Hogs' Hudson Clark, Dwight McGlothern on Monday
Hudson Clark and Dwight McGlothern on learning to play multiple positions with new coaches to improve on last year.
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00:00 Obviously, just talk about Coach Wilson,
00:02 kind of the focus on improving from last year.
00:04 I'm just curious, like, as a unit,
00:07 you two guys are back from last year's team.
00:09 Is it -- do you want to talk about it a lot,
00:12 you know, the struggles of last year
00:13 in the hopes of, you know, addressing those issues?
00:15 Or is it a page that you've already turned
00:17 and it's kind of like, let's not worry about last year
00:19 because we've got such a new group of guys
00:21 in the secondary and new coaches?
00:23 Yeah, I think, obviously,
00:25 we're not going to, like, focus on last year,
00:26 but I think we can take what we learned from last year
00:29 and game experience and then turn it this year
00:32 and kind of learn from that.
00:33 And, yeah, we've got a bunch of new guys,
00:35 and they're excited to be here.
00:36 They're excited to play.
00:37 And so there's a lot of good competition.
00:39 So I think it's best for us to just focus on this year
00:42 and look ahead.
00:44 What was it like, you know, for those first impressions
00:47 of Jaheim and Alf, you know, snacks, too,
00:50 just, like, what they brought to the room right away?
00:55 I just saw energy,
00:56 and I saw some dudes that was willing to play
00:58 go out there and bust their butt,
01:00 and they want to get out there and want to make their name
01:03 and want to go to the next level.
01:05 And I feel like that's what we need in our room.
01:07 Hudson, just, you know, being at safety,
01:12 you know, for an extended period of time now,
01:14 how are you feeling back there?
01:16 Feel good.
01:17 More and more I play it, the more comfortable I get.
01:20 And so I think just being -- going against our offense,
01:23 getting more competitive reps,
01:25 I think that's been good for me.
01:27 You know, the wide receivers so far,
01:30 Coach Wilson talked about Armstrong,
01:31 maybe some other guys that are giving you all trouble so far.
01:34 Yeah, they give us good work.
01:39 Armstrong, yeah, he's been giving me good work.
01:42 I mean, he's got way better since the spring.
01:44 That's the crazy part about it.
01:46 And I can see it whenever I go against him.
01:48 Every day, Tyrone coming out there, going hard.
01:51 He had an injury in the spring,
01:53 but he's back and he's doing pretty well.
01:56 Cheslett, everyone gives me their best
01:59 whenever I'm out there, and it's good work.
02:01 And I appreciate it because we all straining.
02:04 And they know that I'm not trying to let them win anything.
02:06 They know they want to win every rep against me,
02:09 so I appreciate that.
02:11 Yeah, and I think on the inside, Isaiah, Jaden, and Bryce,
02:16 I mean, those three, they got real speed.
02:18 And so I think it's been good for me to go against that
02:21 and see what it's like and it's competitive every single rep.
02:25 Udy, with it being your second full year here going into it,
02:28 how much more comfortable or confident do you feel
02:31 as opposed to maybe this time last year?
02:34 I feel very good coming into this season.
02:38 I feel like I know what I need to do as a leader now,
02:42 as a person that's been going into his fourth year.
02:46 I know coming from my other school,
02:49 I didn't want to step on anyone's toes.
02:50 I'm just trying to be good within the group
02:54 and make a name for myself and for the group.
02:57 But now I feel like everything is right
02:59 with the coaches and being in the transfer portal,
03:02 going to go get snacks done.
03:05 Even though we compete with the receivers,
03:08 we're also competing within the group
03:10 and loving each other at the same time.
03:13 I feel like that's what we really need.
03:18 Y'all do before and after pictures
03:20 with the eight-week summer cycle, y'all do?
03:23 Yeah, we do. Yeah.
03:25 You're noticeably bigger.
03:27 Just talk about the effort that you put in to getting bigger
03:30 and just how important that is going from corner to safety
03:33 and knowing you're going to safety.
03:35 Yeah. I think having an idea of being at the position
03:38 before the season has really helped me
03:41 kind of get to my goals.
