Freshman DL with a sturdy frame and real two-way pedigree
Jaden Hudgins-Key enters Southern Illinois as a 6-foot-3, 250-pound freshman defensive lineman with a strong high-school résumé: a three-time two-way starter, two-time DII-AAA All-State selection, and a shot put standout who finished fifth at state. In the 2026 season, public stat trackers list him as active but show no available college game stats yet, so the appeal is projection: size, leverage, and an edge honed from playing both sides of the ball. If your team wants a developmental trench athlete with upside and toughness, he’s a name worth tracking.
