College Recruiting

It seems to me that the landscape of college recruiting has been changed greatly by the transfer portal.

Not so much for the elite programs, although the Longhorns of Texas might see movement, but for the middle and lower tiers of sports.

Coaches now have to rerecruit their better players each season. Coaches at powerhouse programs assess their need and effectively cherry pick among those top players at less successful programs. The coach at less successful u. has to recruit to build on what he has AND recruit those on his roster to stay.

The rich get richer…

The NIL rules - and what alumni have companies who can utilize this to add to the school's marketing efforts - makes it even more interesting.

Very true.

It’s like the nba with everyone a free agent….

While I agree with the cherry picking of the players who go to mid-tier programs to develop for two years and then go to a better D1 programs there is also the opposite happening. Ever hear of Jameson Williams at Alabama and wonder how we never heard of him before? That's because he was at Ohio State until last year and decided to transfer to Alabama. He was not getting playing time behind Wilson and Olave (two projected 1st or high 2nd rounder NFL draft picks) and decided to transfer. He is now their #1 receiver. Talent is starting to move in the best interest of the players and not coaches. Joe Burrow is another example as someone who never would have won a Heisman or get drafted unless he left his 1st school.

I agree that Coaching is much harder now since players have an out if they end up bringing in a highly touted freshman the year after they recruited you. To use Ohio State as an example, our QB room is really young, has lots of talent but not alot of playing time. CJ Shroud has really improved this year and will start every game - barring injury. We have another 2nd year guy who has alot of talent but no playing time and also Quinn Ewers (from South Lake) who left high school early to train with the team and to make $1M in NIL money. You have to believe these guys will be transferring in the offseason to get their playing time given Shroud's development over the season.

I do question whether this will drive more high profile coaches into the pro ranks.

More money, no recruiting hassles.

I think they have to approach it more like college basketball and one and done, you will have coaches focusing on slightly lesser talent that they can keep 4 years, when you get a top athlete you better get him on the field or someone else will. It has changed the game for sure and some coaches will be better at it than others. I dont hate it as it gives kids some say in their situation. Everything they hear in recruiting is sunshine and Roses, if they see it's not a good fit for them they can change it up. Coaches leave for a variety of reasons, money, money, money and money basically. Why hold the kids hostage. Some schools will be better at NIL also.

Coach Buc could show them a thing or 2

says it all imo!