Former Elon Phoenix football standout receiver Terrell Hudgins was honored with the retirement of his jersey prior to Elon’s October 2 game. Standing at mid-field, Hudgins received a framed jersey from Dave Blank, director of athletics. The crowd responded with a standing ovation in recognition of Hudgins' football achievements.
Hudgins, a member of the Phoenix football team from 2005-09, graduated as the holder of 19 NCAA, Southern Conference or Elon records. He is the all-time NCAA Division I leader in career receiving yards (5,250), career receptions (395), career 100-yard receiving games (28) and career 1,000-yard receiving seasons (4). Four of the records broke by Hudgins during his illustrious career belonged to the legendary Jerry Rice, including the receiving yards mark which Hudgins surpassed at Western Carolina in 2009.
Hudgins twice led the nation in both receptions per game and receiving yards per game. As a sophomore in 2007, Hudgins averaged 10.6 catches per contest and 134.0 receiving yards per outing. He then averaged 10.3 grabs and 136.1 yards per game as he helped the Phoenix to a 9-3 campaign and the program’s first-ever FCS Playoff appearance in 2009.
In 2009, Hudgins finished second in the voting for the Walter Payton Award that is presented to the top player at the FCS level. He also earned Elon’s Stein H. Basnight Award as the top male athlete at the university in both 2007-08 and 2009-10.
During his four seasons in the maroon and gold, Hudgins collected first-team all-league honors from the SoCon’s coaches three times and from the league’s media all four years. He was named the SoCon Player of the Week on three occasions and the league’s player of the month twice. Hudgins was a three-time first-team member of the Walter Camp Football Foundation All-America Team, a two-time AP All-American and a two-time first-team All-America pick by The Sports Network.
Video from the ceremony can be found in the column to the right.