PHILLY AREA HAS ANOTHER GREAT LINEBACKER IN THE WINGS-ROMAN'S WALTER HUDSON, JR.
- Al Thompson
- May 29
- 5 min read
Delaware Valley high schools have produced some exciting edge rushers/linebackers for the NFL over the past ten seasons or so.
Eagles’ fans remember Haason Reddick from Temple and Haddon Heights high school. He's an All Pro who helped the Birds win an NFC title in 2022.
This year, two quarterback hunters from the area were selected in the first round of the NFL draft.
LaSalle College High School’s Abdul Carter was taken with the third overall pick by the New York Football Giants after staring at Penn State.
Timber Creek’s Jihaad Campbell was selected by the Eagles with the No. 31 overall pick after a terrific career at Alabama.
So when Roman Catholic sophomore linebacker Walter Hudson, Jr. helped the Cahillites reel off five consecutive playoff wins after finishing the regular season 6-4, then receive four scholarship offers from programs that include Temple, Akron, UMass and Syracuse (as reported by his dad Walter Hudson, Sr.) , it is easy to see why high school football fans and observers are already sizing up a player with two full high school seasons left to play.
While it isn’t fair and way too soon for us to do any serious comparisons between Hudson and area players at his position who have had success at the next two levels, it can’t hurt to look at the potential of the 6-foot-1, 221-pounder out of Penns Grove, NJ.
Longtime trainer Chad Hallett of Adrenaline Sport Performance in Cherry Hill, who trained all three players mentioned at the start of this article, seems just as excited about Hudson as he was for Reddick, Carter and Campbell.
“I've had the privilege of working with Walt for over six years and have witnessed his remarkable transformation,” Hallett told Footballstories. “With his impressive size, athleticism, and tireless work ethic, the possibilities for his future are endless. Walt embodies the same dedication and perseverance as many successful players who have come before him, here at Adrenaline and it's exciting to think about the incredible potential that lies ahead for him.”
Hudson said he likes going to Adrenaline, most of the time accompanied with his father Walter Sr.
“(Chad Hallett ) helps me become more explosive,” Hudson, Jr. said. “They have a lot of great equipment there.”
Hudson's coach Rick Prete was much more blunt with his appraisal of the younger Hudson.
“We are looking for Walter to be who is, and in my opinion he is the best linebacker in Philadelphia, playing in a league with some really talented guys,” Prete in an email response to Footballstories. “He brings great intensity and physicality to our team and is someone we will rely on to set the tone for us.”
Prete would not say what specific college programs are recruiting Hudson.
Roman is stacked going into 2025. Many players are being looked at.
Prete talked about the attention his team is getting.
“Regarding what schools have come in, nearly every school in the country has been in our building to see our players,” Prete said. “Alabama, Michigan, Penn State, Ohio State, Syracuse and many more. It would be faster for me to list who hasn’t been in the building.”
It seems 2024 was a season where the Cahillites needed time to gel as the season progressed. They did and Prete's players went in a run that come up just short of a state title.
Hudson talked about the season in general.
“During last summer, we lost a couple coaches; then they brought in some new coaches,” Hudson Jr. said at a recent interview at Adrenaline Sports Performance in Cherry Hill, NJ. “It was rocky at first because we didn't know what kind of defense we were going to run.
“Then we played some really tough teams. We played a national schedule at the beginning and came out 3-1 against them. Then we lost to Bonner…that was tough. But we got back at it.”
Roman started out 4-0 with blowout wins over Neumann-Goretti, St. John's and Randolph Campus. The Cahillites edged a tough Malvern Prep team 21-17 before suffering back-to-back losses to national program DeMatha and eventual PIAA 4A State Champion Bonner/Prendie.
Roman then notched blowout wins over Cardinal O'Hara and Father Judge before losing to nationally ranked St. Joe's Prep and LaSalle College High School to end the regular season 6-4.
The Cahillites then reeled off five consecutive PIAA District 12 and 5A playoff games before losing to Bishop McDevitt-Harrisburg in the championship game in overtime, 34-31.
Hudson was asked what he thought happened that triggered the five consecutive playoff wins and berth in championship game.
“I think losing those games got us going for the playoffs and make it to the state finals,” Hudson said.
The junior-to-be talked about teammates he expects to come back and be ready to take the final step of hanging a banner.
Hudson's first mention was quarterback Semaj Beals, who according to 247sports.com, has 22 scholarship offers going into his senior season including Alabama, Penn State, Colorado, Nebraska and Syracuse.
“He’s a great quarterback,” Hudson said. “He led our offense and will only get better next year.”
Hudson also talked about other teammates including DB Andrew Woods , Eyan Stead (WR/DB), Justus Gaskin (DB) and two way standout DB/RB JoJo Delecce, who, like Hudson, is entering his junior season.
Hudson talked about head coach Rick Prete
“Love him,” said Hudson, who lists Saquon Barkley as his favorite Eagle and Carolina Panthers retired linebacker legend Luke Kuechly as favorite NFL player. “Great guy. He helped me a lot throughout the season, getting into the playbook, making sure I am doing the right things on an off the field.”
Hudson was asked what he thinks needs to improve to get to get Roman Catholic where it wants to go.
“Our discipline has to be better,” Hudson said. “On offense and defense, we can’t be jumping off sides.” Referring to pre-snap penalties. “We have to fix that.”
Hudson continued.
“Our communication between ourselves has to be better. We have to know who has who. We need to be better at reading our keys.”
Hudson was asked if he would like to play both ways in 2025, “I’m up for it,” he said with a smile.
Did Coach Prete talk to him about it? Hudson said Prete worked him at running back at practice during the six-week post season. But did not see the field on offense in a game...yet.
“We had some injuries on offense during the playoffs…and coach had me take some snaps at running back.”
Hudson said he is looking forward to 2025 with a confident eye on the prize.
"We’re going to make it next year.” *
Email Al Thompson at al.thompson@footballstories.com
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