College Player Accidentally Tackles ESPN Reporter on the Sidelines — Then Asks Her Out

Mar. 16, 2025

Photo: Jimmy Rash/CSM/REX/Shutterstock; Steven Limentani/ISI/REX/Shutterstock

rutledge-hudson-1-2000

After a literal run-in during a recent football game, University of Georgia playerPrather Hudsonwasn’t going to waste an opportunity to ask out the sideline reporter he had just accidentally tackled on camera.

“Really sorry I knocked you down,” he tweeted on Monday atLaura Rutledge, an anchor and reporter for ESPN.

“But…” Hudson added. “I can pick you up at 7.”

He added an emoji of a smiley face wearing sunglasses, in case his point wasn’t already clear.

Rutledge, who is married to professional baseball player Josh Rutledge, took it all in stride — shooting Hudson down gently and succinctly. She tweeted back a crying-laughing face.

Accordingto theMacon Telegraph, Hudson, a redshirt sophomore tailback from Columbus, was blocking another player when the two were carried out of bounds and slammed into Rutledge.

• Want to keep up with the latest from PEOPLE?Sign up for our daily newsletterto get our best stories of the day delivered straight to your inbox.

Unfazed,she later shared a clip of the momenton her Twitter.

“Took an L in Athens today. So many thanks to everyone at @UGAAthletics for their help after this happened…even though I’m a Gator,” she wrote.

The back and forth was fodder for sports fans online,some of whom lauded Hudsonfor his confidence and others whocouldn’t help dunking on himfor the unsuccessful bravado.

Radio host Kayce Smith, a friend of Rutledge’s, also joined in, tweeting, “My girl @LauraMRutledge went viral for taking a huge sideline hit and getting asked on a condolences date. Definition of shooters shoot.”

Rutledge kept it cool in response with (what else?) a GIF.

source: people.com