Transfer Portal: Who's Coming and Going (2022 Roster)

[TooTall]

That’s neat. But just because somebody is switching schools it doesn’t make them soft. And it’s easier for a player to switch schools than it is for a coach to? Good! It should be. Coaches are hardly bound by their contracts anyway. If they get fired they get their buyout, and if somebody else hires them the new schools pays the buyout. The coaches themselves are never on the hook for their buyout. There’s literally nothing holding a coach to one place. Generalizing all players who transfer as “soft” is a pretty soft take considering the multitude of reasons somebody might wish to transfer.

I played with a guy from Atlanta who was at a school out of state going into his senior year. His mother got cancer and he wanted to come back home to Tech so he could be closer to her. He had to fight the NCAA tooth and nail for his eligibility and right to play his senior year. His fight started in June when his transfer process did, and he didn’t receive word on his eligibility until 1 week before Opening Day the next February. Does that make him soft? Signed a former player.

I sincerely hope your friends mother won her battle.
My opinion is not to do away with all transfers, just the willy nilly ones. There has always been a family medical reason for transferring, among other valid reason and the kids could transfer, but the powers that be screwed that up. The main example I point to for saying the wide open transfer just to tansfer is JT Daniels. He has zero nuts & guts. 3 teams in 3 years? There are many like him (especially in basketball) that transfer when things get hard. It's those kids that are becoming soft. Not the guys who transfer once for a reasonable exception.

 

[Northeast Stinger]

Too bad those quitters like Dewberry and Choice decided to come to GT by quitting their prior school. Guess they would have been better as bench warmers at their prior schools.

This is a big power shift from coaches to schools. The end result will likely be impactful on college football. We don’t know what the impact will be at this time.

Hey, I don’t necessarily agree with the previous poster but let’s be fair. He was not talking about transfers as they occurred back in the day. He is suggesting that we are in a whole new era with the portal. I don’t know if that is true or not but here is what I was hearing:

College is a huge transition for high schoolers. They come into a program and the intensity of the workouts, the expectation level, and the responsibilities all increase exponentially. Suddenly you’re no longer big man on campus and you are back to the bottom of a depth chart. Sticking it out and getting tougher is how you grow into your position. But with the transfer portal you can continue to believe that you are the overlooked star who just isn’t appreciated enough and so you keep looking for the program that will treat you right when in fact you might need to work on your maturity.

OK, I think this is a broad brush. It might fit some athletes but for the most part those types would have had trouble in the old system too. As to whether the new system will contribute to this “softening” I have no idea. But just wanted to clarify that transfers in the past were a whole different animal.

 

[JacketFan137]

calling players soft and cowards because they’re smart enough to read the writing on the walls is such a horrible opinion

you get 4/5 and i guess because of the covid rules you CAN get 6 years to play. why waste that under a guy you know you won’t beat out?

yates did the smart thing transferring. by the end of the season it was clear he was never gonna beat out sims for the position and would only get the chance to play because of an injury and he saw guys coming in that were likely better (pyron, gibson). staying here and holding a clipboard to satisfy some old men would have just been an objectively stupid decision.

as far as i’m concerned you’re only a quitter if you leave in the middle of the season and actually abandon your team

 

[Oakland]

Any player at any time can give up their scholarship and become a "traditional" student gracefully. If they're injured, there are medical exceptions. If you want to be a regular student at another school, you don't need the transfer portal--just give up your scholarship and transfer to another school. These aren't players gracefully bowing out.

Some of them may be using the transfer portal willingly, and getting surprised that they aren't more in demand, but for the most part these players are discards that aren't getting picked up.

I agree that some can simply give up their scholarship and transfer without going through the portal, but when you've played football since grade school and your family, former coaches, teammates and even the community have backed you through the years, it's not that easy to just give up playing. If a portal player really wanted to stay in the game, there are something like 250 Division III schools that play football and as you know there are a lot of players that never found a team. There are Div. III teams that play really good football.

 

[Root4GT]

Transfers have always been a part of the game and thats ok. But, you had to sit a year instead of being able to tranfer willy-nilly and have no penalty. Players are switching teams teams every year. Some basketball players play for 4 teams in 4 years and still think they will be first rounders. My point was not to disparage all transfers, but just the ease that a student athlete can switch schools. Its easier for them to bail than a coach to leave and thats the issue I have. Coaches had buyouts because they have money. Kids had to wait a year because they need to learn a lesson that life ain't easy or fair and sometimes you just got to grit your teeth and fight through.
Signed former college player and coach.

You can only transfer one time without having to sit out a year.

 

[YJMD]

I agree that some can simply give up their scholarship and transfer without going through the portal, but when you've played football since grade school and your family, former coaches, teammates and even the community have backed you through the years, it's not that easy to just give up playing. If a portal player really wanted to stay in the game, there are something like 250 Division III schools that play football and as you know there are a lot of players that never found a team. There are Div. III teams that play really good football.

I'm curious how many of those P5 transfers end up at a lower division school.

 

[orientalnc]

Division II schools can only award 36 scholarships and few players get a full ride. Division III schools cannot award athletic scholarships.

 

[Augusta_Jacket]

Division II schools can only award 36 scholarships and few players get a full ride. MOST Division III schools cannot award athletic scholarships.

FIFY.

USCGA and USMMA only have scholarship students, and therefore are allowed to recruit their players with an understanding that they will have a full ride if they commit to play there. It's similar to how USMA, USNA, and USAFA can ignore the scholarship limits for football. Everyone on their roster is a scholarship player.

 

[orientalnc]

FIFY.

