Transfer Portal Will Be a Disaster For Student-Athletes

[FishDuck Article]

College football is more complicated than ever, especially when it comes to recruiting and the transfer portal. The transfer portal has been a boon for players looking to better their chances of seeing the field and, in some cases, finding a school that is simply a better fit for them and their education. With each passing year, more players are ...

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[Jemangi]

Risk/Reward in action.

[HappyToBeADuck]

Thanks for the explanation. Never stopped to think about the actual down side to the portal.

 

On the surface the transfer portal was like a gift. A gift wrapped pretty with a fancy bow. Can't wait to see inside.........

 

We have all received gifts that were a disappointment. Given with the best intentions but still a let down...

 

I agree some rule changes are in order.

 

Beware to all student athletes. What's inside may disappoint. 

[Steven A]

It is welcome to the real world Mr. Transferee.  Enter the portal and you are now an “at will” student/athlete/employee.

 

It reminds me of a line in Ghostbusters when the gang gets kicked out of the college and Bill Murray says something to the effect of going out in the real world or private sector “where they expect results.”

[Jay Mac]

Good points! Another downside is transfers’ potential to affect a student’s educational goals. That won’t matter if the student’s goal is pro sport…AND they become a pro. But how many college athletes do? Few. Also, most transfers are doing so because they aren’t getting playing time, which means a lesser skill set, which means less likely to go pro.

 

So those shopping themselves risk going to a school with a weaker program in their major, which could affect their quality of education…which is why most of them are in college to begin with! Hey! The brass ring is now in the carousel dispenser!

[Jon Joseph]

Thanks David. Today's students are well aware of the number of players in the portal vs the # of scholarships available. So IMO, caveat emptor.

The portal as predicted, is being used to give some top players players good enough to play at their former school, some golden chances. SEE: To'o To'o and Wilson at Alabama. And the chance for some schools to turn it around. Michigan State brought in 40 players from the portal before the 2021 season. Went from winning 3 games to playing in the Peach Bowl.

 

There is a lot of 'roster tampering' going on today, off the record, with players being encouraged to portal to another school. Many of these 'offers' come with a guaranty of NIL money.

HS QB recruiting today as reported in The Athletic, is taking 2nd place to finding a QB in the portal who has playing experience. Why take a chance on 'newbie' when you can bring in Spencer Rattler.

The NCAA today is gutless and powerless so there will be no new rules and regs. forthcoming for the portal or for NIL. This is as close to pro football as you can get with a number of CFB coaches making more per annum than all but a handful of NFL coaches.

 

The Portal is a guidepost on the way to the CFB Super League. Not to denigrate student-athletes, but the inmates have taken over the asylum.

 

Note, in 2022 a team is allowed an extra 7 scholarship athletes on the roster.

[30Duck]

On 12/10/2021 at 7:39 AM, Jon Joseph said:

Michigan State brought in 40 players from the portal before the 2021 season. Went from winning 3 games to playing in the Peach Bowl.

 

 Most notably RB, Kenneth Walker. Walker gained under 600 yards in his two seasons at Wake Forest. This year at Michigan State, he gained 1636 yards, rushed for 18 touchdowns, and just won the Doak Walker Award, the same award LaMichael James won in 2010.

[Jon Joseph]

On 12/10/2021 at 10:54 AM, 30Duck said:

 

 Most notably RB, Kenneth Walker. Walker gained under 600 yards in his two seasons at Wake Forest. This year at Michigan State, he gained 1636 yards, rushed for 18 touchdowns, and just won the Doak Walker Award, the same award LaMichael James won in 2010.

 

EXACTLY. If you do not have a plan for recruiting the portal you best get one ASAP.

Edited December 10, 2021 by Jon Joseph

[nw777b]

Thank you, David. I learned a lot.

 

The portal is definitely a two edged sword.

 

It can flip the success or failure of a program fairly quickly.

 

It is an antibiotic for one program vs a cancer for another.

[jrw]

Thanks, David, good story. And, here's a quaint concern: how many class credits will transfer from school to school? It seems like the transfer portal could knock back a player's degree progress. But, maybe no one cares. It really is minor league pro football with a fig leaf of education.

[David Marsh]

On 12/10/2021 at 7:39 AM, Jon Joseph said:

There is a lot of 'roster tampering' going on today, off the record, with players being encouraged to portal to another school. Many of these 'offers' come with a guaranty of NIL money.

I didn't even have time to discuss the back channeling going on with the Portal right now. Which is also a huge concern for coaches and programs alike. 

 

There is absolutely a ton of risk for anyone who uses the portal and that in itself is fair but I guess is there too much risk for some players who enter it? Should there be a window where a player can enter but not surrender their current scholarship? That is a tough question because if a player wants to leave a team for better opportunities then there is a sense that their team would like nothing to do with them. 

[Grandpa Duck]

Not sure about this.  Can a player receive NIL money and not count toward the 85 scholarship limit?  If yes, he conceivably could pay his own tuition, have a nice car, apartment and eat out at fancy restaurants.  At some point there will have to be a salary cap.

[David Marsh]

On 12/10/2021 at 8:33 AM, Grandpa Duck said:

Not sure about this.  Can a player receive NIL money and not count toward the 85 scholarship limit?  If yes, he conceivably could pay his own tuition, have a nice car, apartment and eat out at fancy restaurants.  At some point there will have to be a salary cap.

 

Yes... but they would be a walk-on in status. However, the liklihood a player who would get NIL money would be a walk-on is rather low. Then if they are that good they are going to be getting a scholarship from their own school so that they don't lose them. 

 

But yes... it is theoretically possible for a walk-on to get NIL money for them to live off of. 

[DrJacksPlaidPants]

The portal is a good place to find kids who fit your system and also see game film on them against other college athletes. 
 

The portal is also a gamble if you don’t have a lot of film. It used to be your coach would help you find a team that fit you better (usually in a lower division). Now, kids just quit and go into the portal and hope somebody remembers them from their HS days.

 

I’m sure some get help from their current coaches if they ask for it or if they’re being told they don’t fit with the team’s direction anymore. However, it’s probably the end for a lot of guy’s playing careers.

Edited December 10, 2021 by DrJacksPlaidPants

[DanLduck]

Chip Kelly is a coach who would use the portal to his benefit. Seems he doesn't like recruiting kids who haven't proven anything at D1 level.

 

Question: how do transfer portal students count towards graduation requirements?

[Jon Joseph]

On 12/10/2021 at 11:33 AM, Grandpa Duck said:

Not sure about this.  Can a player receive NIL money and not count toward the 85 scholarship limit?  If yes, he conceivably could pay his own tuition, have a nice car, apartment and eat out at fancy restaurants.  At some point there will have to be a salary cap.

 

Nick Saban recently speculated that he could bring non-scholly players to Bama with the right NIL deals.