Linebacker Khaleke Hudson joins the New Orleans Saints fresh off a career year eager to join a veteran linebacker room with their always being "room on his plate" to continue learning.
Hudson signed with the Saints after having spent the first four years of his career with the Washington Commanders, appearing in all 17 contests in 2023, starting a career-high eight games, totaling a career-best 71 tackles (42 solo), five tackles for loss, one sack, two passes defensed and three special teams stops. Hudson said he's eager to show what he can do on defense and special teams.
"I'm very excited for the opportunity," Hudson said earlier in the offseason on the New Orleans Saints podcast. "I'm excited for my next chapter and I'm just blessed and I'm grateful to be in this position."
Hudson, 6 feet and 220 pounds, ended the 2023 season on a strong note with four straight double-digit tackle games, tallying 54 tackles (30 solo) in those contests.
"I think, starting week five, I was getting sprinkled in a little bit, but injuries really helped me get my real opportunities the last four games of the season where I was able to start and I really feel like I took full advantage of them opportunities, but I feel like I have more to show and I'm really excited to be able to do that with the Saints, potentially do that, and just bring all that energy down to New Orleans."
Hudson, a self-described "football fanatic" said he is eager to join the Saints linebacker room.
"I'm just so excited to join that room and be surrounded by some guys who love ball the same way as I love ball and just being able to grow and learn from them guys and be able to teach them guys something if they have questions for me as well," the 26-year-old said. "So, like I said, I'm very excited to be heading down to New Orleans and joining that organization and being a part of something special."
Hudson mentioned getting to be in the room alongside linebackers Demario Davis, Pete Werner and Willie Gay Jr. in particular and that there is "never enough" to learn.
"I'm always a guy who's willing to take in, ideas to take in things that other people do, things that can help me in my game, so my plate is never full. There's always room on my plate for me to learn and to become better. Like I said, I'm excited to learn from them and be in the same room as them guys."
Hudson attended Michigan where he played four years primarily at the "viper" position, a hybrid linebacker and safety role where he appeared in 52 games and accumulated 225 tackles (114 solo), 11 stops for loss, 10 sacks, two interceptions, 14 passes defensed, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery, earning all All-Big 10 honors twice.
The former Wolverine will have to share a locker room with four players from the rival Ohio State Buckeyes in Werner, wide receiver Chris Olave, cornerback Marshon Lattimore and defensive end Chase Young, but Hudson said he's comfortable given the Wolverines recent success over the Buckeyes as well as having former Wolverines teammate guard/center Cesar Ruiz backing him up.
"The past couple of times we played them, we've been on the winning side," he said. "So, I'm standing tall. I got some bragging rights right now, so I'm coming down there with my chest poking out."
Hudson has six siblings as well as a daughter and said he is all about family.
"That's what I live by," Hudson said. "That's what's important to me, my family."
In his free time, Hudson said he plays video games and has an extensive football card collection including cards of players from multiple teams and dating to players from the '90s.
"I'm really deep into it," Hudson said. "I've been collecting it for a long time, so that's definitely one of my top hobbies that I've been doing for the majority of my life."
Hudson named former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis as his favorite linebacker.
"The way he played, the attention to detail, the leadership, the grind, just everything about how he played the game, I try to mimic that how I play on the field and being athletic and being just being a dog," he said.
As for what he hopes to bring to the Saints locker room, Hudson said he's going to bring a tenacity to the group every day.
"I'm going to be the same person every day," he said. "I'm going to bring energy. I'm going to lift the guys around me up, never bring anybody down. I'm always going to carry my teammates and I'm going to be loyal. I'm all about winning, I'm all about doing the right things, and I'm all about family. I'm all about faith. So, I'm going to bring all the things to the locker room and I'm excited for an opportunity."
