ORLANDO — The transfer portal has had an enormous impact on the college football landscape and that isn’t lost on the Under Armour All-Americans. We asked the prospects during the check-in process if the transfer portal impacted their college decisions.
“It didn’t impact my decision at all. I’m not looking to get into the transfer portal but anything can happen. I’m looking to stay all three years.”
*****
“It’s never deterred me. I feel like if I was in a position where I had a coaching staff that didn’t believe in me I would want to do the same thing. I’m not going to let it deter me from choosing whatever school I was going to choose.”
*****
“Prime isn’t going anywhere. I don’t want to think about the transfer portal but if, god forbid, something happens with the program, we’ll get to that point when the time comes. I knew that, once I went to (Colorado) that those guys in the transfer portal would start coming there too.”
*****
“I picked a school that I’d be comfortable with for four years, not a school that I’d be comfortable with for one or two. I’m a Vol for life and I don’t see myself leaving any time soon.”
*****
“I think the transfer portal has pros and cons but I think a good way to look at it is, if a guy comes in at your position then it’s just more competition and you have more time to compete and earn your spot. The transfer portal is what it is. It’s here to stay.”
*****
“I’m never going to transfer from Penn State. I chose this school. This is my home. I feel like I need to be behind somebody that’s better than me so I can learn, not just go into the transfer portal and waste time there and go onto another school.”
*****
“It didn’t really impact my recruitment. I don’t plan on transferring. I’m locked in with Texas and hopefully in three to four years I can go to the league. I don’t really even think about the portal.”
*****
“It didn’t really come to mind. I know like the portal is a big thing nowadays and it can be a little worrisome because it’s like ‘Hey, I can get super easily replaced by someone that’s been there that’s been in college for two to three years.’ Going to Texas, I wasn’t really worried about that. I was just worried about getting better and coach Flood is going to get me right.”
*****
“It didn’t really affect me. I know it affected a lot of other high schoolers but it didn’t affect me because of my opportunities. They can take another person that has experience at the college level.”
*****
“I’m not really worried about transferring. Once I pick a school I’m there and they treat me the way I like to be treated, I ain’t trying to go nowhere. If it happens, it happens. It’s not really something that I focus on or worry about. I’m the type of guy that, in order for me to leave, the opportunity would have to be perfect for me.”
*****
“I’m kind of glad with the transfer portal. For a very long time coaches had power over student athletes and where they could transfer to but now some players have control over their destiny. I kind of like it but overall, it’s kind of iffy at the same time. If you feel like your future is in the portal, go.”
*****
“It didn’t impact my decision at all. I know I’m going to go to Virginia Tech with the mindset of ‘I’m here to prove myself.’ I can’t speak for what might happen or what’s going to happen. I can only control the present.”
*****
“The transfer portal didn’t impact my decision at all. When I was thinking of a school to ultimately commit to, that’s the school that I want to ultimately go to and finish at.”
*****
“I think the only time I really thought about the portal was ‘Hey, if this one doesn’t work out you can always…’ That’s the only time we ever thought about it but otherwise it never really crossed our minds.”
*****
“I think it’s something that will impact kids around me, not my college future. My dad always says you’re committing to a school, not for one or two and see if you want to leave. You’re committed to them for four to five years and see if you can develop and see if you can go play. I’m sure everybody saw Miller Moss‘ story. He’s been there for three or four years now. He’s been in the system. He went out there and balled the other night. Just doing everything you can to put yourself in the best situation so when you do play – and if it’s early or if it’s late it doesn’t matter – all you need is one to two years.”
*****
“The thought has come up. I have asked about the transfer portal to the UT coaches but it shouldn’t affect how I should develop myself. It shouldn’t affect my mentality about the game. It shouldn’t affect how I go about working or improving myself. It’s going to be somebody that’s better than you but it’s about how you outwork them and I feel like I can go out there and outwork anybody and prove myself and get the opportunity that I deserve.”
