Link: 2026 Transfer Portal

[day-day]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2009061228094849531

I'd like to see it this is true. Indiana would need a bunch of 24+ players to make up for freshmen and sophomores. I wonder if this average age of 23, if accurate, is for starters only.

I understand that they have a bunch of senior players (redshirt senior, senior, and redshirt juniors) which can be a difference maker.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2009061228094849531

And this is what D-1 baseball teams are doing. They are going to older rosters because a player in his second, third or fourth year is light years stronger and more mature than an incoming freshman. If we're going to stay competitive in football, we're going to have to start moving more toward this model.

 

[CB4]

Notre Dame’s team last year and Indiana’s this year were so old that medical services for the teams were billed directly to Medicare.

 

[CoolBreeze]

Alabama defensive lineman to reportedly enter NCAA transfer portal

According to reports, Alabama defensive lineman Kelby Collins has entered the transfer portal after one season in Tuscaloosa.

rolltidewire.usatoday.com

 

[TideMan09]

I was at the same game; sat in the south EZ.

While it was harder to see the push/lack of push the OL got, what I did see on multiple occasions was a hole you could drive an 18-wheeler through, being opened and our RBs (Jam particularly) not hitting it but cutting it outside only to get a minimal gain.

That told me the problem wasn't entirely an OL issue or a Grubb issue.

I saw those those openings as well, that's definitely on the RB's, buttttt, those openings were like a solar eclipse & our RB's just looked at them in amazement due their rarity..

 

[CB4]

In looking through JessN’s write up from Tuesday, it appears we still have about 10-12 slots to fill.

 

[bamaslammer]

In looking through JessN’s write up from Tuesday, it appears we still have about 10-12 slots to fill.

So just for my education, the googler says the portal closes on the 16th. Currently there are vastly more players in the portal than have been plucked out of the portal. What happens when the music stops and everybody needs a chair? What happens to the ones that are not picked up?

 

[NoNC4Tubs]

So just for my education, the googler says the portal closes on the 16th. Currently there are vastly more players in the portal than have been plucked out of the portal. What happens when the music stops and everybody needs a chair? What happens to the ones that are not picked up?

Great question!

What exactly happens on the 17th to the players still in the portal?

 

[day-day]

Players cannot enter the portal after Jan 16 (except for additional 5 days for National Championship team players). Players can sign with schools after the portal closes.

 

[sanjosecrimson]

Did Simmons play in the slot for them? I agree that he would give an immediate opportunity for more "house calls." It was his play that kept AU in the IB.

Coleman is more of a big time/big play guy out on the edge. We could use both os them with the loss of GB and the uncertainty of RW. IMO, RW bounces back big time next year, but the WR could use the immediate experience one or both might bring. Got my fingers crossed on Cederian being a day one impact guy too!

he lines up both slot and wide out

 

[cthorne22]

Great question!

What exactly happens on the 17th to the players still in the portal?

Portal risk
If your team moves on you could be *** out of luck
Division II baby, here I come

 

[cthorne22]

Perry Thompson
Could've been at Bama, a year on the plains, now Minnesota.
I would've at least picked somewhere warm, like FAU

 

[The Ols]

FIFY

No…he was right…Johnny Football is the drunk uncle…Theo’s still step-daddy…

 

[sanjosecrimson]

So @sanjosecrimson or @TiderJack in terms of roster management with transfers in and out, those going into the draft or out of eligibility plus the 23 we have in the 2026 class, any idea of how many slots we are looking to still fill via portal?

from 247, the mods are saying possibly 3 more on the OL:

Jacarrius Peak, NC State Wolfpack, Offensive Tackle

Featured on the Netflix series 'Titletown High.' Multiple-sport athlete (basketball, track and field throwing events). Averaged 5.9 points and 4.1 rebounds...

247sports.com

Jimothy Lewis Jr., Mississippi State Bulldogs, Offensive Tackle

Originally from Mississippi. Competed in throwing events early on in prep career. ---- 2022: Transferred into IMG Academy for junior season. Worked at right...

247sports.com

DJ Chester, LSU Tigers, Offensive Tackle

Also competes in throws events and has played basketball. Posted a 52-9 shot put and a 153-7 discus as a junior. Placed second in both events at the Georgia A...

247sports.com

on the DL:

Cody Sigler, Arkansas State Red Wolves, Defensive Line

Cody Sigler is a Defensive Lineman from New Hope, AL.

247sports.com

on the Edge:

Jordan Ross, Tennessee Volunteers, Edge

Also plays basketball. Averaged 9.2 ppg and 8.1 rpg as a junior on the hardwood. ----- 2024: Credited with 2 tackles (1 TFL), a sack and a FF in the Under...

247sports.com

I think the portals just like recruiting is fluid and we will see names pop up or removed depending what is available or needs at the moment.

