RICHMOND, Ky. - Eastern Kentucky University football coach Roy Kidd has announced the signing of outstanding runningback C. J. Hudson of Frostproof (FL) High School.

Hudson, 5-7, 185, led coach Bill Pierstorff's Frostproof High team to the Class AA state championship this past year. His four-year career rushing total topped 7,000 yards, despite playing backup as a freshman to the University of Tennessee's star tailback Travis Henry.

"We are really impressed with C.J. He reminds me a lot of Elroy Harris, only faster and quicker," said Kidd. "The thing I like about him is he can hit the home run (break a long run) on you. He has good moves and breaks a lot of tackles. He's a real jewel."

As a senior, Hudson rushed the ball 397 times for 2,396 yards and 22 touchdowns. He also caught four passes for 70 yards and a score and, while playing on the other side of the ball at defensive back, came up with 22 solo tackles, one interception and returned one fumble for a TD.

He finished his four-year career as the all-time leading rusher in Polk County, a county that this year produced nine schools that went to the playoffs and two schools that won state championships.

Hudson also finished his career as the third all-time leading rusher in Florida state high school history, behind 2000 University of Florida signee Willie Green and former Gator and All-Pro Emmitt Smith of the Dallas Cowboys.

The signing of Hudson brings the number of EKU signees to 17 this signing period.