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Good morning! We’ll start today with a recap of a busy transfer window so far, then look at two emerging scenarios from the portal.
Summary of the first portal
Entries by number, the best available
Remember when we thought this window might be a little softer since teams are still in the middle of spring training? So much for that. Let’s take a look at what we’ve seen from this window so far – the numbers are courtesy of Athleticismportal guru, Max Olson. Read his full description of the movement here.
- As of 10:30 a.m. ET on Tuesday, 90 fellows had entered the portal. The importance? When last year’s spring window opened, a total of 90 players signed up.
- First day total: 221 FBS scholars entered the portal. That breaks down to 105 Power 4 transfers and 116 Group of 5 transfers.
- More than 20 percent of entries on the first day were repeat transfers. (More on this group later.)
- Colorado welcomed back nine players Tuesday, including six who were first-year transfers under Deion Sanders. π
- The total number of FBS scholarship transfers during this cycle (which began August 1, 2023) exceeded 2,100. This represents a 25 percent increase over last year’s total at this time.
So who came in? Max has ranked the best transfers available and will update the list as news arises. Some early names to watch include Arizona CB Tacario Davis (nΒ°2), Jacoby Mathews, Texas A&M safety (No. 3) and Penn State WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith (Number 4). Number 1 is Damien Martinez, Oregon State running backwhose transfer is particularly interestingβ¦
Drama NIL
Why Oregon State RB transfer is intriguing
Last week, reports surfaced that Martinez was planning to enter the portal, which he made official on Tuesday. His loss is a blow to the Beavers β Martinez was a first-team All-Pac-12 runner and once pledged his commitment to the Beavers amid roster turnover following the departure of coach Jonathan Smith for Michigan State.
Amid the first rumblings, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that Martinez is set to earn more than $400,000 in NIL contracts to stay at Oregon State in 2024. Players are making money. We know it. But we rarely see the actual dollar amount next to these transactions.
Following the report, Martinez implied to the Oregonian that the Oregon State collective, Dam Nation, has not kept its promises. Kyle Bjornstad, co-founder of Dam Nation, said whatever commitments the collective made to Martinez were met β1,000 percent.β A few days later Martinez told John Canzano that he “had no problem with Kyle or the collective” and insisted his decision had nothing to do with NIL.
The story is an unmitigated disaster and sends another bat signal about the transparency needed in NIL negotiations. It will be interesting to follow the story of where Martinez ends up. He has visits planned to Miami, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi State and Arizona over the next two weeks.
Unlimited transfers
How does CFB loyalty work now?
In a decision expected Wednesday, the NCAA Division I Council approved a transfer rule change that will grant immediate eligibility to all transfers provided they meet academic eligibility requirements. The days of sitting out a year and submitting eligibility waivers are so long. Say βhelloβ to unlimited transfers.
The rule opens the floodgates for athletes to transfer more than once during their career. This week I tackled the topic of multiple transfers and aimed to answer a question from athletes who have experienced them: who do they support as alumni?
The overwhelming majority of players I spoke with said that time spent at a school and/or where they graduated were the most influential factors in their post-college loyalty. But a feeling of division is nevertheless present.
Alan Bowman (who transferred from Texas Tech to Michigan and then to Oklahoma State) said, βI don’t know how I’m going to raise my son. I really do not know. The question of loyalty is one thing.
What about all the excess equipment? And the friendships left behind? It was fun to point out. Read it here.
Underrated RBs in the draft
Rooting for underdogs
Jacob Robinson, author of our NFL newsletter, Scoop City, joins us to analyze the stock of three NFL Draft running backs who overproduced in college but are falling off scouts’ radar. For my full summary of their college career, read today’s Scoop City.
(Also check out our other quarterback and edge rusher evaluations.)
1. Cody Schrader, Missouri
Jayna: Schrader led the SEC in rushing yards last season, and his Division II history at Missouri is hard not to root for.
Jacob: He will be a 25-year-old rookie, which always impacts team evaluations. The Rams in the fifth round are Dane’s expectations. I think the 5-foot-9, 202-pound prospect could immediately surprise teams with his work ethic. From The Beast: Schrader said he “beat [their] strength and conditioning coach at the facility every dayβ¦Thatβs what I had to do to get noticed. A strong runner and powerful blocker, Schrader was also mocked by the Raiders in the sixth round.
2. Audric Estime, Notre Dame
Jayna: At Notre Dame, EstimΓ© spent two seasons as the team’s leading rusher and scored a program-record 18 rushing touchdowns in 2023.
Jacob: As Brugler notes in The Beast, NFL scouts say Estime can be coached with the mental and physical toughness required for the position. It doesn’t hurt that his 6.39 yards per carry in 2023 is No. 1 in the FBS among running backs with 200-plus carries. Estime has RB1 potential for an NFL team, ideally in a gap scheme. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers add the former Notre Dame RB in the fourth round of Brugler’s latest mock draft.
3. Kimani Vidal, Troy
Jayna: Vidal recorded back-to-back 1,000-plus yard seasons at Troy, finishing 2023 with 1,661 yards, second in the FBS.
Jacob: The biggest flag for teams is Vidal’s mileage (873 offensive touches), which is higher than most teams are looking for. I’d be surprised to see him drafted before the seventh round – Dane lands Vidal with the Bills at pick No. 248, hoping he’ll be a competent replacement.
Quick snaps
Could NIL money acts as a loophole in college football Scholarship limit of 85 people? In a fascinating story today, Athleticism studies how NIL changes list management.
The gate is one of the spiciest topics in college sports. But don’t panic. Ari Wasserman presents the reasons for accept it, don’t hate it.
In the Talent-rich state of Texas, which coaches are the best recruiters? Learn more in today’s new confidential recruiting newsletter.
Enjoy this? Subscribe to our other newsletters! Scoop City π | The rebound π | Full time β½ | The liquidation βΎ | First Tire π | The pulse π£
(Top photo by Deion Sanders: Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)