While I think that the portal is impacting high school recruits a bit, I still think schools are recruiting high school kids at a high level. What the portal IS doing IMO is almost guaranteeing that high school kids, minus the exceptionally talented, are sitting for two if not three years in college before getting a real opportunity to play. 

If the portal continues to operate as it is now, I think we see a big jump in kids going to smaller schools to play immediately, and then using the portal to transfer later. 

I don't think the transfer portal has any impact on high school kids getting scholarships. But it may have an impact on what schools those high school kids are getting scholarships from.

There are about 25,000 football scholarship players in FBS, FCS and NCAA Div 2. The transfer portal did not change that number. Let's estimate 5,000 of those players graduate or move on each year. Those 5,000 scholarships are going to be filled by high school kids. Those 5,000 scholarships were available before the portal and they're still there after the portal. No change in the number of high school kids getting scholarships.

Where there might be fewer scholarships available for high school kids is at the top end schools. I can see the P5 schools reaching to the transfer portal for proven players. That sends more high school players to non P5 schools.

8 hours ago, TheDeuce said:

While I think that the portal is impacting high school recruits a bit, I still think schools are recruiting high school kids at a high level. What the portal IS doing IMO is almost guaranteeing that high school kids, minus the exceptionally talented, are sitting for two if not three years in college before getting a real opportunity to play. 

If the portal continues to operate as it is now, I think we see a big jump in kids going to smaller schools to play immediately, and then using the portal to transfer later. 

One of the problems non-starters have on college rosters is that coaches are always looking for somebody better than you. There is no such thing (for the most part) of waiting your turn at the college level. You have to prove that you can play pretty quickly or they will move on from you. And with the portal it's easier than ever for a school to move on from their marginal talent. The portal is pushing the marginal/bubble guys out much quicker now. The elite HS guys will always get a chance. The portal is also making the PWO route even tougher.

On 12/8/2023 at 1:02 PM, Voice of Reason said:

Where there might be fewer scholarships available for high school kids is at the top end schools. I can see the P5 schools reaching to the transfer portal for proven players. That sends more high school players to non P5 schools.

WHERE they may get playing time much sooner, rather than riding the bench behind Top Tier players.

Saw what the portal can do to a program at Coastal Carolina. Lost about 25 to portal and about that many to graduation or used up eligibility. Went from a 10-11 win team to 7 wins. Several have declared for portal before bowl game trip to Hawaii.

On 12/9/2023 at 7:22 PM, 9068 said:

Saw what the portal can do to a program at Coastal Carolina. Lost about 25 to portal and about that many to graduation or used up eligibility. Went from a 10-11 win team to 7 wins. Several have declared for portal before bowl game trip to Hawaii.

I think these high level group of 5 and FCS programs are going to have the hardest time fending the portal raiders off...Probably have great staffs who develop kids well, but don't have the means to keep up with the big boys in NIL.  Coastal might be different because of their former billionaire coach...I am not sure what his relationship to the program is there, but he has the cash to make some nice NIL deals I would say.

6 hours ago, okie1 said:

I think these high level group of 5 and FCS programs are going to have the hardest time fending the portal raiders off...Probably have great staffs who develop kids well, but don't have the means to keep up with the big boys in NIL.  Coastal might be different because of their former billionaire coach...I am not sure what his relationship to the program is there, but he has the cash to make some nice NIL deals I would say.

He is currently the VP of Athletics for CCU. It would be a conflict for him to be doing this in CCU's name.....but he has a multitude of contacts as Chairman of TD Ameritrade. From what I've heard their collective for NIL is struggling and the director is no longer in that position.

Guess whose coming back to Lexington:

 

Jeff Brohm and company have absolutely been on fire in the transfer portal, it's been unreal. Louisville currently has the #1 transfer portal class according to On3. They have significantly upgraded the WR room with transfers from Alabama and South Alabama, amongst others. Several OL and DL additions. It's been wild to keep up with, honestly. 

4 hours ago, TheDeuce said:

Jeff Brohm and company have absolutely been on fire in the transfer portal, it's been unreal. Louisville currently has the #1 transfer portal class according to On3. They have significantly upgraded the WR room with transfers from Alabama and South Alabama, amongst others. Several OL and DL additions. It's been wild to keep up with, honestly. 

Beneficial for sure on this with Louisville! I felt like the short term future was going to be bright after the season they had.

The whole college experience is so different. Watching WKU game today and they were talking about a young man who graduated last week from WKU. He is a red shirt SOPHOMORE and has two years of eligibility remaining. Think about that one. He could get a master's and begin another. Or, as a graduate transfer enroll at another school and be automatically eligible. Does anyone ever mention that progress index that teams had to maintain several years ago or did that disappear?

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Louisville’s current transfer portal rankings:

Rivals - 1st

On3 - 1st

24/7 - 4th