As a recruit in the class of 2014, Tampa (Fla.) Plant safety Austin Hudson signed with Wisconsin.
Oregon State coach Gary Andersen was the head man over at Wisconsin at that time.
Hudson felt it was best to transfer from Wisconsin after playing in all 14 games as a true freshman. He went back home to play at USF and had to sit out the 2015 season due to the NCAA transfer rules. Hudson played in 11 games at USF in the 2016 season.
But now, Hudson's journey is taking him to Corvallis to play under Gary Andersen once again.
"I would say that this journey has been a learning process," Hudson told BeaversEdge.com. "I think what I've valued over the course of my career has completely changed. It's hard telling someone that you're transferring, because they automatically assume it's drugs or something, but I was never that type of kid. I was never someone who got in trouble. I'm a good locker room and academic guy. I graduated in three years with my undergrad.
"When I was at Wisconsin, something didn't just feel right. It didn't feel like the right fit, and I wanted to be closer to my dad and my family a little bit. Out of nowhere, [USF] dropped my graduate program, and I graduate with my bachelor's in May, so I couldn't play for them anymore.
"The first place I thought about going to was Oregon State. The first place - absolutely. I knew what kind of people they were, and I knew what to expect. They know what I'm about, and I know what they're about. It was an immediate no brainer. As soon as they came calling, I was ready to go and was excited. My mom just had cancer, and she's from California, so I get to be closer to her now, which is great."
The 6-foot-2, 205-pounder announced his intent to transfer to Oregon State on Monday. He'll see Corvallis for the first time this weekend.
"It all happened really fast, but that's okay. I expected [the OSU coaches] to talk to me at least," Hudson explained. "I was really surprised to figure out that they wanted me. So I wanted to get out there as soon as possible and get accustomed to the place.
"Funny thing, I applied to Oregon State in December, because I wanted to go there. It was kind of a way of showing them that I really wanted to be there."
Hudson will be eligible to play this fall at Oregon State as he's a graduate transfer. Usually, a graduate transfer comes in as a redshirt senior, but Hudson was able to graduate with his bachelor's in just three years - with a transfer year included - which is remarkable.
Hudson comes in as a redshirt junior and will enroll during OSU's summer term.
