The losses to the transfer portal are seriously starting to pile up for the Auburn football program after a worst-case scenario ending to the 2021 season.
Bo Nix was undoubtedly the biggest loss, with his decision to leave for the Oregon Ducks still hovering over the QB room like a black cloud. Tank Bigsby leaving would have been an unbelievable kill-shot to the Auburn family’s morale, but luckily he decided to stay and carry the Tigers offensively in their razor-thin loss to Houston in the Birmingham Bowl.
While the Tigers have been on a hot streak of good news, that heater is coming to an end after news of Kobe Hudson taking to the transfer portal.
This was his message to IG:
"To my Auburn family my first two years of college have been nothing short of amazing. It was a dream of mine since an adolescence to play in front of Jordan Hare. My whole motive when I came to Auburn was to be the best I could be on and off the field. To all of my teammates, yal are my brothers and I love yal guys for life. He from the north I’m from the south he don’t understand me,🖐🏾out!"
“He from the north I’m from the south he don’t understand me, out” certainly says enough in and of itself. Clearly, Idaho native Bryan Harsin and Hudson didn’t see eye to eye.
No matter. Hudson had a nice season, but if Auburn isn’t for him, perhaps these five programs could be:
Auburn football WR Kobe Hudson transfer portal destination #1: Georgia
There’s never been a better time to return home to play for the biggest university in the state than right now. Georgia has become a fully fledged SEC East juggernaut after an undefeated regular season and they look to remain that way due to recruiting dominance set to manifest between the hedges in the coming years.
If Caleb Williams makes his way to Georgia–an apparent possibility with the Dawgs seen as an early favorite for the Oklahoma transfer’s services–it’d be far easier to justify making the jump across state line.
Kobe Hudson is from LaGrange, which is far closer to Auburn than Athens. That said, repping the black ‘G’ would mean the world to any athlete from the Peach State. The 2021 Tigers’ receiving leader has a chance to join a potential dynasty.
Auburn football WR Kobe Hudson transfer portal destination #2: Georgia Tech
The alternative to being a Bulldog and still joining a Power Five school in Hudson’s home state is joining the Georgia Tech Yellowjackets.
GA Tech is coming off a season of bottom-feeding in the ACC Coastal, but Hudson could step in and compete for the WR1 role right off the bat considering his superior output to the entire Yellowjackets WR room this past season.
Auburn football WR Kobe Hudson transfer portal destination #3: Tennessee
It wasn’t Josh Heupel and his staff that tried recruiting Kobe Hudson to Rocky Top back in 2017, but after seeing what the Vols were able to do offensively in 2021, perhaps the WR could considering the current coaching staff too.
Cedric Tillman (931 yards) and Velus Jones Jr. (722 yards) feasted in Heupel’s hurry-up offense and should serve as inspiration for what Hudson could do with Hendon Hooker under center.
Auburn football WR Kobe Hudson transfer portal destination #4: Alabama
Hudson has experienced two Iron Bowls (as a bit player, but still) so he knows what would be coming his way from the Auburn family if he did indeed transfer to the ‘team up north’.
Opportunities wouldn’t be as plentiful at Alabama, but the chance to win a ring every year left in his collegiate career is quite a pull.
Auburn football WR Kobe Hudson transfer portal destination #5: Florida State
Florida State is reshaping its WR room to ring in the new year, adding Illinois transfer Deuce Spann and Arizona State transfer Johnny Wilson in recent days.
Kobe Hudson could be the cherry on top for Mike Norvell’s offseason, which has gone as well as it could have given the early loss of OC Kenny Dillingham to Oregon.