Bama and UGA RE: Portal

#27
#27
Am I alone in being surprised at how many guys are entering the portal from these programs? A month ago I would have agree with many that programs with turmoil or that were losing a lot would lose more talent. But a lot of talented guys seem to be leaving these two elite programs.

Thoughts on why?

I really would have to research their activity this year, reps etc., to give a true assessment.

On the surface I would say NIL at play. These kids almost 100% will believe they deserve equal money / opportunity that team mates may be getting. If they are not then they are going to try the market approach. When you see players going into the portal with a destination already picked (seen several of those this week) or quickly picked in a couple days, then back channel deals have likely been made. There is no rule to prevent Team A Players A from talking with Player B on Team B and getting something lined up. Its likely happening daily.

That is my guess as the main driver. Saban and Smart don't care. They are confident they can get equal talent to replace any losses. AS they have been doing.
 
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#28
#28
i mean i dont get it. if i was getting recruited by a school that had 6, 4-5 star athletes at my position then i'm probably not going to go there. don't get me wrong i'm all for some competition, but i can also see the writing on the wall
Yeah, i get that.

On the other hand, there's also a whole lot of prestige in accepting a football scholarship to a school that plays for national titles year after year. It would be hard to turn down. Kind of the equivalent of being accepted to Harvard; how do you not go?

But once you're there, once you've 'checked the box' for your ego, maybe then other priorities come to the fore. Like the playing time you and I both agree are so important to these lads.

With the transfer portal, they can have their cake and eat it, too.
 
#32
#32
Seems to me this is the "evening things out" aspect of the portal.

For a year or two now, the narrative has been that "the rich will continue to get richer," both through NIL and the portal.

But these things have an ability to cut both ways.

Certainly the teams vying for a national title year after year do have a natural advantage signing more than their share of 5* and 4* talent. But keeping that talent from going somewhere else for playing time--remember, these are lads who are accustomed to playing all game long as leaders of their respective high school teams--that's more of a challenge.

So the rich get a little poorer, and the rest of the crowded field gain some riches.

Seems to be a nice balancing mechanism.


p.s. You're not alone in being a bit surprised at it, SJT. I was, as well, though it makes perfect sense.

Not saying I predicted this. But I agree with your pov.

I’ve expressed my view before on this forum that the portal MIGHT have the effect of better rationing after-market (post HS recruitment) 4* and 5* non-starting talent from the haves to hot next-tier up-n-coming teams. With the added benefit that they’ve been trained by top-tier coaching staffs. All because they want immediate playing time. That’s the only way they get to the league.

Hopefully our Vols benefit if / when we’ve got the roster room. No I don’t have a crystal ball but as a football fan not a coach lol I’m no doomsayer when it comes to the portal.
 
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#33
#33
Am I alone in being surprised at how many guys are entering the portal from these programs? A month ago I would have agree with many that programs with turmoil or that were losing a lot would lose more talent. But a lot of talented guys seem to be leaving these two elite programs.

Thoughts on why?

Well, they seem to not be talented enough to see the field, and maybe not as talented as fans may think. I would also guess that they need a chance to put up some stats and prove capable for the league.
 
#35
#35
Pre-Madonnas gonna Pre-Madonna.
At some point players realize they are not NFL level.
Players that leave prestigious programs for teams like Arkansas State or Tennessee are closer to that point.
NFL talent sees the field. Even at Alabama and Georgia.

Pre-Madonna:

iu


Post-Madonna:

iu
 
#36
#36
Am I alone in being surprised at how many guys are entering the portal from these programs? A month ago I would have agree with many that programs with turmoil or that were losing a lot would lose more talent. But a lot of talented guys seem to be leaving these two elite programs.

Thoughts on why?
Seems pretty obvious why - the bigger question is why are we not landing any of them? Does anyone know if we even pursued any of them? They were way too deep in multiple areas - especially on defense - I am thinking we might could use additional help on defense. What am I missing ?
 