USCGA and USMMA only have scholarship students, and therefore are allowed to recruit their players with an understanding that they will have a full ride if they commit to play there. It's similar to how USMA, USNA, and USAFA can ignore the scholarship limits for football. Everyone on their roster is a scholarship player.

Agree. But those are not athletic scholarships and carry a substantial obligation after graduation. Also, if a player transfers away from a service academy team he, or his family, has to repay the government for the scholarship.

 

[Augusta_Jacket]

Agree. But those are not athletic scholarships and carry a substantial obligation after graduation. Also, if a player transfers away from a service academy team he, or his family, has to repay the government for the scholarship.

Yes and no. They are recruited and often put at the head of the line for admittance, especially at the USCGA where there is no requirement for political nomination. They are definitely recruited as "athletes" though, and get some preferential treatment in the process because of it. As for transfers, you can transfer free of penalty before your Sophomore year commences. There have been exceptions to the payback rule made for other years as well. It's hard and fast once you become a Senior though. I've known several So's and Jr's who left without having to repay the government, though most chose to just enlist and take the pay grade boost (start off at E-4) which also satisfies the terms. If you fail out either academically or physically there is usually less penalty than if you just plain quit.

You are correct in the obligation for graduates though, it is substantial.

 

[forensicbuzz]

Most scholarships are 1 year deals.

No, this is not true in P5 conferences. All football and basketball scholarships are 5 year scholarships.

 

[forensicbuzz]

Division II schools can only award 36 scholarships and few players get a full ride. Division III schools cannot award athletic scholarships.

Not directly...

 

[Buzzbomb]

No, this is not true in P5 conferences. All football and basketball scholarships are 5 year scholarships.

“An athletics scholarship may be awarded for a maximum period of one academic yearand is subject to renewal each year.” August 11, 2021

 

[Augusta_Jacket]

Schools can CHOOSE to offer multiyear scholarships, but it is not mandated.

From the NCAA site (emphasis mine):

"Division I schools may provide student-athletes with multiyear scholarships. Additionally, Division I schools may pay for student-athletes to finish their bachelor's or master's degrees after they finish playing NCAA sports.

If a school plans to reduce or not renew a student-athlete’s aid, the school must notify the student-athlete in writing by July 1 and provide an opportunity to appeal. In most cases, coaches decide who receives a scholarship, the scholarship amount and whether it will be renewed."

Scholarships

Scholarships

www.ncaa.org

 

[YJMD]

Division II schools can only award 36 scholarships and few players get a full ride. Division III schools cannot award athletic scholarships.

There are a number of players that go to lower division, sometimes making multiple stops, then transfer back up to FBS level.

 

[orientalnc]

Interesting. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[forensicbuzz]

“An athletics scholarship may be awarded for a maximum period of one academic yearand is subject to renewal each year.” August 11, 2021

That may be an NCAA thing, but it's not applicable to the P5 schools, who have created their own set of rules.

"Besides full cost of attendance, the schools were asked to approve guaranteeing athletes their scholarships for more than the current one year the majority of Division I institutions do. While the measure passed and the Power Five schools will now be required to provide multiyear scholarships, some of the biggest critics of the proposed change were current athletes, who argued that coaches should be allowed to cut poor-performing players." Full Article

Another article...Clemson related article about student benefits

 

[New Old Guy]

Yes and no. They are recruited and often put at the head of the line for admittance, especially at the USCGA where there is no requirement for political nomination. They are definitely recruited as "athletes" though, and get some preferential treatment in the process because of it. As for transfers, you can transfer free of penalty before your Sophomore year commences. There have been exceptions to the payback rule made for other years as well. It's hard and fast once you become a Senior though. I've known several So's and Jr's who left without having to repay the government, though most chose to just enlist and take the pay grade boost (start off at E-4) which also satisfies the terms. If you fail out either academically or physically there is usually less penalty than if you just plain quit.

You are correct in the obligation for graduates though, it is substantial.

Unless the rules have changed, you can resign from a Service Academy any time before starting your third year. After that you only get out if you get kicked out (such as committing a violation of the Honor Code). If you do resign during those first two years, there is no debt to be repaid, but you still have to fulfill your full six year military service obligation. That can be 4 more years in the Reserves (at least it was for me), and you serve that time as Enlisted. After resignation from the Academy you can transfer normally to another school.

The Academies obviously do recruit, and have ways to help athletes gain admittance (finding a Congressman with an uncommitted slot, appointment by Secretary of the Service Branch, etc.).

After graduation you have a five year commitment, plus more if the Service puts you through grad school, or in the Navy if you go to flight school, etc.

 

[slugboy]

I agree that some can simply give up their scholarship and transfer without going through the portal, but when you've played football since grade school and your family, former coaches, teammates and even the community have backed you through the years, it's not that easy to just give up playing. If a portal player really wanted to stay in the game, there are something like 250 Division III schools that play football and as you know there are a lot of players that never found a team. There are Div. III teams that play really good football.

While there are some players landing at Last Chance U and some better places, about half the players in the portal are basically losing their scholarships. They’re not gracefully stepping aside.
There were ways to transfer to a D-III school before the transfer portal. These players are getting cut loose. Some find a landing spot, but about half don’t

 

[Buzzbomb]

That may be an NCAA thing, but it's not applicable to the P5 schools, who have created their own set of rules.

"Besides full cost of attendance, the schools were asked to approve guaranteeing athletes their scholarships for more than the current one year the majority of Division I institutions do. While the measure passed and the Power Five schools will now be required to provide multiyear scholarships, some of the biggest critics of the proposed change were current athletes, who argued that coaches should be allowed to cut poor-performing players." Full Article

Another article...Clemson related article about student benefits

GT is a P5, and they are set to renew 85 on July 1 unless Covid exceptions come into play later on this year.