Since news broke on Sunday night that Texas Tech freshman wide receiver Micah Hudson intends to enter the transfer portal, people across the Red Raider fan base have had some strong opinions. That's understandable given the pedigree Hudson had as a 5-star high school signee in the class of 2024. However, his decision shouldn't cause Red Raider fans to lose any sleep.
Sure, it would be great to see Hudson develop into the next great Texas Tech wide receiver. After all, it would be nice for Tech to finally have a superstar high school recruit live up to the hype, something that's been rare for the top-rated players to ever sign with this program.
In fact, of the top 10 highest-ranked all-time high school recruits to ever sign with Texas Tech in the era of recruiting rankings (according to 247Sports.com) six either proved to be complete busts or left Texas Tech before making a noticeable impact. That list includes players like defensive linemen Breiden Fehoko, Delvon Simmons, and Micahel Starts as well as receivers Dominique Wheeler and JF Thomas. Now, we can likely add Hudson to that list (though he hasn't officially announced his intention to enter the portal as of the time of this article's publishing).
On the other hand, losing a wide receiver might be the least impactful development that Texas Tech could incur this offseason. What's more, losing one that caught only 8 passes for 123 yards and no touchdowns this year wouldn't make anyone take notice if that player didn't have the designation of being a former 5-star recruit.
There is no way to deny the reality that Hudson was a non-factor for the Red Raiders this year. Whether or not fans disagreed with his limited playing time, the fact remains he did next to nothing to help his team in 2024.
Yet, Texas Tech still had one of the best offenses in the nation. In fact, Tech ranked 10th in total offense, 9th in passing offense, and 8th in scoring in the entire country despite getting next to nothing from Hudson. So why would fans make a fuss if he wants to leave?
Some might say that the program needs to keep him because he would be a starter next year and a natural replacement for 2024's leading receiver, Josh Kelly, who is out of eligibility after this season. However, those fans should keep in mind that Kelly was a transfer to Texas Tech this season thus proving that the portal can bring impact players into the fold just as effectively (if not more effectively) than the high school recruiting trail can.
In fact, the top two receivers on this year's team, Kelly and Caleb Douglas, were both transfers in their first year at Tech this fall. Together, that duo combined for 144 catches, 1,785 yards, and 11 touchdowns in the regular season.
Thus, if Tech was able to go out last offseason and find two veteran receivers to lead its receiving corps, then the same could happen again this year. Thus, there is likely to be a better option to replace Kelly in the portal than Hudson, at least based on what Hudson has shown so far.
Also, finding wide receivers isn't this program's top task this offseason. Unlike at other positions, there are talented and dynamic young options already on the roster just waiting for an opportunity to shine. Players like true freshman Tyson Turner and redshirt freshman Kelby Valsin have turned heads within the program and could become stars by the time their Red Raider careers are over.
Additionally, in the class of 2025, Tech's top recruit is 4-star wide receiver Tristian Gentry from Stephenville, Texas. He is one of the best wide receivers in the nation. In other words, the talent in the receiver pipeline is deep, even if Hudson is no longer part of that equation.
Of course, anyone who watched the Red Raiders this year could see that this program has greater needs than finding more players to catch the football. This offseason must be spent improving the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball as well as solidifying a suspect secondary.
In fact, it might make more sense to take the financial resources being devoted to Hudson and use them to find upgrades at positions of need instead of simply trying to replace Hudson with another receiver.
Yes, Texas Tech fans have come to love the fact that their football program has been known for producing superstar receivers like Michael Crabtree, Wes Welker, Danny Amendola, Jakeen Grant, and Joel Filani (just to name a few). So it was fun to think about Hudson becoming the next in that long lineage.
However, football is about more than just flashy receivers. If this program is going to ever get out of the rut of mediocrity, then it needs to have a tradition of producing great offensive tackles, defensive ends, and defensive backs as well.
That's why Micah Hudson should be rather far down on the list of concerns Texas Tech football fans have about this offseason. In the modern era of the program, Tech has had few problems finding players who can rack up the receptions.
Now, if Hudson could block opposing rushers or get after the quarterback off of the edge, then we would be having a different discussion. But as it stands, he'll likely go down as just another flashy recruit who didn't pan out as a Red Raider and that is nothing any Texas Tech fan should be worried about.