03:43 I'm still trying to keep my weight up
03:45 as far as during fall camp.
03:47 But I think the strength coaches really helped me kind of -
03:51 they created this thing called Breakfast Club,
03:53 and we got to go to the Jones Center every day
03:55 for those guys on it and got to go eat
03:58 and make sure we're eating good.
04:00 And so I think that's really helped me
04:02 to kind of just achieve my goals.
04:05 Nody, we've obviously seen snacks out there
04:08 from the spring stuff, but a couple of new additions
04:10 to the cornerbacks with the team Singletary, Keyon Stewart.
04:14 What have you thought about those guys individually?
04:16 What do they bring to the table, and how can they help you?
04:19 Keyon just came at the first practice
04:24 that we had last Friday.
04:26 I just know he's going to have to be on the field.
04:29 He can play.
04:30 I know he will make our secondary better,
04:33 even better, you know, than it is, I believe, right now.
04:36 And Jaheim out there, whenever he comes in
04:38 and getting the ropes, he goes hard.
04:41 I'll be looking at him sometimes,
04:43 and I'm like, man, that young dude right there,
04:46 he can move.
04:47 He make me go harder at practice, in a way.
04:50 You know, so having them two is a great thing,
04:52 and you will see them on the field.
04:55 So I think Sam Pimmons said the other day
04:57 you'd added about 12 pounds.
04:59 Is that right?
05:00 188, or what's your weight right now?
05:02 About 188.
05:04 Is that about 12 plus, or --
05:07 I think it started last year, probably 12.
05:09 Okay, because they listed it 182,
05:11 but I wasn't sure if that was accurate.
05:12 Last year, I mean, at the end of the year.
05:15 And then just, you know, we'd see a lot of times
05:17 you'd be in the hole, plugging the hole,
05:19 but, you know, you weren't as big as probably,
05:21 ideally, you would be in the coaching.
05:24 Do you feel like you're better able now?
05:26 You'll be able to make those plays better?
05:27 And just how do you feel with that weight?
05:30 Yes, I do. I feel like there's a difference
05:31 when I'm coming down and fitting off blocks
05:33 or making tackles.
05:35 And so, I mean, we haven't gotten to the ground yet,
05:37 but I can kind of feel a difference
05:39 when I'm thugging running backs and receivers.
05:44 You obviously played with Nudy for a while now.
05:46 What have you thought about his progression
05:48 and what he can bring to the table this year
05:50 with -- this second year with you all?
05:51 I mean, it's -- he's got an insane amount of potential.
05:54 I trust him on the field.
05:55 I trust that he's going to do his job,
05:57 and that he's going to man this guy up,
06:00 and there's not going to be a ball thrown his way.
06:01 And so I think, like, going out there,
06:04 it's just a great sense of trust
06:06 and that I know he's going to do his job,
06:08 and then I can do my job.
06:11 Can you talk a little bit about Spode Hudson?
06:12 You know, it looks like it's real competitive
06:14 between you all and the wide receivers.
06:16 And personally, I think that's probably good
06:17 because if one side's always getting the better of the other,
06:19 that's not going to bode well for SEC play.
06:22 How competitive is it?
06:23 And just what do you think about your -- the two units?
06:27 I think we're making great strides as a team,
06:30 and so going against each other, man, if they beat us,
06:33 we're wanting another rep against them.
06:35 And I think that's been good for us,
06:37 just kind of get our competitive nature up.
06:39 And so I think going to SEC play and any other game,
06:42 we're going to be competitive every single rep
06:45 and not take anything off.
06:47 Guys, one of the things I remember about Danny Nose
06:50 from when he was here last time
06:51 is he talked trash to the defensive backs a little bit.
06:54 Is that any jawing going on?
06:56 Has he picked anybody out that he likes
06:57 to go back and forth with?
06:59 No, we've been just hard work, being quiet with each other.
07:04 We haven't really been, you know,
07:07 talking with our mouths that much.
07:08 We're just talking with our play right now.
07:11 But, you know, I've caught some plays.
07:14 I've caught some plays.
07:17 With KJ, what has he been doing?
07:19 Noticed any progression with him, anything different?
