2025 Inbound Portal Options (December 9th - 28th 2024 & April 16th - 25th 2025 Cycle)

[KryHavok]

Wrong take.

You're no longer building "a program".

You're now building "a team" for that year.

Why? Because as you see with a Durell Robinson. Individual success of younger players will bring with it vultures promising bags of money.

I would take 11 Jayden McDonald types in a minute.

Agree 1000%. In European soccer, managers talk being interested in taking over a team as an interesting "project". When I heard this I thought, well that's absurd, the goal shouldn't be a project but to win either a domestic cup, a league championship, or qualify for Champions/Europa League play. But given the player turnover, project is apt since, as you mention, you are constructing a team for that year. If you're lucky, you have some pieces that you can rely on over the medium/long term. College football at the FBS level is becoming project-oriented: win that year with the players you have and worry next year the day the portal opens up since that's when coaches need to start next year's project...assuming they haven't been canned.

 

[Palatine]

Every player is a one and done in the portal era.

The only way to stop the insanity is a hard cap on NIL.

 

[cohenzone]

Every player is a one and done in the portal era.

The only way to stop the insanity is a hard cap on NIL.

Contract for minimum 2 years as part of the NIL deal. Get rid of unlimited free agency. Calling the major sports “collegiate” is a joke.

 

[UConnJim]

Every player is a one and done in the portal era.

The only way to stop the insanity is a hard cap on NIL.

NIL is going to be a part of the compensation for players. Revenue sharing could be the bigger part of compensation going forward.

 

[UConn2SF]

Logan Fife, currently of Montana and formerly of Fresno State, has entered the portal. 1 year left -- could be a good game manager here.

He started against us in our loss to Fresno in 2022.

If we're talking former Fresno St QBs I'd prefer Mikey Keene.

 

[gioff2323]

I’d wait on him and get him in year 9 of his CFB career.

Only if Nebrich unavailable

 

[mikedog10]

Contract for minimum 2 years as part of the NIL deal. Get rid of unlimited free agency. Calling the major sports “collegiate” is a joke.

What if their coach leaves?

 

[cohenzone]

What if their coach leaves?

Funny you should ask. The whole new transfer garbage started as a fairness issue for players who had to sit a year after transferring even though the coach who recruited them could leave for greener pastures immediately. So instead of doing a sensible fix, the current joke of a “system” was created. It went from no sitting out for the first transfer to the gypsies playing sometimes at 4 schools in 4 years. If the idea was to make it fair for players whose recruiting coach leaves, the no sitting rule could have been limited to those cases. Coach who recruited is gone for any reason - better job, fired, died, whatever - fine get a free transfer. But we are in a total money driven, no commitment world right now where pretty much nothing matters but numero uno. Amateur sports at their worst.

 

[Windham4th]

Funny you should ask. The whole new transfer garbage started as a fairness issue for players who had to sit a year after transferring even though the coach who recruited them could leave for greener pastures immediately. So instead of doing a sensible fix, the current joke of a “system” was created. It went from no sitting out for the first transfer to the gypsies playing sometimes at 4 schools in 4 years. If the idea was to make it fair for players whose recruiting coach leaves, the no sitting rule could have been limited to those cases. Coach who recruited is gone for any reason - better job, fired, died, whatever - fine get a free transfer. But we are in a total money driven, no commitment world right now where pretty much nothing matters but numero uno. Amateur sports at their worst.

But amateur sports were holding these kids as a virtual hostage while everyone makes tons of money off them. These are just the first awkward steps into a new world. They should get to play wherever they want. Not many kids are changing schools yearly, as a % of all college football players

 

[cohenzone]

But amateur sports were holding these kids as a virtual hostage while everyone makes tons of money off them. These are just the first awkward steps into a new world. They should get to play wherever they want. Not many kids are changing schools yearly, as a % of all college football players

Hostages for a full ride. Not the worst type of prison. But with NIL, no reason for an athlete not to be committed for at least two years. As far as how often kids change. listen to the line up announcements for the NCAA hoops games. But i see you are modern enough to stand firmly on money is all that matters and commitment is just stupid and old-fashioned.

 

[Tdaley]

Starting Duke quarterback is back in the portal. Texas to Duke to where?

 

[uconnbill]

Starting Duke quarterback is back in the portal. Texas to Duke to where?

