Interview: 3-Star 2021 All-State Colorado ATH Kaden Dudley Covers His 3-Way Talents
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
If there was a better jack-of-all-trades in process of mastering many last season in Colorado, the poster would have Kaden Dudley on it. Dudley was instant offense for Palmer Ridge High School after snagging 35 passes for 794 yards with nine scores and threw a 77-yard touchdown. On defense, the 6-0, 200-pound, defender was a bell-ringer and a thief of passes laying out 105 ball carries, 52 solo, with two tackles for a loss, four pass breakups, a forced fumble, and took away five running his two-year tally to 16 total interceptions. If that was not enough, Dudley further burned 4A Colorado squads taking one punt back for 22 yards and covered 217 yards on nine kick returns.
As one might guess, the postseason honors rolled in for Dudley earning his second consecutive Defensive Back of the Year honor, first team All-Conference going both ways, and was selected as a first team All-State Athlete. Worth nothing, he did all this while carrying a 3.3 GPA.
Eight offers are on the table for the three-star recruit with interest rolling in from Big Ten, Pac-12, Big 12, and SEC programs. For a detailed conversation about his game and his recruitment, Dudley stepped into the RNG Lab for a Q&A.
Interview
Kaden, you’ve been an explosive play-maker for the Bears on both sides of the ball over the last two seasons. What motivates you to play at such a high level each and every game?
“My freshman year, my mom was in a car accident. She spent a couple of weeks in medical induced coma going through process, later we found out she was paralyzed. My biggest motivator is my mom. She motivates me to be the best I can be on and off the field, she is my motivator.”
Sorry to hear about your mother’s accident. Didn’t mean to bring up a sensitive subject from the start.
“It is okay. Thank you.”
Back to football. Over the past two seasons you’ve taken away 16 passes, how many of those have you taken back for a score?
“I think four of them.”
What’s your secret to picking off passes?
“The first thing is playing both sides of the ball, I know what is happening as a receiver. I can predict what the receiver will do. I am naturally a ballhawk, I am all over the field. The defense we run allows me to pick them off, in the flats or over the top.”
How did your game improve last season playing as a defensive back?
“My sophomore year I played corner, last season I played strong safety. It was a transition. There were more one-on-one opportunities as sophomore; we ran straight man coverage. This last season, I was in the box more playing against the run making tackles.”
Your offensive skills were on display in 2019 as well. How did the year go for you on that side of the ball?
“My sophomore year, I played with (QB) Ty Evans; he is at N.C. State now. I was getting into the program then playing with a lot of seniors. That season I did not get it a ton, but I got it enough. My junior year I got the ball a lot more as an upperclassman. They even put me in packages as a running back and I threw some passes. As a receiver, I got the ball more this last season. I got bigger, faster, and stronger, and became a better route runner. My routes were more dramatic and I sold them better. My size was my biggest improvement and perfecting my routes.”
When you get going during the 2020 season, what roles will you be playing?
“We lost a lot of seniors on the defensive line and in the linebacker corps. The offense is there. On defense I will be bouncing around at safety and outside linebacker setting the edge and fitting against the run. We are changing up our defense to get the athletes where they need to be. On offense, I will be down in the slot and in some at running back as well.”
To fill all of those roles, what have you been working on this spring?
“With what I can do with all that is going on, I am trying to stay as active as I can. I have been running with a parachute, going out to the field for some work. My dad was a cage fighter, he is keeping me in shape. When I can, I have been running routes with my teammates.”
Let’s get into some recruiting. Which schools are showing interest but have not offered yet?
“Wisconsin, Minnesota, UCLA, Texas, Washington, Texas Tech, Arkansas, Rutgers, and TCU.”
Nice. And how many offers do you have?
“Eight.”
Dudley’s Offer Sheet: Arizona, Boise State, Colorado, Colorado State, Kansas, New Mexico, UNLV, and Washington State
Going back a few months, before the dead period, did you get a chance to take any visits?
“Before the virus, I went to UCLA and Cal.”
How did the UCLA visit go?
“It was good. They are good to me. I went there my sophomore year too, that was my second time there. I got to walk around, met with their receiver and offensive line coach – it was a good visit. It was cool to be back at UCLA for sure.”
And the Cal visit, tell me about that one.
“It was awesome. That was my first time there. I flew from Los Angeles to there, when I got there, we saw the campus, met the director of recruiting, and I met with Coach (Burl) Toller (WR); he’s been on me since my sophomore year. I ran through some film with him and toured the campus – it was a cool experience.”
Once things open back up, are there any planned visits ahead?
“Yeah. Wisconsin, I’ve talked to them about getting out there. I will probably take officials to some of my offers, Arizona, Washington State, and Boise State. I want to get back up to Colorado. They are my hometown school; I love it up there. I am ready to meet the new staff. With the rest of the visits, we will see what happens once it all opens back up.”
Last question. Given your high performance on the field in 2019, what goals have you already set for yourself during your senior campaign?
“This year, the big thing is being a captain for the team. I’ve won three state championship, winning another will be awesome. We are going from 3A to 4A, that would be awesome to win another championship. Being a leader on the team is important, I am setting the example for the younger kids.”
Kaden, it was great getting time in with you today covering the many things you do on the field. Wishing you continued success this offseason with your workouts.
“Thank you.”
Photo credit: Dudley family; Kaden Dudley at UCLA and Cal