07:23 KJ been putting -- making throws and putting the ball in places
07:28 that I feel like I've been playing good coverage in.
07:31 He put it right there, and I'm like,
07:33 "Dang, he's leading the guys, and they catching it, like, too.
07:37 Like, he's leading it out there.
07:39 It's not short.
07:40 It's not just where DB could come and make a play.
07:43 The ball is out there, and your beat at DB is probably for six.
07:49 So have you felt your voice getting louder,
07:51 starting with, like, winter conditioning and spring?
07:53 Have you felt yourself becoming more of a leader,
07:55 and what's that like?
07:56 Yes, sir, most definitely.
07:58 I feel myself becoming a leader in a right way.
08:01 I'm very positive.
08:03 Like, my personality, I talk to everyone on the team.
08:07 I'm not really going to be negative to anyone.
08:09 If I am negative, it's not real negative.
08:12 It's very positive.
08:13 It's love at the end of the day.
08:16 I feel like I lead more with the things that I do.
08:20 I say what we need to do, and we do that, honestly,
08:24 but I don't feel like all of us --
08:26 I don't need to say everything, you know?
08:29 At every point, I don't need to say, "Hey, do this, do that."
08:32 I feel like hood a leader.
08:33 I feel like the young guys that just got here are leaders.
08:37 They will become leaders,
08:38 but, yeah, I feel like everything right now.
08:43 How much consideration did you give to declaring for the draft
08:46 and, like, what compelled you to say, "Yeah, one more year"?
08:50 I wanted to go, but I just knew that, like,
08:53 second half of the season,
08:55 I just left so much on the table,
08:57 and I didn't realize it until I was done.
09:00 And now that I have another chance,
09:02 I want to make sure I do everything right whenever --
09:05 this spring, whenever we was going through weight room
09:08 and off-season football,
09:10 I make sure I take everything serious,
09:12 make sure I do all my reps and not miss anything.
09:15 Whatever Coach Souders and them chillers do, it be so hard,
09:19 but you just have to get through it.
09:20 You have to tell yourself, "Man, come on.
09:23 We can do this."
09:25 Nudie's, like, leadership qualities lately.
09:29 Yeah, I've seen the same thing you just said.
09:30 I mean, last year, he came on not trying to --
09:35 not trying to, like, not stand out,
09:36 but not trying to call anybody out
09:39 because he doesn't really know people yet.
09:41 And so this year, starting to win the workouts,
09:44 I mean, he's been leading the DBs.
09:46 He's been leading the whole defense with his voice,
09:50 and I think it's been better for us,
09:52 just kind of on a communication aspect as a group.
09:55 And so I think it's been good for us.
09:57 Yeah, and the dynamic. Coach Wilson was up here
09:59 telling us sometimes he had the corners and, you know,
10:02 vice versa.
10:03 What's that been like working with those two kind of in tandem?
10:07 Yeah, I mean, whenever anybody gets up,
10:10 Coach Wilson or Woodson -- or Coach Wilson or Woodson,
10:14 it's no different.
10:15 Their teaching is the exact same.
10:16 And so whoever goes up there is going to teach us good,
10:20 and it's not going to affect our play at all.
10:24 Just on what the dynamic is between those two is like.
10:27 Yeah, they're very together.
10:30 They're never not on the same page.
10:32 They're always on the same page.
10:34 They over-communicate.
10:36 Like, you know, they over-communicate.
10:38 That's the best way I can say it.
10:40 It's a good thing.
10:41 They make us over-communicate.
10:43 They hold us accountable.
10:45 Anything we do, we go out on the field together
10:48 as a DB unit together.
10:50 Not one person go at one at a time.
10:53 We all go all at once.
10:54 Anything we do, we go together.
10:57 Just that mindset.
10:59 Nudy, when you talk about the second half of the season
11:01 last year, what was it that you saw
11:03 that you want to improve on?
11:07 Whenever the ball is not coming my way,
11:10 whenever I'm on defense,
11:12 I need to be able to run to the ball,
11:14 go make the tackle, you know, wrap up.
11:17 Not always just going for the legs or,
11:20 you know, stuff like that.
