Florida four-star LS/TE Hudson Traeger drawing attention at college camps

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Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG

Every position on the gridiron is of importance but one in particular seems to be the most overlooked yet is a key part of every game – long snapper. NFL Films entertained audiences in the 90’s pouring back over special team miscues watching hack snappers try to spin the ball back to punters and holders with comedic outcomes, outcomes that cost teams wins. The spot is being honed, and thanks to rising stars like Hudson Traeger (6-4, 230) at the position, bad snaps and missed opportunities on the field are being erased from the game.

Some centers can long snap, but most move aside for the ringers with deadeye accuracy and speed. The position also calls for more athleticism, especially on punts, requiring snappers to get downfield as part of the coverage – Traeger has that covered.

“A lot of long snappers are not as big as me,” Traeger said. “A good amount of high school long snappers are just long snappers; they don’t play other positions or another sport. I am versatile. I played on the defensive line my first two years, and I have played on the offensive line and tight end; I am versatile on the field.”

Suiting up for Florida’s Venice High School, the Kohl’s four-star snapper will be called upon to do more than his specialty.

“As a tight end, I am learning the routes, getting faster and stronger, hitting the weight room, and doing speed work,” Traeger stated. “I went to the FSU and Ole Miss tight end camps.”

The camps with the Seminoles and Rebels furthered Traeger’s knowledge of the position.

“I learned more of the route tree, learned about blocking techniques, and about footwork at both of those camps,” Traeger shared.

The years of playing basketball are helping the 2024 prospect at tight end.

“I started playing some tight end at Parish-Bradenton, and I am also a basketball player,” Traeger said. “I also played baseball up to last year. Basketball has helped with jumping, running, boxing out, and my footwork.”

Asked his fastest snap time, Traeger replied, “My top snap time hand-clocked was a .67.”

That snapping speed and accuracy has been showcased at multiple college camps this summer.

Hudson Traeger at an Ole Miss camp.

“I was at Ole Miss, USF (South Florida), Florida, TCU, and Pitt; I was invited to all of those camps,” Traeger shared. “I also snapped for FSU after their camp with a special teams assistant.”

Working in front of the Gators’ staff, Traeger snapped out.

“To my knowledge I had the highest snap charting on long snaps and was the most accurate,” Traeger stated. “I performed well on the short snaps, all snaps, running downfield in coverage, my footwork, and tackling the dummy. I had great times with that.”

In addition to all the campuses visited for camps, Traeger has also made the rounds this offseason to Western Carolina and Clemson, where he met with the Tigers’ coaching staff and watched a practice. An SEC team is ready to bring the four-star to campus this fall.

“I am going up to Ole Miss in September for a game and to visit the school,” Traeger shared.

Two more opportunities to spin the ball at camps could pop up on Traeger’s itinerary this summer.

“As of right now, I have no more camps scheduled but that could change,” Traeger said. “I have been invited to Penn and Cornell; I might go to one of those camps.”

Competing at a Kohl’s Future Stars Camp, Traeger finished third in the 2024 class in charting score.

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