll be the Deacon," Hudson said with a chuckle while explaining what the position does. "You have to be able to set edges and have to be physical. You have to be able to get after the quarterback. I've been working with Kendron and Will (Smart), just developing a pass rush and the skills that will maximize my length on the field. It's a process.
"Linebacker was a lot of reading, and sometimes I would get in my own head. Now, I can play fast and just attack, attack, attack. This creates an opportunity for me to have more of an impact."
Having redshirted in 2019, when the COVID-impacted season of 2020 is accounted for, Hudson has two years of eligibility remaining, and he plans to take full advantage.
"I will be coming back for my fifth year and keep this thing rolling," he said. "I graduate in May, and then I'll do graduate work in digital marketing.
"It's been incredible."
"For me, it's one thing I've really prided myself on the last three years," Hudson said about his work on special teams. "My role hasn't always been as big as I might have wanted it to be, but when there are times to make an impact, I try to do that. Special teams is one of those areas, whether it's making good blocks, getting tackles on kickoff or punt — those points accumulate to that overall goal.
"I'm proud of it. Back-to-back champ. It's something I take pride in. There have been so many good special teams players here, from Jermal Martin, AJ Williams, Christian Beal-Smithm, Ja'Sir Taylor and Keegan Good. If my role is going to be that, I want to be the best at it."
Wake Forest finished 1-3 in one-score games in 2022, and coach Clawson attributes some of that inability to finish to lapses in special teams, especially in the kicking game, where punts and kickoffs didn't travel as deep last season as in seasons past.
"Every yard counts," Hudson said. "We talk about it all the time. The greater the field position is for the other team, the more likely they will score. If we can keep them on their side of the field, we can do so many other things. Kickoff returns for touchdowns are game-changing plays. Flipping the field is the most important thing you can do. Every defense is going to do better when the offense is backed up."
Late in fall camp, each Wake Forest player is usually assigned to play on one or two special teams units. Hudson contributed in all five units last season: field goal, kickoff coverage, kickoff return, punt coverage and punt return.
"I was on every one of them at some point," Hudson said. "I enjoy them all. On punt, being next to Jahmal Banks is the most fun. He's so aggressive. Jahmal is going to make sure whoever he is blocking on punt, he's going to win that one-on-one. Being on the same side of him, I like going back and watching the film to compare what we do. Jahmal makes his opponent twist and turn several times before they go even 10 yards.
"As a defensive player, I love kickoff and punt. I always get points on the board. They're always fun."
Hudson contributed 20 tackles with one tackle for loss and a forced fumble last season for the Deacs, who finished 8-5 after a Gasparilla Bowl Championship victory over Missouri in Tampa, Florida. Spring Camp has seen Hudson focusing on a change from linebacker, where he resided for his first four years at Wake Forest, to the defensive line.
"I'm just really embracing the challenge," Hudson said. "The defensive line has been incredible. The guys have been incredible and invited me in — guys like Kendron (Wayman), KP (Kevin Pointer), and my boy Zay (Isaiah Chaney). They've allowed it to be an easy transition. I'm figuring out the intricacies, but embracing the challenge.
"I was debating if I should do this, but then I spoke with God about it. He told me this is the route I need to go. I'm hitting it as hard as I can, and just want to help the team win in whatever capacity I can."
The position he's playing is what was once called the hybrid drop-end role, now labeled "The Deacon" by the Wake Forest staff.
"I'll be the Deacon," Hudson said with a chuckle while explaining what the position does. "You have to be able to set edges and have to be physical. You have to be able to get after the quarterback. I've been working with Kendron and Will (Smart), just developing a pass rush and the skills that will maximize my length on the field. It's a process.
"Linebacker was a lot of reading, and sometimes I would get in my own head. Now, I can play fast and just attack, attack, attack. This creates an opportunity for me to have more of an impact."
Having redshirted in 2019, when the COVID-impacted season of 2020 is accounted for, Hudson has two years of eligibility remaining, and he plans to take full advantage.
"I will be coming back for my fifth year and keep this thing rolling," he said. "I graduate in May, and then I'll do graduate work in digital marketing.
"It's been incredible."
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