#38
#38
Seems pretty obvious why - the bigger question is why are we not landing any of them? Does anyone know if we even pursued any of them? They were way too deep in multiple areas - especially on defense - I am thinking we might could use additional help on defense. What am I missing ?
Can't honestly say if UT is pursuing any. This staff has kept things pretty tight in recruiting. If they succeed then the name will probably just pop up all of a sudden.
 
#39
#39
Exactly. This is the weakest QB class in a long time and at best he would be a late round pick. If he had graded out good he'd be stupid to come back. He needs to put up some awesome numbers this year and even then I'm not sure. They look more at potential than stats
He likely projected late or undrafted FA. He is talented enough to play in the NFL... but he does still have something to prove to get into those middle rounds and be sure of a pay check.
 
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#40
#40
The Pied Portal People from Bama and Gawgea are going elsewhere cause they can't start there.

Sadly, most of them could start for us, yet we STILL can't port em here.

Not sure if the rumors about our purported self-imposed scholarship limits are at cause, but this is frustrating that we're not doing well in the portal.

View attachment 429109
Gave you a like just for the Wile E. Coyote image. He could have been successful in today's college football landscape with an NIL from Acme.
 
#41
#41
Bama and Georgia are losing quality depth. Look at Bama this year - they lost a starting LB in the first game of the season but you would have never known it by the play on the field. Bama lost both starting cornerbacks before the SEC Championship game but their backups did pretty good in the SECCG and the semifinal game. They didn’t play all that bad in the National Championship - got beat once or twice but overall decent. Compare that to our backups at cornerback we had in our bowl game…imagine if Bama’s backups had transferred out and they had to play safeties and (God Forbid!) inexperienced three star players?

so maybe the transfer portal can bring about a little more parity.
 
#42
#42
UGA's portal players
Lovaesa Carroll - Signed as a RB, converted to CB. Recruited over.
Ameer Speed - CB. Grad transfer to Michigan State. Really fast, started a few games.
Latavius Brini - Safety. Brings the wood. Can't cover. Was exposed in the SECCG.
Jalen Johnson - Walk on WR. Decent player who got PT.
Jalen Kimber. Highly recruited DB. Has been injured his entire career. Surprised he is in the portal.
Justin Robinson - 4 star WR. Great tools, can't catch.
That Brini kid is a thumper I'd take a chance on him, none of our guys can cover anyway, might as well get one that'll dish out some punishment. Coach Martinez will teach him everything he needs to know about faceguarding and flailing his arms wildly while the ball is in the air.
 
#43
#43
Bama and Georgia are losing quality depth. Look at Bama this year - they lost a starting LB in the first game of the season but you would have never known it by the play on the field. Bama lost both starting cornerbacks before the SEC Championship game but their backups did pretty good in the SECCG and the semifinal game. They didn’t play all that bad in the National Championship - got beat once or twice but overall decent. Compare that to our backups at cornerback we had in our bowl game…imagine if Bama’s backups had transferred out and they had to play safeties and (God Forbid!) inexperienced three star players?

so maybe the transfer portal can bring about a little more parity.
I wouldn't count on it. The day either is operating with less than 85 scholarships you might could get excited but mostly the portal is just allowing them to offload busts sooner than they could have in years past.
 
#46
#46
My guess is a lot of them are realizing they won't see the field.

Yeah for example if you were the #8 LB in your recruiting class 2 years ago and they are recruiting #1,2, or 3 LBs the last two classes, you might not get a lot of playing time unless there is a run on injuiries at LB.

Also you could go from 3 or 4 deep at UGA/bama and be #1 or 1B at Hail State, NC or Iowa.
 
#47
#47
Yeah for example if you were the #8 LB in your recruiting class 2 years ago and they are recruiting #1,2, or 3 LBs the last two classes, you might not get a lot of playing time unless there is a run on injuiries at LB.

Also you could go from 3 or 4 deep at UGA/bama and be #1 or 1B at Hail State, NC or Iowa.
Or Tennessee, sadly.
 
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