Portal Performance at GT

RamblinRed

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Here is the performance for each player brought in through the Portal the last 2 seasons. If a player appeared in both the 2021 and 2022 seasons their stats for each season are shown.

2021
B. Cimaglia - K - 10 games, 10 starts, 11-15 FG (11-11 < 40 yds), 31-33 XP
K. McGowan - WR - 11 games, 10 starts, 37 rec, 467 yds, 7 TD
T. Beatty - QB - 1 game, 0 starts, 1 rush 1 yd
N. Pendley - OL - 4 games, 1 start
K. Kirby - OL - 4 games, 0 starts
A. Eley - LB - 2021 - 11 games, 11 starts, 90 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 0.5 sacks, 1 pass brup, 3 qbh - 2022 - 12 games, 12 starts, 118 tackles, 9.5 TFL, 3.5 sacks, 3 pass brup, 4 qbr, 4 fumbles forced, 2 fumbles recovered -imo easily the most productive transfer we have brought in over the last 2 seasons.
K. Watson II - DB - 2021 - 6 games, 0 starts, no stats - 2022 - 10 games, 0 starts, 7 tackles
K. White - DL - 2021 - 4 games, 1 start, 4 tackles, 0.5 sacks - 2022 - 12 games, 12 starts, 54 tackles, 14 TFL, 7.5 sacks, 1 pass brup, 2 qbh
M. Scott - DL - 2021 - 11 games, 0 starts, 1 qbh - 2022 - 12 games, 12 starts, 22 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 1 qbr, 1 fumble recovery
K. Harris - LB/DL - 2021 - 12 games, 0 starts, 6 tackles, 1 qbh - 2022 - 9 games, 1 start, 2 tackles

2022
EJ Jenkins - WR - 12 games, 11 starts, 17 rec, 316 yds, 3 TD
H. Hall - RB/KR - 12 games, 6 starts, 116 rush, 521 yds, 1 TD, 28 rec, 165 yds, 9 KR, 214 yds
D. McDuffie - RB - 8 games, 2 starts, 22 rush, 45 yds, 1 TD, 5 rec, 33 yds, 3 tackles (ST)
Z. Gibson - QB - 6 games, 3 starts, 23 rush, -14 yds, 57-104, 589 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT
T. Phommachanh - QB - 2 games, 0 starts, 2-5, 13 yds, 1 INT, 15 rush, 56 yds, 2 TD
RJ Adams - OL - DNP
C. Robinson II - OL - 12 games, 12 starts
P. Tchio - OL - 3 games, 1 start
P. Quick - OL - 11 games, 8 starts
L. Benson - TE - 12 games, 4 starts, 9 rec, 85 yds
E. Reed - DB - 1 game, 0 starts, no stats
KJ Wallace - DB - 11 games, 9 starts, 46 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 sack, 1 INT, 1 pass brup, 1 qbh
A. Harvey - DB - 9 games, 0 starts, 1 tackle, 1 fumble recovery
K. Gee - DB - 11 games, 2 starts, 5 tackles, 1 TFL, 0.5 sack, 1 qbh
K. Bennett - DB - 4 games, 0 starts, 5 tackles, 1 pass brup, 1 qbh
C. Burkhalter - DL - DNP

So you have 26 transfers the last 2 years.
There is one absolute standout in Eley who started every game for 2 seasons and was very productive both years
You've had others that have been starters for at least 1 season - Cimaglia (2021), McGowan (2021), Jenkins (2022), Hall (2022), Robinson II (2022), Quick (2022), Scott (2022), White (2022), Wallace (2022).
You have a few others that have been able to play in at least 50% of their games but have contributed little to the stats page - Watson II (2021, 2022), Harris (2021, 2022), McDuffie (2022), Gibson (2022), Benson (2022), Harvey (2022), Gee (2022).
Finally, you have the group that basically has been unable to crack the depth chart - Beatty (2021), Pendley (2021), Kirby (2021), Phommachanh (2022), Adams (2022), Tchio (2022), Reed (2022), Bennett (2022), Burkhalter (2022).

