[Farm93]

a couple notes.  the Alabama portal guys are guys who are not starters or have been overrecruited or both.  Jones and Peat were 1st and 2nd in RB depth chart (by starts and snaps) and certainly not overrecruited.  hopefully, with 3 summer class loads completed, both Jones and Peat are close to graduation.  if not, it is even harder to put lipstick on this pig.

Quite a few NY6 teams had starters bolting into the portal.  Several teams with pretty decent seasons had starters and even all-conference types jumping to the portal too.   In many cases there was a coaching change or some other catalyst, but almost every program in the Power5 has quite a few players in the portal.   Maybe 20 years ago when transfers had restrictions there was a clear problem if players were seeking to transfer, but going forward we will see players in the portal for all kinds of reasons.

It really doesn't matter why players leave, Stanford's problem is that as more and more players opt to use the transfer portal it will be harder and harder for Stanford to remain competitive.   Stanford athletes will be highly coveted transfers for almost any program, but few outsiders will be able to navigate the admissions gauntlet.  Also, one major benefit of the transfer portal seems to be that players can start the process AND get closure in just a few weeks that clearly is not happening with Stanford admissions even if they could ultimately get into Stanford.

[Farm93]

a couple notes.  the Alabama portal guys are guys who are not starters or have been overrecruited or both.  Jones and Peat were 1st and 2nd in RB depth chart (by starts and snaps) and certainly not overrecruited.  hopefully, with 3 summer class loads completed, both Jones and Peat are close to graduation.  if not, it is even harder to put lipstick on this pig.

Quite a few NY6 teams had starters bolting into the portal.  Several teams with pretty decent seasons had starters and even all-conference types jumping to the portal too.   In many cases there was a coaching change or some other catalyst, but almost every program in the Power5 has quite a few players in the portal.   Maybe 20 years ago when transfers had restrictions there was a clear problem if players were seeking to transfer, but going forward we will see players in the portal for all kinds of reasons.

It really doesn't matter why players leave, Stanford's problem is that as more and more players opt to use the transfer portal it will be harder and harder for Stanford to remain competitive.   Stanford athletes will be highly coveted transfers for almost any program, but few outsiders will be able to navigate the admissions gauntlet.  Also, one major benefit of the transfer portal seems to be that players can start the process AND get closure in just a few weeks that clearly is not happening with Stanford admissions even if they could ultimately get into Stanford.