DAVENPORT, Fla. — Bruce Judson was a dual-threat quarterback last year for his high school team. The nation’s No. 12 overall athlete basically threw himself into the mix at receiver on Sunday at the Nike Football Opening regional qualifier.
The camp serves as an audition event for the shoe giant’s elite all-star combine this summer. The four-star prospect just wanted to compete so he took on a position he’s not used to, but was named as one of the elite receivers at the event.
The junior prospect was at one time committed to Ohio State, but backed off the pledge. The 5-foot-10, 190-pounder told DawgNation that he was very interested in UGA, but also said the staff has a very specific fit in mind for what his 4.41 speed in the 40-yard dash can do.
“They want me to play running back so I can have a good opportunity to play right away,” Judson said. “They want me to come in and play right away my freshman year because they have got two backs that are about to leave for the draft.”
Judson says he hears from about 4-5 different UGA staff members regularly in his direct messages on Twitter. He plans to come up this spring even though the staff is open to him coming up for a visit anytime.
“Georgia is there among my top schools for a reason,” Judson said. “I don’t have an order, but they are in my top. Nobody is ahead of them. I don’t have anybody ahead of anyone else at the top.”
The bulk of his offers have been as an athlete so the UGA offer is unique.
“I just want to get on the field fast and the way they are talking that will be as fast as possible and that’s what I like,” Judson. “That’s what I am looking for and Georgia has really put out some real dogs at running back. With (Todd) Gurley, (Nick) Chubb and Sony (Michel), they show you got to be a dog to play there at Georgia. If it all works out, then I think I could be another dog there, too. I really like to play and I’m not trying to sit out my freshman year. Anywhere I can get on the field right away is where I want to play.”
Judson thought about wearing some UGA gear on Sunday, but opted for Florida stuff instead.
“Georgia has really been recruiting me hard,” Judson said. “They’ve been recruiting me even harder since the new staff came on board. Everybody has been talking to me on that staff. .. They see I move well and I’m quick and fast. I think from this past season they saw me break a lot of tackles at quarterback because I put on a lot of weight and muscle. I still kept my speed so I think that’s why they want me at running back instead of receiver.”
The Cocoa High School (Cocoa, Fla.) standout wants to major in sports medicine and sports therapy. He said the de-commitment from Ohio State last October likely means he’ll wait until National Signing Day before he makes another pledge.
“I’m not trying to get into what I had with Ohio State again,” Judson said. “That ‘oh yeah I really want you and then they fade away’ stuff. I want a relationship with a school the whole way consistently to signing day. I don’t want that part-time relationship with the coaches. I want a full-time relationship where they make sure they always take the time to talk to me and my family.”
Judson said he is already friendly with Sony Michel and Riley Ridley at UGA right now.
“The last time I was up there Sony told me UGA was a good school and a great fit for him,” Judson said. “Especially because me and Sony are like the same size. You know how when you get into college they put all that muscle on you, but when I was there he didn’t look too much bigger than me. He has that weight program going for him.” Unless otherwise indicated, player rankings and ratings are from the 247Sports Composite.
Jeff Sentell covers UGA football and UGA recruiting for AJC.com and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Follow him on Twitter for the latest on who’s on their way to play Between the Hedges.