-
Manuel
Another year, another exodus.
Some would consider it a pandemic-level problem in college sports.
Others may consider it a good change of pace from tradition for tradition’s sake.
But, love it or hate it, the transfer portal is here to stay in the NCAA.
Whether pro- or anti-transfer portal, we cannot deny the seismic change it has had on college athletics. As of writing this column in the morning hours on Thursday, Dec. 8, there were 1,105 players currently registered in the portal per the recruiting website On3.com.
Six of those 1,105 – including Acadiana-hero Jack Bech – played at LSU last season.
Bech is an interesting case-study in transfer portal politics.
For one, he was a late-bloomer in recruiting circles who didn’t earn major Power 5 offers until late in his recruiting cycle.
He ultimately ended up at LSU after the offer came in. As usually is the case, when one big school offers the other big schools tend to follow.
Previous to his LSU commitment, Bech was committed to Vanderbilt and was mostly of interest to Ivy League football programs.
So in my opinion, it is truly hard to assess what level of college football talent Bech is.
He was a good weapon in LSU’s offense during his freshman season but didn’t seize opportunities presented during his sophomore year. As a result, he tumbled down the depth chart as more explosive players like Kayshon Boutte, Malik Nabers, Brian Thomas Jr., Jaray Jenkins and even Louisiana transfer Kyren Lacy outproduced him.
Was his production due to previous head coach Ed Orgeron’s recruitment of him or because he truly is a Power 5 player? Time will tell us what college football thinks of him as the portal process plays itself out with him.
LSU’s outgoings are a small number of players when compared to other Southeastern Conference schools.
Alabama, yes that Alabama, has 13 players currently in the portal.
It speaks to the different era we are now in that players are seemingly moving away en masse to NOT play for a legend like Nick Saban. Something like that was unthinkable five years ago.
But, the transfer portal is not necessarily a bad thing if you’re asking me.
The portal has allowed players and coaches previously unimaginable in terms of when and how they are recruited.
Under old transfer rules, players had to sit out a year before they were deemed eligible to play for their new school.
Having the ability to play immediately is a good thing. However, the ability to hopscotch to a different school every year can seem troublesome.
A prime example is Portal Disciple J.T. Daniels, getting ready to play for his fourth school in four seasons.
Is he soft? Is he trying to maximize his NFL Draft future? Is he just looking to have different experiences in life? It’s hard to say.
But, being able to recruit a player like Daniels who has college experience has made life easier for head coaches. Just ask Coach Prime, who built a program from scratch partially from the power of the portal at Jackson State.
Unquestionably, he’ll be looking to use it to his advantage as well as he begins his journey at Colorado.
Regardless of whether you love or hate it, it goes without saying that his new era of college football still needs the kinks worked out of it.
Does that mean a limit on how often you can transfer? Perhaps.
But, the portal shouldn’t be seen as the doom and gloom that ends college athletics.
Rather, it’s another opportunity for players to explore opportunities that previously were unavailable to them and coaches the chance to bring on experienced hands that can help even more.
Strangely enough, the volatility of it all makes the sport even more exciting.
- Log in to post comments