‘This really helped me remember who I am’: Inside Hudson Clement’s breakout game

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — In early January, it was announced that the Illini would be adding a new wide receiver to their ranks via the transfer portal.

After spending two seasons and a redshirt year at West Virginia, Hudson Clement made the decision to come to Champaign and suit up for head coach Bret Bielema’s Fighting Illini.

He did so immediately after a standout season in which he tallied 741 receiving yards and five touchdowns for his hometown team, the Mountaineers.

This season, Clement entered a wide receiver room that was going through a lot of changes, with the team’s top receivers from 2024 in Pat Bryant and Zakhari Franklin moving on to the NFL.

However, the junior WR started the season on a relatively slow start, failing to eclipse the 40-yard mark until Week 7 against Ohio State.

Fast forward to last Saturday, and a switch had flipped.

Against Rutgers, Clement went off for the best game of his Illinois career, hauling in five catches for a season-high 84 yards and a touchdown.

“I didn’t have the greatest game last week, so I just wanted to bounce back,” Clement said. “I appreciate this offense, this staff, for trusting in me still.”

Both the offensive play-callers and Illini quarterback Luke Altmyer certainly proved their trust and belief in Clement, as he seemed to get his number called all game long.

When it comes to having a big game like this, it can do wonders for a player’s confidence and set them up for even bigger performances down the road.

“I know I can make those plays,” Clement said. “They weren’t happening how I wanted them to earlier in the season, but you know, having a game like this really helped me remember who I am, and I’m very fortunate.”

Whether it was on a broken play where Altmyer needed someone to get open, or Clement was tasked with beating a Rutgers defensive back deep, he was able to do whatever was asked of him.

The most highlight-worthy play of Clement’s afternoon came in the third quarter, where he came down with an impressive, highly contested catch in the endzone.

“If Luke’s going to throw it up, I gotta make a play for him, and that’s what we did today,” Clement said.

The touchdown snag was his first as an Illini, and it came with a fit of cheers from the Gies Memorial Stadium Crowd.

And when it comes to building off of a great game like he had against Rutgers, Clement stressed that this is just the beginning for him as a player, and for his chemistry with Altmyer.

“Each week, each day in practice, we’re building that and working at getting better and I think today was just a glimpse of it,” Clement.

With three regular-season games left to play and a bowl game to follow, along with one more season of eligibility next year, there’s plenty of time for Clement to back up that talk.