Five-star WRs Micah Hudson, Bryant Wesco both excel in Friday night game

BELTON, Texas — One of the star-studded games on the schedule over the weekend featured district rivals clashing at the Lake, a contest that included a pair of five-star wide receivers in Micah Hudson and Bryant Wesco, who are not only Nos. 1 and 2 in the Lone Star State among wideouts but among the best five at the position nationwide.

Additionally, the game featured On300 Arkansas-bound CB Selman Bridges, one of the top big corners in the nation for Temple (Texas) Lake Belton.

On3 National Recruiting Analyst Sam Spiegelman was on hand for the action Friday at the Lake. Here are some thoughts from the contest:

Five-Star Plus+ WR Micah Hudson – Texas Tech

Five-star Plus+ WR Micah Hudson was absolutely charged up and in rare form against Midlothian. The 6-foot, 195-pound playmaker is twitched up and a polished route-runner. Facing a series of double- and triple-teams, Hudson continued to win on jump balls downfield and also in traffic in the red zone. He has fantastic hands, and for this analyst, belongs in that Mount Rushmore along with Jarvis Landry and DeVonta Smith as far as the best hands by a prospect evaluated live.

Hudson also is a combat-catch machine. He makes receptions and absorbs contact at an extremely high clip. Despite being sub-200 pounds, his physical style allows him to maneuver in traffic and also translates to his yards-after-catch production. In the open field, Hudson is as dangerous as anyone in the country.

Hudson turned 11 catches into 141 yards, including two phenomenal 12-yard touchdown receptions. One coach on the opposing sideline said this of this WR: “He’ll continue to give every DC and DB coach a headache in preparation. Heck of a ball player. Looking forward to seeing him excel with the Red Raiders.” Echoing a comparison from colleague and On3 National Scout Cody Bellaire, Hudson’s game draws a lot of parallels to that of Ja’Marr Chase. By the way, Bellaire was in LSU’s scouting department when the Tigers recruited Chase out of Metairie (La.) Archbishop Rummel.

Five-star WR Bryant Wesco – Clemson

One of the more toolsy wide receivers in the nation out of the Dallas Metroplex, Wesco is an absolutely outstanding route runner. At 6-foot-3 and 175 pounds, Wesco was able to generate separation on his routes, make catches away from his body and also make plays after the fact. Wesco will play on Saturdays closer to 190 pounds, and if Friday’s showing as a runner after the catch was any indication, he’s going to be a force in the Clemson offense.

Wesco, a decorated high school track and field athlete, looks the part with his blend of speed and size in space, not to mention his nose for the end zone, which was on display twice in this game as the long-strider found the end zone twice on touchdowns of 11 and 64.

We are just beginning to see glimpses of what Wesco is capable of. The Clemson-bound WR finished with three receptions for 112 yards and showcased all the traits of a future WR1-level playmaker on the perimeter. Wesco fits the profile of the elite wide receivers Dabo Swinney is used to bringing into Clemson. If Clemson is going to get back to their heights on offense, it’ll be with pieces like Wesco.

Four-star CB Selman Bridges – Arkansas

There are few big corners that fit the bill like Bridges, who at 6-foot-3 and 180 pounds, brings extraordinary length and advantages in coverage. The Arkansas commit out of Central Texas went 1-on-1 against Wesco, which naturally had wins for both blue-chip prospects. Bridges is extremely disciplined and moves easily covering downfield and anticipating on routes.

Bridges reminds this analyst a ton of former South Carolina DB Israel Mukuamu, who played some safety and corner at Bossier City (La.) Parkway and flashed quietly before eventually finding his stride on Saturdays and now, on Sundays. Like Mukuamu, who was also long and provided some position flexibility, Bridges is another defensive back who could follow a similar trajectory in Fayetteville under the tutelage of Deron Wilson and Marcus Woodson.