My bet looking Big 10 or SEC

 

[LoyalFanCT]

My bet looking Big 10 or SEC

Maalik Murphy. He's one UConn will never get.

 

[Windham4th]

Hostages for a full ride. Not the worst type of prison. But with NIL, no reason for an athlete not to be committed for at least two years. As far as how often kids change. listen to the line up announcements for the NCAA hoops games. But i see you are modern enough to stand firmly on money is all that matters and commitment is just stupid and old-fashioned.

I like being called modern as I struggle to type this on my phone...
Broad strokes being brushed there

 

[cohenzone]

I like being called modern as I struggle to type this on my phone...
Broad strokes being brushed there

I mentor 1st and 2nd graders in reading and writing. Today a 7 year old said to me, and this is a quote “back in the day you had nothing to play with”. Where he learned “back in the day” I don’t know, but it was funny and I assured him we cave men had stuff to play with.

But, on transfer, with NIL, i see no reason why a spade isn’t called a spade. If big time college sports are at least now Quasi-pro and a player can make money on top of scholarship you sign a 2, 3 or 4 year contract, subject to the school agreeing to an earlier release. Right now at UConn the most likely outbounds are kids who think they aren’t seeing enough time or the kids like Robinson who have early success and can get time in a “better” program. And that last sort of player is the kind you get continuity of success with. How badly is that kid really hurt with a full ride plus NIL by being committed for few seasons? As I have said, pro team sports don’t have perpetual free agency. At bottom, do you think the current transfer system is sustainable or fun for fans?

 

[Windham4th]

I mentor 1st and 2nd graders in reading and writing. Today a 7 year old said to me, and this is a quote “back in the day you had nothing to play with”. Where he learned “back in the day” I don’t know, but it was funny and I assured him we cave men had stuff to play with.

But, on transfer, with NIL, i see no reason why a spade isn’t called a spade. If big time college sports are at least now Quasi-pro and a player can make money on top of scholarship you sign a 2, 3 or 4 year contract, subject to the school agreeing to an earlier release. Right now at UConn the most likely outbounds are kids who think they aren’t seeing enough time or the kids like Robinson who have early success and can get time in a “better” program. And that last sort of player is the kind you get continuity of success with. How badly is that kid really hurt with a full ride plus NIL by being committed for few seasons? As I have said, pro team sports don’t have perpetual free agency. At bottom, do you think the current transfer system is sustainable or fun for fans?

It depends on the situation, but players can be very hurt by being stuck there. Also plenty of pros sign 1 year contracts.

The school is not hurt by this movement if the coaching staff is worth their salary. They will find others. Hell, Robinson came to UConn because of this very process after one season. Would it have been better for him to be in Charlotte for 2 years or for us if we got him for 0 years.

I think the positives of UConn players moving into the P4/3/2 will help people realize we have a legit program. Not to mention all this winning we are doing now. Haven't had a losing season in something like 372 days

 

[Patman]

Funny you should ask. The whole new transfer garbage started as a fairness issue for players who had to sit a year after transferring even though the coach who recruited them could leave for greener pastures immediately. So instead of doing a sensible fix, the current joke of a “system” was created. It went from no sitting out for the first transfer to the gypsies playing sometimes at 4 schools in 4 years. If the idea was to make it fair for players whose recruiting coach leaves, the no sitting rule could have been limited to those cases. Coach who recruited is gone for any reason - better job, fired, died, whatever - fine get a free transfer. But we are in a total money driven, no commitment world right now where pretty much nothing matters but numero uno. Amateur sports at their worst.

The problem is they kept handing out exceptions like candy particularly along the lines of "family issues" which can always be subjective

 

[ZOOCONN]

I also don't want any players with only one year of eligibility left. We're trying to build something long-term, not adding a final piece to put us over the top like some programs.

Disagree wholeheartedly, Mcdonald is a perfect example why you don’t do that, came in from Troy with 1yr left and was arguably one of our best defenders and ended up 10th in the country in tackles.

 

[ZOOCONN]

Wrong take.

You're no longer building "a program".

You're now building "a team" for that year.

Why? Because as you see with a Durell Robinson. Individual success of younger players will bring with it vultures promising bags of money.

I would take 11 Jayden McDonald types in a minute.

