Lovie Smith is adding more Florida flavor to his coaching staff. First reported by FootballScoop, Illinois will hire Florida Atlantic defensive backs coach Keynodo Hudson as an assistant coach. A source confirmed to Illini Inquirer that Hudson is expected to join the UI staff.

Hudson, 40, spent the last two years on Lane Kiffin's staff at FAU. Prior to that, Hudson spent six years at USC as a defensive administrative assistant, focusing mostly on recruiting multiple top-10 recruiting classes — both in identifying talent and hosting prospects during campus visits. Illinois defensive line coach Austin Clark served on the same USC staff in 2016.

At FAU, Hudson learned from Lane Kiffin's father, long-time NFL defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, who now serves as an analyst for FAU and is one of Lovie Smith's NFL mentors from their days on Tony Dungy's Tampa Bay Buccaneers staff.

Hudson, a Tampa (Fla.) native, brings extensive Florida recruiting ties to Illinois, where Illinois lost two of its main Sunshine State recruiters (Donnie Abraham and Thad Ward) during the last year. graduated from Hillsborough High School and also served as defensive coordinator at Mainland High School in Daytona Beach.

Hudson played college ball at Reedley College from 1997-2000 before transferring to West Virginia Tech, where he played his finally year of eligibility. He began his coaching career as a secondary coach at the University of Charleston.

In 2017, FAU ranked No. 22 among 130 FBS teams in opponent passer rating, though that ranking slipped to No. 90 in 2018. FAU ranked No. 2 among FBS teams in interceptions in 2017 and set a program record with 20 interceptions.