Auburn football: Don’t hate Tutt for exploring all options

After a whirlwind of future-changing decisions from Auburn football defensive back Christian Tutt, it seems his exploration of options for his extra year of NCAA eligibility could be over.

Auburn football DB Christian Tutt has withdrawn his name from the transfer portal.

After initially deciding to enter the 2021 NFL Draft, hiring an agent, and committing to training, Tutt turned the tables and tossed his name into the NCAA transfer portal. Now, a harrowing few days later, he has officially withdrawn his name from the portal according to Matt Zenitz.

While this means that Auburn fans could see Christian Tutt’s return to Jordan-Hare next season, not everyone seems that excited.

That said, here’s why you shouldn’t be so hard on the man.

A lot has changed for the Auburn football program this year. Gus Malzahn was fired, and Auburn found a new head coach in Bryan Harsin, which meant a new support staff of coaches for the players to adjust to. As Tutt watches the coaches that recruited and developed him find new homes around the country, can we blame him for wanting to follow one of those familiar faces?

And as for the NFL Draft declaration, how can you bash the ambitions of a young football player whose ultimate goal is probably to play in the most prestigious league? It clearly didn’t work out for him this time around, and his goal is no doubt to improve himself to that level.

This isn’t about betraying Auburn football or the Auburn family– this is about a young man weighing his options and thinking about his future.

This is about an Auburn football player who is striving to achieve his ultimate goal in the big leagues. This is about a senior defensive back who thought he might rather play his last year of eligibility under his coach. This is about an Auburn man who has withdrawn his name from the transfer portal and may have decided to once again wear the orange and blue.

Don’t hate on him for exploring his options.

Tutt is going to end up where he needs to be, and right now that’s looking like the Plains. Let’s be excited about having one of our top tacklers in the secondary back another year.