Best players available and decisions
If you ask recruiting staffers across the country, they’ll tell you Matt Rhule was speaking the truth. In his end-of-season press conference on Wednesday, Nebraska’s head coach was asked about his plans for recruiting the transfer portal and decided to offer a little transparency.
“Make no mistake: A good quarterback in the portal costs $1 million to $1.5 million to $2 million right now,” Rhule told reporters.
Georgia’s judicious use of the transfer portal, or lack of use of it, became a talking point as the Bulldogs won two straight national titles. As its three-peat hopes were dashed last Saturday, Georgia was reminded of the painful downside of the portal era.
Jermaine Burton caught a touchdown pass and had other critical receptions. Trezmen Marshall recovered the fumble on what may have been the game’s decisive play. Both started their careers at Georgia. Both helped end Georgia’s three-peat hopes.
Chimere Dike, Skyler Bell depart Wisconsin
The first official day of the transfer portal window figured to bring movement in the form of player departures for Wisconsin’s football team. But how many Badgers would choose to leave Monday, and how significant would those losses be? That remained to be seen.
When the dust settled on Day 1, the total number of previously unknown portal exits reached just two. Well, make that three. While Wisconsin wide receivers Chimere Dike and Skyler Bell both officially entered the transfer portal, the Badgers also lost Syracuse outside linebacker transfer Leon Lowery, who decommitted from Wisconsin less than 24 hours after pledging to the program following a campus visit.
Day 1 by the numbers
Day 1 of the winter transfer portal window was record-smashing.
The total number of portal entries yesterday from FBS, FCS and Division II players was 1,127, a 44 percent increase from a year ago (780). The total number from Division I was 1,049.
In FBS, 532 scholarship players entered, a 16 percent increase from last year’s Day 1 total (456). Power 5 transfers made up 57 percent, and 43 percent were from Group of 5 programs.
Also in FBS, 28 scholarship quarterbacks entered the portal yesterday.
The most crowded position in the portal among FBS scholarship players was wide receiver with 63 Day 1 entries. Next in line were the defensive backs (54), offensive linemen (41), linebackers (34), defensive linemen (33), running backs (32) and tight ends (14). Five special teams players entered on Monday.
By team (FBS-only), South Carolina had the most Day 1 entries with 15. NC State, Vanderbilt and Western Michigan had 14 followed by Cincinnati with 13; ECU, Georgia State, Kent State and North Texas with 11; Iowa State and Purdue with 10; and Kansas State and Michigan State with nine.
There are no winners when the NCAA transfer window opens.
Sure, hundreds and hundreds of college football players are rewarded with new offers and opportunities. But their recruitments are just getting started. Nobody becomes the Portal King on Day 1. If you ask the staff members in recruiting departments whose entire Monday was just consumed by the portal, they say success is defined a little differently on the first day that underclassmen can officially transfer. If they didn’t unexpectedly lose any players they hoped to keep, it was a good day.
Positions of need and potential targets for Michigan
A year ago at this time, Michigan was preparing for the College Football Playoff while scouring the transfer portal for players who could help the program return in 2023.
It worked, as all nine of Michigan’s transfers contributed in some fashion to a 13-0 season and a third consecutive CFP berth. As the team prepares to face Alabama in the Rose Bowl, Michigan is taking a similar approach to the December transfer window, sifting through the glut of names for players who could contribute next year.
