GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Forest Hills Central High School football star Ty Hudkins always dreamed of playing college football.
On Wednesday, he put pen to paper as he signed with Purdue. He was previously committed to Northwestern.
"It is also great to be able to finally say I am officially going to be a Purdue Boilermaker," Hudkins said. "It's crazy. It is great to say."
Playing at the Division 1 level was not just a dream, but his destiny.
The three-star recruit grew up on the football field thanks to his dad, who has coached for over 30 years. Hudkins was a water boy for the Rangers when he was too young to suit up and all he ever thought about was playing football.
"I have been born into the game," Hudkins said. "It is in my blood. I've always loved it. It's all I wanted to do growing up. It's all I want to do now and I am going to do that. I loved watching football growing up as well. Watching the Big Ten was always my favorite conference to watch, old school run the ball football and just being able to say I am playing in it is crazy."
What's even crazier is the love he has received along the ride. Hudkins is forever grateful to be a part of the Forest Hills Central community.
"This moment was really cool not just for myself, but to see all of the people around me who have helped me and guided me out this way," Hudkins said. "To see them all here supporting me and that they are still going to support me throughout even though I am not going to be playing for Central again, I'll be playing for Purdue, it's just crazy. I am blessed to have them there."
However, the future Boilermaker knows a lot of work is ahead of him. He hopes he can make an impact right away.
"I hope to see the field early," Hudkins said. "They said if you come in here and you do your business and be the player that we think you are, you have a good shot to play early. That is my goal but my goal is to also help Purdue become a football powerhouse again."
The safety believes that can happen with Purdue head coach Ryan Walters, who will enter his second season in West Lafayette in 2024.
"The coaching staff is really unique," Hudkins said. "All of my coaches my entire life have been really old, like dad, father figures. These guys at Purdue are in their upper 20s, lower 30s. It's going to be really cool. I think it is really cool to be able to be coached by younger guys."
Hudkins is ready to do whatever it takes at the next level.
"They are getting a guy that will do anything to win," Hudkins said. "That plays hard for his coaches and his teammates but a guy that can play a lot of different positions on defense as well."
The state champion football player admits he grew up a fan of the Michigan Wolverines and many of his family members attended Michigan State. He always thought maybe he would play in state, however, he is glad to be going to Purdue.
"The schools that did not show a ton of interest in me, I am going to show you guys why you should have offered me," Hudkins said. "I am going to prove you guys wrong."
Hudkins will not enroll early as he is on the Forest Hills Central basketball team.
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