11:21 Attack the block, attack the man.
11:23 Just be physical.
11:24 Just show that I'm willing to play.
11:26 Just show that I could be the best defensive player
11:30 out there, you know.
11:32 For both of you, I guess I've noticed that Snacks
11:34 and Andrew Armstrong really go at it
11:37 maybe more than anybody.
11:38 What is it about those two just, you know,
11:40 going really hard against each other?
11:43 Andrew, he got better, like, way better.
11:46 And every release that he do, like,
11:49 he could run a comeback route three different ways.
11:52 And that's expanding, like, his own route tree in a way.
11:56 And it's harder for us because we would think
11:59 that he's doing this and he's doing something else.
12:01 And Snacks, he don't like to lose.
12:02 Like, he want to win everything.
12:05 And me and Snacks, we battling.
12:07 We go to each other every day and be like,
12:09 "Hey, I'm not giving up this."
12:12 We'd be like, "No, I ain't giving up this neither."
12:14 And we just compete on each other
12:16 and make sure we come out on top with everything, you know.
12:21 But what Hudson did in terms of, like,
12:23 off-season games and things like that,
12:25 what was your work with Coach Souders?
12:27 Like, what strides did you make individually?
12:31 I feel like I say speed with running.
12:34 I feel like I'm getting more power
12:36 with the workouts that we done.
12:38 I know that I got him stronger.
12:41 I can feel it and I can see it.
12:44 Once again, it's training, training, training.
12:48 Whenever I don't want to go, I need to go that extra step.
12:52 That's what Coach Souders really been installing into us.
12:56 Yeah, I know, Treyus Williams,
12:58 he obviously didn't coach your all's position,
12:59 but he's over the whole defense.
13:01 Well, now that he's been with you guys for a while,
13:03 kind of what's your overall impression?
13:04 I know Sam talks about how he's going to blitz a lot
13:08 and bring, you know, jailhouse break or whatever it's called.
13:11 As a secondary, how do you feel about that?
13:13 Because obviously that's going to put extra pressure on you
13:15 guys, won't be dropping seven or eight a lot,
13:17 doesn't sound like.
13:19 No, I don't think we're going to be dropping seven or eight a lot,
13:22 but he's going to bring intensity and energy
13:25 in every meeting, every practice on the field.
13:27 And so I think scheme-wise,
13:30 he's going to do the exact same thing.
13:32 And so for us, it's harder covering,
13:35 but it's easier because we're covering for shorter.
13:38 So, I mean, the lines, they can get there with four,
13:40 and we trust them with all our hearts.
13:43 And so I think whatever he brings, four, five,
13:46 six, or even seven, I mean, we're going to be ready for it.
13:50 Yeah, on that.
13:51 Oh, yeah, we'll be ready for it.
13:53 We're practicing that --
13:56 we're practicing man coverage every day right now.
13:59 So I feel like through this whole camp,
14:02 going through the season,
14:03 we'll be ready once it's that time, for sure.
14:06 What's Coach Williams' overall kind of --
14:08 what's your impressions of him?
14:10 He's going to hold you accountable.
14:11 He's going to hold you accountable.
14:13 He's a great leader, great man.
14:16 And I'm happy to play for him.
14:20 A little off the wall, you know,
14:21 they have that snack cart out there at practice.
14:23 I'm always focused on food, you know.
14:26 And I noticed they got the watermelon slices.
14:28 I don't think I've ever -- they used to have a day
14:30 where they'd bring the Hope watermelons,
14:31 but I noticed they got watermelon slices
14:33 after every day, and the girls are yelling,
14:34 like, you know, fresh watermelons.
14:36 Almost like it's a farmer's market or something.
14:38 I just wondered, do you guys like that?
14:39 Is that kind of nice that along with the Powerade
14:42 or Gatorade or whatever, you get a little fresh watermelon, too?
14:45 Oh, yeah, that's also --
14:46 that's one of the new things that we've gotten this year,
14:48 and so I think it's been really helpful for us
14:50 during our break, just to get replenished.
14:53 Yeah, it reminds me of Little League, like it helps, huh?