[Goose]

I just saw where a starting OL from Vandy, with 2 years of eligibility remaining, is transferring to Alabama.  I could see that happening at Stanford, too, with the few great/proven players deciding they want to play where college football is "Big Time."

While I agree that the transfer portal probably hurts Stanford much more that it helps Stanford, I see this particular "issue" as so far down on the list that it is hardly worth considering. Nobody is going to do all the work necessary to get into Stanford with the expectation of using it as a "stepping stone" to Alabama (or equivalent) football. It is easier to go elsewhere to accomplish that. There may be a few athletes that surprise themselves and go from "middle of the road" to elite at Stanford. However, in most cases when that happens they are better off staying where they are. They have already "made the jump" to elite. Why risk going elsewhere and not playing at all? I think this type of transfer from Stanford will be very, very, rare.

[Goose]

I just saw where a starting OL from Vandy, with 2 years of eligibility remaining, is transferring to Alabama.  I could see that happening at Stanford, too, with the few great/proven players deciding they want to play where college football is "Big Time."

While I agree that the transfer portal probably hurts Stanford much more that it helps Stanford, I see this particular "issue" as so far down on the list that it is hardly worth considering. Nobody is going to do all the work necessary to get into Stanford with the expectation of using it as a "stepping stone" to Alabama (or equivalent) football. It is easier to go elsewhere to accomplish that. There may be a few athletes that surprise themselves and go from "middle of the road" to elite at Stanford. However, in most cases when that happens they are better off staying where they are. They have already "made the jump" to elite. Why risk going elsewhere and not playing at all? I think this type of transfer from Stanford will be very, very, rare.