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95 Days Away From College Football Kickoff

95 Days Away From College Football Kickoff

Another exciting set of football players to continue our countdown to kickoff. Today we have Bubba Smith and Gordon Hudson. We are now 95 Days Away From College Football Kickoff.

Bubba Smith Days Away From College Football Kickoff

No. 95: Bubba Smith, DE, Michigan State

Bubba Smith got off to a strong start in life. His father, Willie Ray Smith, was a respected high school coach in Texas, a state known for its football, and his mother earned two college degrees. Bubba learned the game from his father in Beaumont, Texas, and became a two-time All-America defensive end at Michigan State in 1965 and 1966.
Many people see Smith as the best player in Michigan State football history. He was named All-American twice and helped the Spartans win national titles in 1965 and 1966. Standing 6-7 and weighing 266 pounds, Smith was a powerful presence and nearly unstoppable in college.
During those years, Michigan State won the MacArthur Bowl once and shared it with Notre Dame another time. The MacArthur Bowl is given each year by the National Football Foundation to the national champion. Smith was the first draft pick for the Baltimore Colts and became an all-pro. He also played for Oakland and Houston during his ten-year pro career. In the 1980s, Bubba found success as an actor in movies and TV, especially in “Police Academy” and “Blue Thunder.” Smith was always a big man—he played at 6-7 and 283 pounds in college, and as a pro, he weighed over 300 pounds. He became well known as a speaker to youth groups, saying, “I take my parents with me, to demonstrate my respect for them.” Smith called his election to the College Football Hall of Fame “The jewel in my crown, for my collegiate days were very special to me.”

95 Days Away From College Football Kickoff

Another Great #95 Gordon Hudson

Gordon Hudson played under College Football Hall of Fame Coach LaVell Edwards and helped BYU win four WAC titles. He also contributed to three Holiday Bowl victories in four straight appearances.

Hudson was named a unanimous First Team All-American in both 1982 and 1983. He set NCAA records for most passes caught per game by a tight end (5.4), most career yards per game by a tight end (75.3), and most yards in a game by a tight end (259 against Utah).  

In his sophomore year at BYU, Hudson caught passes from Hall of Famer Jim McMahon. He started at tight end that season and earned All-WAC Second Team honors, along with honorable mention All-America recognition. He also tied the NCAA record for receptions by a tight end in a season with 67.

During Hudson’s junior season, Hall of Famer Steve Young became the Cougars’ starting quarterback. That year, Hudson was the only unanimous All-WAC selection and earned the first of his back-to-back unanimous First Team All-America honors.

In his senior year, Hudson and Young combined for an NCAA-record 44 catches and six touchdowns, despite Hudson missing time due to injury. For the second year in a row, he earned All-WAC First Team and unanimous First Team All-America honors.

Hudson was picked in the first round of the 1984 NFL Supplemental Draft by the Seattle Seahawks. He spent two seasons with the Los Angeles Express in the USFL (1984-85) and played one season with the Seahawks in 1986.

See y’all tomorrow for more of the countdown to college football kickoff.

Editor’s Note: The countdown to college football kickoff has been a series on the Last Word on College Football social media platforms for the past 9 years.  They consisted of a photo and a small blurb for each player, with the jersey corresponding to the number of days until kickoff.  The rank of the players is sourced from articles by Bleacher Report, Fox Sports, and The Athletic. There are also some favorite players of the Last Word on College Football writers.  Their bios are sourced from multiple online sources, including but not limited to the College Football Hall of Fame, their Heisman profiles, and school websites. 

Main Photo: Malcolm Emmons-Imagn Images

About Kate Pearson Halyburton, Editor

Kate was born in Wisconsin and raised in Texas where she fell in love with all things football. She coached high school football for 12 years. (boys varsity high school, linebackers) She is a 24-year member of The American Football Coaches Association. She is single and lives in the DFW area with her dachshunds Ollie, Cooper, and Dobby. She has been writing for eight years and an editor for five years, and she loves to talk football!

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