The visit was coming to a close. James Franklin had made his pitch, and it was now time for an exit meeting. Kyron Hudson, joined by his family, sat in front of Penn State’s coaching staff and recruiting personnel. Hudson had one final question before leaving the facility and heading back to sunny Los Angeles: when do players have to report for the spring semester?
“Jan. 12,” Franklin said.
“OK, I’m going to be here,” Hudson responded.
Hudson entered the transfer portal just 11 days prior. Over that period, he heard from over 30 teams, some offering significant paychecks for the former USC wide receiver with some of the most sure hands in college football. It wasn’t about the money for Hudson; it was about living out a dream of eventually playing in the NFL.
He believes the Nittany Lions, set to return one of the nation’s most creative offensive coordinators Andy Kotelnicki and high-profile starting quarterback Drew Allar, provide him with that opportunity. He’ll leave his home state of California, where he grew up and played four years of college football, for the East Coast. That was a change Hudson was willing to make.
“I think, at this time in my career, it’s not about staying close to home. It’s about putting me in the position to live out my dreams,” Hudson told StateCollege.com. “And I felt like this was the best situation for me.”
Hudson appreciated the interest and financial offers he received from various programs, serving as “reassurance” of his value, but money was the seventh bullet point on the wish list he crafted alongside his agent and family. That list — in no particular order — put culture, coaching stability, usage rate, offensive coordinator, quarterback and level of competition above the cash.
“Our mindset going into this was we’re looking to improve his contract at the NFL level, not looking to take the highest NIL offer,” Hudson’s father, Chance, told StateCollege.com. “We’re not the type of parents, he’s not the type of player to chase money.”
Hudson is, however, the type of player that can elevate Penn State’s offense next season. He tallied 462 yards as the Trojans’ third-leading receiver this season. He was targeted 64 times and didn’t drop a single pass. His 12 contested catches in 2024 would’ve led the Nittany Lions. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound Hudson likely can and is willing to do anything Kotelnicki asks of him.
“We talked about him being the chess piece, the queen piece, and that was very intriguing to us,” Chance said. “Being told all the routes we want to run is one thing, but (Kotelnicki) told us that he wanted Kyron to learn the X, Y, the Z and H. He said, ‘If you can learn it all, you’re gonna play it all.’”
There’s value in that for a college program, but there’s even greater value in the eyes of NFL scouts and executives. Look no further than tight end Tyler Warren, who has caught, thrown, run and even punted the ball this season, likely cementing himself as a first-round NFL Draft pick. Teams at the next level crave versatility, and Hudson is all about that.
Hudson watched from the sidelines as Warren tied an FBS record with 17 receptions, finishing with 224 receiving yards in a 33-30 win at USC on Oct. 12. He stared in awe as Warren snapped a ball to Allar and mossed a defender in the end zone for one of the most outstanding plays by anyone this season.
“It played a huge factor just being able to use such a dynamic player, and using the tools that he’s capable of doing his talents and putting him in position to be the player that that he is,” Hudson said of Warren’s usage. “I think that’s something that really stuck out to me and made my decision a lot easier.”
Hudson is no stranger to the limelight, either. His full-extension, one-handed catch in a 27-20 win over LSU on Sept. 1 was the No. 1 play on that night’s SportsCenter Top 10. He has the ability to do that and more, providing Allar with a weapon athletic enough to make the game-changing catches the Nittany Lions’ have lacked from wide receivers in recent years.
The day Allar announced his return for the 2025 season was the day Hudson announced his commitment. When Hudson and his family were informed of Allar’s decision, Chance said they “really got serious about Penn State.” Hudson and Allar also met for the first time that day, and the rest is history.
Hudson and Allar are both looking to improve their draft stock over one final year of college football. The hope is that they make each other better. And the attention that Allar is expected to garner during his senior season should only help put eyes on Hudson, who is projected to be one of his top targets.
“I think it’s very important. I’ve been super lucky to have great quarterbacks throughout my years. So just having another one like Drew to be able to throw to me is very key, especially for a receiver,” Hudson said. “Drew’s gonna be a high draft pick next year. So just having him be the quarterback throwing to me, you’re gonna get a lot of eyes coming into practice, into the game. So it’s definitely cool to have him wanting to return this year. It’s going to be a vital tool.”
Hudson should play a major role within Penn State’s offense in 2025, but there is a possibility he’s not the last wide receiver the team targets this cycle. But that’s no concern to Hudson, who attended California powerhouse Mater Dei and has worked alongside prominent receivers, such as Amon-Ra St. Brown, Drake London, Bru McCoy and Kody Epps, at both the high school and college levels.
“I feel like I’ve competed my whole life, going from high school to college and just being around the great receivers that I’ve been around. I think that just comes natural to me,” Hudson said. “So whatever position I get put in, I know I’ll be the player I know I can be.”
Hudson has spent his entire life fighting for an opportunity. Nothing was promised at Mater Dei, when he competed alongside numerous other blue-chip prospects. Nothing was promised within loaded wide receiver rooms at USC. And, once again, nothing is promised at Penn State, where Hudson hopes he’ll blossom into the NFL-caliber wide receiver he believes he can be.
“I’m physical and determined to do anything. Anything that they put me to, I’m gonna make that job happen and just be able to go out there and be competitive,” Hudson said. “I think I’m a very competitive person. That’s pretty much how I see myself, just dominating the person in front of me.”
