The top 100 FSU football players: No. 29— offensive lineman Rodney Hudson

The most decorated offensive lineman in Florida State football history can now add another honor to his collection: Tomahawk Nation has named him the program’s 29th-best player in its history. Hailing from Mobile, Alabama, Rodney Hudson held things together along the FSU offensive line during its toughest stretch in modern history.

Hudson came to Bobby Bowden’s Seminoles in 2007 and immediately contributed on the left side of the line. He started ten of thirteen games that season and earned Freshman All-American and Second Team All-ACC honors.

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From 2008-2010, Hudson was a First Team All-ACC performer. He also won the Jacobs Trophy in 2009 and 2010, which is given to the conference’s best blocker. Rodney was a First Team All-American in both of those years as well and was an Unanimous All-American during his senior season.

Although slightly undersized at 6’2” 285, Hudson constantly impressed his coaches and fellow players with his work ethic and pure football ability. As Christian Ponder said during Hudson’s senior year, “He’s definitely the best player on the team . . . Hardly says a word but goes out and takes care of business. A guy that never makes mistakes.” Jimbo Fisher added that Hudson was one of the best he had ever coached. Hudson graded out at an absurd 87% during his senior year and was only penalized once in over 800 snaps. In fact, he was not penalized until 20 games into his college career.

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Rodney arrived at FSU during the height of the “Lost Decade,” and the ‘Noles went just 33-20 during his four seasons in Tallahassee. He departed just as Fisher was beginning to turn the corner with his FSU program. While Hudson’s tenure at FSU was somewhat unfortunately timed, fans can only imagine how much worse this stretch could have been without an absolute anchor on the left side of the offensive line.

Rodney was drafted in the second round of the 2011 draft by Kansas City. He played center for the Chiefs for four seasons before signing with the Raiders in 2016. Hudson made back-to-back Pro Bowls in 2016 and 2017. Pro Football Focus calls him the best pass-blocking center in the NFL, and he continues to make FSU fans proud every Sunday afternoon.