The Transfer Portal - thoughts on its impact on MS high school recruiting?

[Washed_Up_Athlete]

It seems to me that the portal will lead to fewer kids receiving opportunities to play D1, and indirectly, will push some late bloomer-type kids out of the game entirely. Consider: Ole Miss is recruiting the portal very heavily. This means that several in-state kids who otherwise would have received an Ole Miss offer will go elsewhere- maybe a couple to MS State, a few to USM, and maybe a few elsewhere, including lower levels. Those kids that go to lower levels then leave fewer opportunities for kids who otherwise would have been at the lower level school and so on. 

 

Is this a good thing?

[Rebel Bert]

2 hours ago, Washed_Up_Athlete said:

It seems to me that the portal will lead to fewer kids receiving opportunities to play D1, and indirectly, will push some late bloomer-type kids out of the game entirely. Consider: Ole Miss is recruiting the portal very heavily. This means that several in-state kids who otherwise would have received an Ole Miss offer will go elsewhere- maybe a couple to MS State, a few to USM, and maybe a few elsewhere, including lower levels. Those kids that go to lower levels then leave fewer opportunities for kids who otherwise would have been at the lower level school and so on. 

 

Is this a good thing?

I think the rules will change over time. Maybe they will be limited to say 50% portal/50% high schoolers. If not then Smaller colleges will benefit including junior colleges.

[TigersFan]

The Portal will kill High School Recruiting. Why do you take an unproven High school athlete over one who has competed on the college level and proven that he can compete, maintain class schedule and not get in trouble. Now like the previous poster stated I believe the biggest two groups who will benefit are Jr. Colleges and mid major and smaller universities but still the problem there is someone who is on a major conference team not playing transfers and looking for immediate playing time. They have opened the flood gate and no way to get everyone back in!

[Former Coach]

I think I read somewhere that nearly 80% of portal entries don't resign with anyone so I'm not sure there are that many kids not getting signed. Also, the extra Covid year has been the bigger issue here.  I'm not sure but it seems that the portal pick ups OM and State had were to replace the guys that left their programs for the portal, but I may be wrong. There does need to be some rule changes when it comes to transfers. Call me old school, but I think they should have to sit out a year. I know the argument is what if the coach leaves. Again old school but you should be committing to a school, not a coach. However, if the coach leaves then allow the player to go with the coach without sitting out. If they go anywhere else sit out a year. The bigger problem is the NIL, but that's a whole different game.

[Rebel Bert]

I believe the more you take on Portal will end sending more to Juco, D2, D3, NAIA, SWAC schools. Those kids will make those schools better. It's those below them that will be left out.

[Washed_Up_Athlete]

The points made by TigersFan & Rebel Bert are essentially what I was getting at in my original post. It's a mixed bag of good and bad. Take a kid like Rucker who's transferring from Arkansas State. He has what seems like a 1000 offers from major D1 programs that he otherwise wouldn't have even sought if not for the portal. Great for him and those like him.

 

But on the other hand . . . , I have a soft spot (and I suspect others do too) for the kid who's a little undersized and perhaps could gain a little speed who works his tail off for a couple or three years and becomes a major contributor. These are the sorts of players that fans love. They're relatable and good role models. I'm afraid we're going to lose many, if not most, of these types players in the current system and feel like we're losing something important that's at the core of why we love college football. 

[TigersFan]

Yeah but didn't Rucker transfer from MC to Yazoo County his Sr. Year. That's what I am talking about it is even happening in high school now as well. These high school kids see that and take off for another school. There has to be some loyalty now a days and there isn't. Guys used to go to Alabama and grind it out and by their third year they are super stars but they have grown and developed. Now programs like Arkansas State are turning in to National Junior Colleges. I go do great at ULL for two years and I can transfer where ever. It is crazy for sure. I may be old but sports are not the same as when I grew up. 

Edited March 29, 2022 by TigersFan

[Rebel Bert]

34 minutes ago, TigersFan said:

Yeah but didn't Rucker transfer from MC to Yazoo County his Sr. Year. That's what I am talking about it is even happening in high school now as well. These high school kids see that and take off for another school. There has to be some loyalty now a days and there isn't. Guys used to go to Alabama and grind it out and by their third year they are super stars but they have grown and developed. Now programs like Arkansas State are turning in to National Junior Colleges. I go do great at ULL for two years and I can transfer where ever. It is crazy for sure. I may be old but sports are not the same as when I grew up. 

High Schoolers don't have multiple offers from multiple high schools. They do have a deadline date to have everything in place and approved. Otherwise I believe they sat a Semester. This has been going on for years. I know for a fact that certain ones were given jobs at GP in Taylorsville for their sons to play. Lanier has done the same in basketball. You have to it all legalized by July 1 and a legal address.