My biggest takeaway is not to expect the portal to greatly improve your productivity on the field. It can help around the margins, or if you get the right transfer at the right position - but the hit rate appears to be no better than the hit rate with HS prospects. 10 out of 26 were a starter for at least 1 season. 17 out of 26 got onto the field for 50% of the games for at least 1 season. Less than 50% imo have been productive players for the program to this point.
 

Root4GT

Helluva Engineer
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3,334
RamblinRed said:
Here is the performance for each player brought in through the Portal the last 2 seasons. If a player appeared in both the 2021 and 2022 seasons their stats for each season are shown.

2021
B. Cimaglia - K - 10 games, 10 starts, 11-15 FG (11-11 < 40 yds), 31-33 XP
K. McGowan - WR - 11 games, 10 starts, 37 rec, 467 yds, 7 TD
T. Beatty - QB - 1 game, 0 starts, 1 rush 1 yd
N. Pendley - OL - 4 games, 1 start
K. Kirby - OL - 4 games, 0 starts
A. Eley - LB - 2021 - 11 games, 11 starts, 90 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 0.5 sacks, 1 pass brup, 3 qbh - 2022 - 12 games, 12 starts, 118 tackles, 9.5 TFL, 3.5 sacks, 3 pass brup, 4 qbr, 4 fumbles forced, 2 fumbles recovered -imo easily the most productive transfer we have brought in over the last 2 seasons.
K. Watson II - DB - 2021 - 6 games, 0 starts, no stats - 2022 - 10 games, 0 starts, 7 tackles
K. White - DL - 2021 - 4 games, 1 start, 4 tackles, 0.5 sacks - 2022 - 12 games, 12 starts, 54 tackles, 14 TFL, 7.5 sacks, 1 pass brup, 2 qbh
M. Scott - DL - 2021 - 11 games, 0 starts, 1 qbh - 2022 - 12 games, 12 starts, 22 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 1 qbr, 1 fumble recovery
K. Harris - LB/DL - 2021 - 12 games, 0 starts, 6 tackles, 1 qbh - 2022 - 9 games, 1 start, 2 tackles

2022
EJ Jenkins - WR - 12 games, 11 starts, 17 rec, 316 yds, 3 TD
H. Hall - RB/KR - 12 games, 6 starts, 116 rush, 521 yds, 1 TD, 28 rec, 165 yds, 9 KR, 214 yds
D. McDuffie - RB - 8 games, 2 starts, 22 rush, 45 yds, 1 TD, 5 rec, 33 yds, 3 tackles (ST)
Z. Gibson - QB - 6 games, 3 starts, 23 rush, -14 yds, 57-104, 589 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT
T. Phommachanh - QB - 2 games, 0 starts, 2-5, 13 yds, 1 INT, 15 rush, 56 yds, 2 TD
RJ Adams - OL - DNP
C. Robinson II - OL - 12 games, 12 starts
P. Tchio - OL - 3 games, 1 start
P. Quick - OL - 11 games, 8 starts
L. Benson - TE - 12 games, 4 starts, 9 rec, 85 yds
E. Reed - DB - 1 game, 0 starts, no stats
KJ Wallace - DB - 11 games, 9 starts, 46 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 sack, 1 INT, 1 pass brup, 1 qbh
A. Harvey - DB - 9 games, 0 starts, 1 tackle, 1 fumble recovery
K. Gee - DB - 11 games, 2 starts, 5 tackles, 1 TFL, 0.5 sack, 1 qbh
K. Bennett - DB - 4 games, 0 starts, 5 tackles, 1 pass brup, 1 qbh
C. Burkhalter - DL - DNP

So you have 26 transfers the last 2 years.
There is one absolute standout in Eley who started every game for 2 seasons and was very productive both years
You've had others that have been starters for at least 1 season - Cimaglia (2021), McGowan (2021), Jenkins (2022), Hall (2022), Robinson II (2022), Quick (2022), Scott (2022), White (2022), Wallace (2022).
You have a few others that have been able to play in at least 50% of their games but have contributed little to the stats page - Watson II (2021, 2022), Harris (2021, 2022), McDuffie (2022), Gibson (2022), Benson (2022), Harvey (2022), Gee (2022).
Finally, you have the group that basically has been unable to crack the depth chart - Beatty (2021), Pendley (2021), Kirby (2021), Phommachanh (2022), Adams (2022), Tchio (2022), Reed (2022), Bennett (2022), Burkhalter (2022).