Bingo

 

[uconndogs]

I mentor 1st and 2nd graders in reading and writing. Today a 7 year old said to me, and this is a quote “back in the day you had nothing to play with”. Where he learned “back in the day” I don’t know, but it was funny and I assured him we cave men had stuff to play with.

But, on transfer, with NIL, i see no reason why a spade isn’t called a spade. If big time college sports are at least now Quasi-pro and a player can make money on top of scholarship you sign a 2, 3 or 4 year contract, subject to the school agreeing to an earlier release. Right now at UConn the most likely outbounds are kids who think they aren’t seeing enough time or the kids like Robinson who have early success and can get time in a “better” program. And that last sort of player is the kind you get continuity of success with. How badly is that kid really hurt with a full ride plus NIL by being committed for few seasons? As I have said, pro team sports don’t have perpetual free agency. At bottom, do you think the current transfer system is sustainable or fun for fans?

Totally agree with this......and no, I do not think it's sustainable. How can any business sustain itself without being able to understand and control it's labor costs?

 

[cohenzone]

It depends on the situation, but players can be very hurt by being stuck there. Also plenty of pros sign 1 year contracts.

The school is not hurt by this movement if the coaching staff is worth their salary. They will find others. Hell, Robinson came to UConn because of this very process after one season. Would it have been better for him to be in Charlotte for 2 years or for us if we got him for 0 years.

I think the positives of UConn players moving into the P4/3/2 will help people realize we have a legit program. Not to mention all this winning we are doing now. Haven't had a losing season in something like 372 days

Actually i think running back is one the easier positions to replace with decent quality. If the objective is visibility for draft purposes, UConn is not so bad a place. If the objective is maximizing NIL. being tied to a place for only 2 years I don’t cry for the kid.

As far as UConn proving it is a good springboard to jump to a higher power level to attract recruits, that is pretty much the hoops one and done argument on the hoops board that I see as a false premise. I think winning attracts talent way more than having to get a little lucky with younger talent every year. It is what it is now but i think it is a pretty silly and messy picture of a supposedly amateur system. Needs some sort of limitation.

But as you point out, our strong showing over the last one year shows how desirable we are. If only a Patrick Mahomes sitting as 3rd string at The OSU after being 4th string at Georgia would come here to give us one magical year before bolting to Notre Dame. Or maybe Wellever is the answer. If only the future were predictable.

 

[cohenzone]

Have to bow out for a bit today - thank the Lord - with one last thought. I can’t imagine what life is like for coaches at Indy schools or lesser conferences. You look for the best talent you can get out of hs (or the portal) but outside of portal guys with only a year left, feeder schools like we are now to P4 know the best talent might split after a year. Having been in a hiring position for much of my life, I looked for the best fit with the best ability. If I had been on a yearly merry go round of hires and departures after basically training and breaking people in, it would have been pretty hard.

 

[DoctorWho85]

I also don't want any players with only one year of eligibility left. We're trying to build something long-term, not adding a final piece to put us over the top like some programs.

I disagree. You need players that are going to step right in and be able to perform. The time is gone where long term development and program building is key to a successful program. You need impact players now for 2 reasons: 1. win games now to keep the young kids interested in staying and 2. win games now so UConn is an attractive place to go for recruits both out of high school and from the portal. Without immediate impact players, there is no "long term" goals that can be achieved.

 

[AllHusky]

I disagree. You need players that are going to step right in and be able to perform. The time is gone where long term development and program building is key to a successful program. You need impact players now for 2 reasons: 1. win games now to keep the young kids interested in staying and 2. win games now so UConn is an attractive place to go for recruits both out of high school and from the portal. Without immediate impact players, there is no "long term" goals that can be achieved.

This is basically what Jim Mora said a year ago. "I'm going out and getting 15 or so Football players who are going to walk in and make a difference now". Look at the athletes that fit that bill this year and count how many guys were one and done. Jayden MacDonald and TJ Sheffield are the two who come to mind for me. Whether they have legit Play on Sunday potential or not, these 1 year guys are highly motivated to make their last one their best one.

 

[ZooCougar]

I also don't want any players with only one year of eligibility left. We're trying to build something long-term, not adding a final piece to put us over the top like some programs.

You can't build long term in this environment unless you are a whale like Texas or Ohio State. And even they are living for today these days.

It will be like this as long as we basically have unrestricted Free Agency and the rosters going down to 105 won't help.