Scouting Report: Hudson Lewis

 

Scouting Report: Hudson Lewis — Speed, Toughness, and Three Years of Ascending Tape

When you turn on Hudson Lewis’s Hudl film from sophomore year to now, you don’t just see a player growing physically. You see a player who keeps adding layers. More speed. More versatility. More football polish. More trust from his coaches. He has one of the clearest and most consistent upward trajectories in the 2026 wide receiver class — and that growth curve is exactly why Oregon moved late to land him.

This is a player who got noticeably better every season.

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PHYSICAL/ATHLETIC PROFILE

Verified Speed:
10.5–10.61 100m speed is the defining trait in his athletic profile. But what stands out on film is how that track speed translates directly into football-specific acceleration — instant burst through the line, decisive one-cut explosiveness, and the ability to erase pursuit angles.

Frame:
5-foot-10, ~175 pounds. Lean build with room for another 10+ pounds without sacrificing twitch. Plays denser than he measures.

Explosiveness:
Elite first step. Sudden stop-start. Strong ground force in his plant foot makes his directional changes violent.

Functional Strength:
Noticeable uptick between sophomore → junior → senior tape. Better contact balance, sturdier through arm tackles, and more willingness to block.

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YEAR-BY-YEAR DEVELOPMENT

SOPHOMORE SEASON — Raw Speed, Natural Instincts, and Early Versatility

Sophomore Lewis is a raw athlete with obvious gifts. The speed is already there — long-striding acceleration, immediate separation on verticals, and the kind of north-south burst that makes slow-developing plays look easy.

What stands out on sophomore tape:

• Pure athlete: His movements look unrefined but natural — very little wasted motion, even before he knows how to run full routes.
• Ball tracking upside: Several plays show a developing ability to adjust downfield and locate the ball over DBs.
• Instinctive runner: Once the ball is in his hands, he disappears into space. Vision is natural; movement is smooth, not forced.
• Two-way ability: Early glimpses of his defensive instincts — closing speed, angles, willingness to hit.

Limitations at this stage:

• Routes lack definition; mostly speed-go’s, simple crossers, bubble screens.
• Strength not developed yet; gets knocked off landmark by physical DBs.
• Every big play is dependent on raw athleticism rather than technique.

Overall:
A fast, instinctive athlete who pops off the screen but is still figuring out how to be a wide receiver.

Sophomore Film: 

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JUNIOR SEASON — The Breakout: Production, Suddenness, and a Player Becoming “The Guy”

 

The jump from sophomore to junior year is substantial — this is where Lewis becomes a legitimate Power 4 prospect.

New elements that emerge:

• Route refinement: He’s now selling vertical stems, widening DBs, and using head fakes. Break points are sharper.
• Acceleration through contact: Not just running fast — running strong. He fights through reach tackles and uses momentum better.
• Expanded usage: Jet sweeps, motion looks, slot routes, boundary fades, even defensive snaps where he shows real ball skills.
• Toughness: Blocks with purpose. Doesn’t avoid contact. Finishes runs forward.
• Suddenness: The short-area quickness takes a major leap. His first three steps are now electric.

Production tells the story:
Over 1,000 receiving yards, 14 receiving touchdowns, and touchdowns as a rusher, passer, and returner. The coaching staff clearly starts building the offense around him.

Overall:
The junior tape is when Lewis stops looking like a fast kid playing football and starts looking like a football player with real receiver craft and elite speed.

Junior Film:  

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SENIOR SEASON — Complete Player, Heavy Usage, and High-Level Playmaking

His senior tape is the culmination of everything: the speed, the versatility, the toughness, the comfort in multiple roles, and the football IQ.

This is the most complete version of Lewis so far.

What jumps off the senior film:

1. He’s a true “jack of all trades.”

He plays:

• Outside receiver
• Slot receiver
• Quarterback (after an injury to the starter)
• Kick returner
• Safety
• Gadget runner
• Motion-trigger mismatch piece

The volume of roles he handles — and the confidence with which he handles them — is rare.

2. The speed is now paired with polish.

• Crisper footwork in releases
• Better tempo changes within routes
• More patience setting up leverage
• Stronger hands at the catch point
• More advanced understanding of space

There are multiple plays where he manipulates a DB before releasing vertically. That didn’t exist two years ago.

3. Play strength has noticeably improved.

He now bounces off contact instead of being redirected by it.
He finishes runs like a running back, not a slight receiver.
He blocks aggressively — and wins.

4. The defensive film adds real value.

His tackling technique is surprisingly polished:

• Square hips
• Good angles
• Explosive closing speed
• Solid strike point

His ball skills show up on both sides — multiple interceptions where he high points the ball or jumps routes decisively.

5. His quarterback snaps reveal football IQ.

The move to quarterback changed the nature of his tape:

• Reads space quickly
• Understands pursuit
• Knows where leverage advantages exist
• Finds creases instantly
• Shows off his toughness — lowering his shoulder when needed

You see a player who doesn’t just run fast — he processes fast.

Overall:
As a senior, Lewis is a multipurpose weapon who can create explosive plays from anywhere on the field. He is clearly the smartest, most mature version of himself yet, and he’s used like a high school version of De’Anthony Thomas or Curtis Samuel — a positionless offensive weapon who breaks games open with athleticism and awareness.

Senior Highlights Weeks 1–3:

Senior Highlights Weeks 4–6:

 

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TRAIT-BY-TRAIT EVALUATION

Speed:

Outstanding. Easily Power 4 caliber. Tracks as a future main return option.

Acceleration:

Elite first-step. His short-area burst is one of the best features of his game.

Route Running:

Improving rapidly. Not yet fully refined, but his trajectory is promising — far ahead of where most sub-6-foot burners are as recruits.

Hands / Ball Skills:

Natural hands catcher. Stronger at the catch point every season. Tracks the deep ball well.

Versatility:

One of the most versatile offensive players in the West.
Can play: Z, slot, gadget, returner, and depth safety.

Competitiveness / Toughness:

Off the charts. He plays with an edge — blocks aggressively, finishes runs, tackles like a safety.

Football IQ:

Senior film shows major maturation. He understands leverage, spacing, pursuit, and DB tendencies.

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OVERALL PROJECTION FOR OREGON 

Early Role:

• Return game
• Motion and jet package weapon
• Deep-shot rotational receiver
• Situational gadget plays
• Special teams ace

Year 2–3 Outlook:

• Reliable slot or Z rotation player
• Potential matchup-specific starter
• Adds a vertical speed element Oregon will need post-Bair/Bryant/Benson
• High-upside red zone mismatch due to burst and timing

Ceiling Comp:

A hybrid of:

• Kaden Wetjen (return/slot explosiveness)
• Kenjon Barner’s urgency with the ball in his hands
• A smaller, faster version of Charles Nelson’s versatility

Floor:

Valuable special teams contributor and deep-rotation slot.

Most likely outcome:

An offensive weapon who earns trust early through special teams and toughness, then grows into an electric rotational receiver with potential to become a full-time starter by Year 2–3.

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FINAL SUMMARY

Hudson Lewis’s film is one of the most compelling developmental arcs in the 2026 class. His sophomore tape showed a raw, blazing athlete. His junior film revealed a rising playmaker who became a focal point of his offense. His senior film shows a complete, multidimensional football player who can win with speed, toughness, intelligence, and adaptability.

It’s the kind of growth curve that matters more than the ranking.

And it’s the exact kind of growth curve Oregon has made a living betting on — and getting right.