An observation

The 3 of the 4 portal exits that have seemed most important are WR, QB, and RB. All, over the last decade, have too often been positions of concern from a talent standpoint.

The 3 individuals (all talented & would probably have been starters several years ago) are leaving “for playing time”. They were not the starter, or the main man.

Add to that fact that the destinations of the three may well be OSU, LSU, and Alabama, where they feel (rightly or not) that they have a clearer path to start and shine. Since Lou Left, the idea that 2 major SEC schools and THE Ohio State would entertain an ND transfer would have been very unlikely, if not absurd.

Conclusion? This proves the point, beyond debate, that the positions are now well stocked with talented players. A welcome change.

The 4th major portal exit – Prince, may be headed home and joining the fellow who originally recruited him to ND at Vanderbilt. The current LB position over the past 10 or 20 years is similar talent wise to the other 3, and thanks to the last two excellent classes is also well stocked.

The differences in the past 18 months (and 2 recruiting cycles) have been highly effective recruiting and the player development by staff (hats off to Marcus, Matt Balis – really the whole staff) and a welcome shift to a greater emphasis on talent or ability versus seniority.

An overdue and very welcome change.

Just one guy’s opinion.

4 hours ago, Wharton70 said:

An observation

The 3 of the 4 portal exits that have seemed most important are WR, QB, and RB. All, over the last decade, have too often been positions of concern from a talent standpoint.

The 3 individuals (all talented & would probably have been starters several years ago) are leaving “for playing time”. They were not the starter, or the main man.

Add to that fact that the destinations of the three may well be OSU, LSU, and Alabama, where they feel (rightly or not) that they have a clearer path to start and shine. Since Lou Left, the idea that 2 major SEC schools and THE Ohio State would entertain an ND transfer would have been very unlikely, if not absurd.

Conclusion? This proves the point, beyond debate, that the positions are now well stocked with talented players. A welcome change.

The 4th major portal exit – Prince, may be headed home and joining the fellow who originally recruited him to ND at Vanderbilt. The current LB position over the past 10 or 20 years is similar talent wise to the other 3, and thanks to the last two excellent classes is also well stocked.

The differences in the past 18 months (and 2 recruiting cycles) have been highly effective recruiting and the player development by staff (hats off to Marcus, Matt Balis – really the whole staff) and a welcome shift to a greater emphasis on talent or ability versus seniority.

An overdue and very welcome change.

Just one guy’s opinion.

I agree. Transfers say to me "I lost a competition for playing time" Coach says remember the value of an ND degree. Players say, I'd like to play now. Its healthy attrition. Hard to watch talent go out the door but there are 22 starting jobs for 85 players, So its bound to happen.

Or the other side of the coin is that the ND degree, as much as the staff ingrains that in recruiting, doesn't resonate  long-term with players who are marginal students to begin with, and since ND's NIL doesn't not match up to the SEC schools, these players are looking to parlay college bucks into a huge NFL payday.

Yep.  Combo of factors, though.  I don't think NIL is suffering at ND as much as the perception suggests.  Stars get paid no matter where they are, and 2nd team contributors have decent opportunities due to ND's reach, IMO.  These guys are leaving primarily b/c they're getting overtaken by guys in their class or younger.  And it's a great sign of talent in the last couple classes.

But also true, they're all human and subject to the little things.  Could be academics, could be friend groups, could be a girlfriend back home or missing family.  Players are transferring from everywhere these days - starters, too.  These are 19, 20 year old kids getting caught up in a moment.  The portal and NIL just make it easier to do, rather than cause it, again IMO.

 

 

7 hours ago, JeffV said:

Yep.  Combo of factors, though.  I don't think NIL is suffering at ND as much as the perception suggests.  Stars get paid no matter where they are, and 2nd team contributors have decent opportunities due to ND's reach, IMO.  These guys are leaving primarily b/c they're getting overtaken by guys in their class or younger.  And it's a great sign of talent in the last couple classes.

But also true, they're all human and subject to the little things.  Could be academics, could be friend groups, could be a girlfriend back home or missing family.  Players are transferring from everywhere these days - starters, too.  These are 19, 20 year old kids getting caught up in a moment.  The portal and NIL just make it easier to do, rather than cause it, again IMO.

 

 

I agree it’s a combo of factors. I don’t think anyone mentioned this factor though, “because they can transfer now without penalty “.

It emphasizes the need for continuous high level recruiting.  Every team is going to lose players to the portal each year.  You have to have a continuous pipeline of talented younger guys ready to step in.

15 minutes ago, 4thand1 said:

It emphasizes the need for continuous high level recruiting.  Every team is going to lose players to the portal each year.  You have to have a continuous pipeline of talented younger guys ready to step in.

Yup you gotta sign 100 every 4 years and plan to lose 15.

The NCAA has to fix this.  Not sure how but limiting when athletes can transfer, having to sit out a year seems reasonable when the University has committed to you for 4 years....especially if transferring early.  If it continues the way it is the 85 limit will need to increase.  There is also the protection for those getting cut like is happening at Colorado. 

19 minutes ago, 1Redrum said:

The NCAA has to fix this.  Not sure how but limiting when athletes can transfer, having to sit out a year seems reasonable when the University has committed to you for 4 years....especially if transferring early.  If it continues the way it is the 85 limit will need to increase.  There is also the protection for those getting cut like is happening at Colorado. 

it definitely forces universities like ND to oversign to keep up with the losses

20 hours ago, 1Redrum said:

The NCAA has to fix this.  Not sure how but limiting when athletes can transfer, having to sit out a year seems reasonable when the University has committed to you for 4 years....especially if transferring early.  If it continues the way it is the 85 limit will need to increase.  There is also the protection for those getting cut like is happening at Colorado. 

I assume assume when you say “the University” you are referring to ND or schools similar to ND because as we have just seen with Prime taking over at Colorado scholarships are just one year commitments for some Universities.