 

[AlexanderFan]

So just for my education, the googler says the portal closes on the 16th. Currently there are vastly more players in the portal than have been plucked out of the portal. What happens when the music stops and everybody needs a chair? What happens to the ones that are not picked up?

“ Ding fries are done, ding fries are done.”

 

[sanjosecrimson]

Perry Thompson
Could've been at Bama, a year on the plains, now Minnesota.
I would've at least picked somewhere warm, like FAU

Thompson was not a priority for the staff due to his lackluster stat the last 2 seasons. . HE SHOULD HAVE NEVER FLIPPED TO THE BARN IN THE FIRST PLACE. I don't care for Coleman and like many others say, money should be spent on the OL/DL. our WRs corps is good and hopefully even better with Nix at the helm.
Simmons would be my choice if we added another WR,

 

[TitleWave]

One of my Aggie buddies texted me to enquirer if Formby is any good.

Any justice in CFB assessments, and he would be joining his great uncle Georgie at what would surely be the pinnacle of his athleticism:

 

[75thru79]

The only viable depth will come from the freshmen. A #2 guy riding the pine at Bama can get himself a good payday from somewhere to go be their #1. Incoming true freshmen will be the only depth left. Once they develop into starters, then have their roles taken by an incoming transfer, they'll be gone too.

The quality of the product on the field is going to decline further.

The blueprint for building a championship caliber team has forever changed. It no longer makes sense to load up your roster with 5-star freshmen each year and hope enough of them pan out. Now it is sign as many 5 star as you can (for the future) and then pull the bulk of your starting lineup from the portal. Let the Virginia Techs, Duke, North Carolina, etc. sign the 3 and 4 stars and let them coach 'em up. When a few of them start to show some real potential then the Alabama's, Georgia's, Texas' of college football swoop in and sign them for the last year or two. The teams that handle this tightrope walk will be the ones in the hunt every year.

 

[CoolBreeze]

from 247, the mods are saying possibly 3 more on the OL:

Jacarrius Peak, NC State Wolfpack, Offensive Tackle

Featured on the Netflix series 'Titletown High.' Multiple-sport athlete (basketball, track and field throwing events). Averaged 5.9 points and 4.1 rebounds...

247sports.com

Jimothy Lewis Jr., Mississippi State Bulldogs, Offensive Tackle

Originally from Mississippi. Competed in throwing events early on in prep career. ---- 2022: Transferred into IMG Academy for junior season. Worked at right...

247sports.com

DJ Chester, LSU Tigers, Offensive Tackle

Also competes in throws events and has played basketball. Posted a 52-9 shot put and a 153-7 discus as a junior. Placed second in both events at the Georgia A...

247sports.com

on the DL:

Cody Sigler, Arkansas State Red Wolves, Defensive Line

Cody Sigler is a Defensive Lineman from New Hope, AL.

247sports.com

on the Edge:

Jordan Ross, Tennessee Volunteers, Edge

Also plays basketball. Averaged 9.2 ppg and 8.1 rpg as a junior on the hardwood. ----- 2024: Credited with 2 tackles (1 TFL), a sack and a FF in the Under...

247sports.com

I think the portals just like recruiting is fluid and we will see names pop up or removed depending what is available or needs at the moment.

If I am evaluating portal talent I am starting with their age (22+) then narrowing down to position (OL - DL) then looking at their stats. Doesn't matter the school, just age and experience. Easy to motivate mature individuals.

 

[KrAzY3]

As far as the age thing, I would note that DeBoer's 2023 Washington team had 26 5th and 6th year seniors. I think Michigan was similarly stacked in terms of veteran players, and it is notable at least in terms of DeBoer's team that these were primarily 3 star players. I think about half of those guys were 6th year Covid seniors, so it was a pretty old team and DeBoer is certainly familiar with the concept.

I don't think people should over-react though. Cignetti did it that way because of limited resources, and so did DeBoer as well, he wasn't recruiting well there. The flip side is that Indiana despite the age gap still only beat Ohio State by 3 points.

The key is balance in my opinion, don't go too hard on recruiting when it's primarily for depth. Don't rely too much on the portal because it's harder to build around portal additions and that can lead to instability. Don't forget the downside, Deion famously leaned hard on the portal, produced instant results going 9-4 then fell to 3-9. His last recruiting class was ranked 73, if you miss on the portal under those circumstances you are in trouble.

This is where Cignetti is pulling away from the pack. It isn't the formula that's so much better, it's his evaluation. He's finding the gems in the portal, that's the key here. If you find the right recruits you can build a really strong foundation and if you can find the right portal players you can build off of that foundation. Cignetti was able to use JMU players for his foundation in this case. He brought 13 players! So those were his guys, his "recruits". DeBoer brought 4, and while those have all been impactful that's a heck of a lot less.