Zerian Hudson - Staying the Course

Change. Adversity. Triumph. These are all things Zerian Hudson has experienced over his football career.  

The senior offensive lineman was recruited out of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in 2023. Hudson announced his commitment to Troy following a visit that season.

Later, former head coach Jon Sumrall announced his departure, and Troy announced Gerad Parker as the new man to lead the team on Dec.18, 2023.  

Despite the changes, Hudson officially signed with the Trojans just two days later. 

“When I talked with Coach Parker, he kept things very honest with me,” Hudson said. “He said even though the staff had changed, the mission remained the same.  

“If I wanted to succeed, I’d need to put my head down and work.” 

Hard work was something Hudson was all too familiar with already. Spending two years at a junior college, he knew how much effort was needed to move up into the Division I level. 

“JUCO helped me develop that mindset and process of training to get better and better,” Hudson said. “It of course helped me prepare for Division I, but even more it helped me to learn and understand the game itself.” 

It took many years for the Brookhaven, Mississippi native to get to where he is now. He always knew he’d get his chance though and showed it through a simple saying: “Mi Hora llegará,” or in English, “my time will come.” 

“To me, it means that even though you never know when it is, my time will come,” Hudson said. “You just have to always be prepared for when the opportunity arrives.” 

Now a senior and a leader among the offensive line group, Hudson tries to share that mentality to his teammates. 

“I try to bring a level of excitement with my guys when I can,” Hudson said. “I know what it’s like to deal with a lot of the ‘down’ moments and help to remind them that everything will be alright, and the training all pays off.”

The payoff has recently been felt for Hudson and the entire Troy team. In both Hudson and Coach Parker’s first season, the team began 1-7, but finished the month of November 3-1, and carried it into 2025 with a strong start to the new season. 

“We’ve really just tried to stick with the process that we tried to start last year,” Hudson said. “Our team has kept getting better every day, even back then, even if the results didn’t show at first. 

“I think the big thing was all of our group buying in and realizing the championships from the past don’t continue to happen unless we keep working to prepare ourselves as best as we can each day.” 

As Hudson nears the end of his final season, he knows it's his teammates that have made him fall in love with the sport he’s played since his youth. 

“I remember every person that I’ve played with,” Hudson said. “The relationships that I’ve built with my coaches and players means everything to me.  

“One day I won't see these guys as often, so the memories I make now always mean a lot.” 

Zerian Hudson hopes to pursue a career in the NFL but has learned through his interdisciplinary studies how to be an entrepreneur and hopes to be able to carve a path in that as well. One thing is for sure though: Hudson will stay the course, no matter the adversity he may face.