College Football
NCAA Transfer Portal Breakdown
In October of of 2018, the NCAA introduced a new stipulation in college football: the transfer portal. Since its introduction, some are confused on how it works. NCAA transfer portal breakdown begins now!
What is the Transfer Portal?
The new transfer portal is a new stipulation that has made big stories since its inception. While some know how it works, others do not. So what is the transfer portal? The transfer portal allows for scholarship athletes on a football team who may not start, but who are on scholarship to explore their options and coaches from other schools; and are able to contact them. There are two ways this can happen. The ways are achieving your degree and in the process of a graduate transfer, or still in the process of getting your degree as an undergraduate (having to potentially sit out a year).
How the Portal Works?
Let’s clear the air with one very important rule. Student-athletes can’t just enter the portal at their consensus. There is a process with entering the portal. First players will sit down with coaches to discuss their position on the team, and where they stand on the depth chart. If players don’t like where they stand and feel as if they transferred to a different school, they would have a better chance at playing. They would also go through compliance to make sure they’re taking to proper legal steps to enter the portal.
The Transfer Portal Currently
Currently, there are hundreds if not thousands of current college football players names in the portal. Just to name a few stars that have been rumored in the portal, and have successfully switched schools are: Tate Martell of Ohio State who has transferred to Miami University. Also Justin Fields who successfully transferred from Georgia to Ohio State.
Currently, Penn State has the most players in the portal which stands at 11 players or 10.2 percent of all players currently in the portal. Some notables are Juwan Johnson, Brandon Polk, and LaMont Wade. One thing to make clear is just because a player is in the portal does not necessarily mean they’re going to transfer. The scholarship players by rule are allowed to keep their scholarship while exploring their options.
On the other hand, the Penn State players mentioned above are likely to transfer elsewhere to complete their collegiate football careers.
Conclusion
NCAA transfer portal breakdown comes to a conclusion. The portal works a couple different ways through graduate transfer (with completion of undergraduate degree) or as an undergraduate transfer. This means where the player will most likely have to sit out a year, unless they get a special waiver granted by the NCAA.
Photo Credit to jboldha via Flickr
