To say that Mikey Dudek was “under-recruited” would be the biggest understatement of the 2014 Illini football season. The Neuqua Valley (Naperville, IL) standout received just three offers: Illinois, Illinois State and North Dakota. All Dudek did was turn in a team MVP performance for the season. His freshman year included 69 catches for 965 yards and six touchdowns, re-writing the Illini freshman receiving record book and making the all Big Ten second team.
The Illini won 6 games and earned a bowl berth, but they did so with a season yardage margin of -1,249! That tells you just how many rough weeks there were for Illinois this season. But throughout all the really bad losses, Mikey Dudek, or Mike Dudek, as some call him, was a consistent highlight with his solid play each week.
If not for the monster, record-breaking year of Ohio State QB J.T. Barrett, Dudek might win the B1G Freshman of the year award. (This award will be announced at a later date, Barrett took home the league QB of the season award tonight)
This past Saturday Dudek continued his stellar freshman season adding seven receptions for 63 yards and one touchdown. His total of 69 receptions moved him into a tie for fifth the UI season receptions list with Hall of Famer David Williams (69 catches in 1983). He also moved to ninth in season receiving yardage at 965 yards, passing WR coach Mike Bellamy (927 yards in 1989) and David Williams (958 yards in 1983). With his 14-yard touchdown catch late in the second quarter, Dudek tied David Williams’ freshman TD receptions record of six. Mikey Dudek already owns UI freshman marks for receptions and receiving yards.
Here’s the podcast of our Mikey Dudek exclusive:
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and writes The Sports Bank.net ,which is partners with Fox Sports. Read his feature stories in the Chicago Tribune RedEye edition. Listen to him on KOZN 1620 The Zone. Follow him on Twitter (@paulmbanks). His work has been featured in hundreds of media outlets including The Washington Post and ESPN 2