My biggest takeaway is not to expect the portal to greatly improve your productivity on the field. It can help around the margins, or if you get the right transfer at the right position - but the hit rate appears to be no better than the hit rate with HS prospects. 10 out of 26 were a starter for at least 1 season. 17 out of 26 got onto the field for 50% of the games for at least 1 season. Less than 50% imo have been productive players for the program to this point.
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Good info. The question is who would have played had these transfers not come to GT. Seems overall they have been productive contributors to the team, Ace and White were standouts. It appears that Robinson and Quick are entrenched as starters on the left side of the OL for the next few years. WE need some help at WR, TE and RB on offense. On defense we need help at LB and DL. And please God get is a punter!
 
jacketup

jacketup

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Good effort, but like so much on this Board, shallow analysis.

Several of those kids were hurt, like White last year, who may be our best defensive player. Watson is another and there are others. Pendley got hurt and is out of football, but would have significantly contributed.

You can't compare grad transfers to freshmen transfers. If you look at the kids who played a lot many of them are grad transfers. Many who didn't play are younger, and may still contribute significantly.

You can't paint them all with the same brush and reach a conclusion about the portal. Each situation is different.
 

RamblinRed

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I agree with you jacketup, the expectations for grad transfers and FR transfers are different. But at the same time, you go to the portal hoping to get a little more of an immediate boost.
Also, injuries are going to happen whether kids are coming from HS or through the portal -that is simply part of the numbers game of recruiting. White, Kirby, Pendley were all significantly impacted by injuries.

I still hope that a handful of the young men who haven't made a mark yet will before their time at GT is done.
But alot of fans talk about the portal being a way to getting a significant boost right away. All i'm saying is that the idea of getting a big boost, quickly from the portal is not all that likely and hasn't been for most programs across the country.

Regardless of whether you bring in young men from HS or the portal, in most cases you are going to have to develop them into being contributors - you can't expect most of them to be contributors from day 1.
 

malak05

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306
I can say this with 100% truth I would've loved to see McGowan and McCollum together catching passes this year.
 

takethepoints

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RamblinRed said:
I agree with you jacketup, the expectations for grad transfers and FR transfers are different. But at the same time, you go to the portal hoping to get a little more of an immediate boost.
Also, injuries are going to happen whether kids are coming from HS or through the portal -that is simply part of the numbers game of recruiting. White, Kirby, Pendley were all significantly impacted by injuries.

I still hope that a handful of the young men who haven't made a mark yet will before their time at GT is done.
But alot of fans talk about the portal being a way to getting a significant boost right away. All i'm saying is that the idea of getting a big boost, quickly from the portal is not all that likely and hasn't been for most programs across the country.

Regardless of whether you bring in young men from HS or the portal, in most cases you are going to have to develop them into being contributors - you can't expect most of them to be contributors from day 1.
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I couldn't agree more. The thing to remember about the portal is that young men get into it because they a) haven't seen the field in the program they were in, b) got on the wrong side of the coaching staff at their original stop, or c) any of the usual semi-rational reasons college students transfer for. This isn't meant as a knock on the young men at all; breaking into the lineup at Bama or Clemson isn't easy for anyone and getting on the wrong side of the boss happens all the time in life. I'm also not knocking the effort our transfers have given or their contribution to the program. What I agree with, however, is that if you want to build a team you have to have an idea of what you want to do with the players and how you want to train them. That usually means getting the players out of high school and putting them in a carefully planned training program that will produce the kinds of players you want in 2 or 3 years. The portal, carefully used, can certainly help with that, but I don't think it substitutes for focused recruiting and sound player development.
 

WrongShadeOfGold

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UgaBlows said:
LB has to be near the top of our portal priorities for 2023, hopefully there’s another Eley out there for us
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Well...if we hire Fritz, he had 2 senior linebackers each with over 100 tackles. If I understand the covid rules correctly, they should each have 1 year of eligibility left. Maybe he could get 1 or both of them to come along.
 
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