2025 Transfer Portal Thread

[Todd4State]

But Lea did not rebuild in one off-season. He had multiple losing seasons before his breakthrough. He instilled something and THEN got this year. He’s been the coach since 2021. Half this board would have fired Lea before this year.

That is true. I will not debate that.

BUT in this era you can rebuild in one offseason. Schools like Arizona State have done that for example. They went 3-9 in Dillingham's first year and are currently 8-2.

[KB21]

The transfer portal is the definition of stop gap recruiting. Trying to constantly build your team through the portal isn't sustainable. You have to be able to recruit the high school level players, get them into the program, and develop them. The problem with that is that you aren't going to be able to turn things around "quick enough" by going that route. However, it is more sustainable for success long-term.

Jeff Lebby didn't inherit the type of team Joe Moorhead, who was an established "up-and-coming" head coach (4 years at Fordham with a 38-13 record), inherited in 2018.

[Todd4State]

The transfer portal is the definition of stop gap recruiting. Trying to constantly build your team through the portal isn't sustainable. You have to be able to recruit the high school level players, get them into the program, and develop them. The problem with that is that you aren't going to be able to turn things around "quick enough" by going that route. However, it is more sustainable for success long-term.

Jeff Lebby didn't inherit the type of team Joe Moorhead, who was an established "up-and-coming" head coach (4 years at Fordham with a 38-13 record), inherited in 2018.

You know what's more of a stop gap? Junior college recruiting.

[StarkVegasSteve]

Since we're about 8 days before this thing gets really rolling I will caution all of you. There will be guys that will see that we are on and if you only look at the school, you will get yourself good and pissed off. Go look at their stats and then make a decision. Take Kpaka for example. We had people who tried to say that could be a good pickup because he was from Purdue. Those same people would've been pissed off had we taken TJ Jackson from Troy instead. Here's their numbers this year:

Sulaiman Kpaka: 23 total tackles, 4 solo, 0 sacks

TJ Jackson (West Virginia): 33 total tackles, 18 solo, 5.5 sacks, 1 FR.


Now, Kpaka would've been a fine pickup if you are picking him up strictly for depth because I do think he's improved this year. But the point I'm trying to make, and I've already seen it in this thread, is that just because someone comes from the G5 doesn't mean they can't play.

[KB21]

Since we're about 8 days before this thing gets really rolling I will caution all of you. There will be guys that will see that we are on and if you only look at the school, you will get yourself good and pissed off. Go look at their stats and then make a decision. Take Kpaka for example. We had people who tried to say that could be a good pickup because he was from Purdue. Those same people would've been pissed off had we taken TJ Jackson from Troy instead. Here's their numbers this year:

Sulaiman Kpaka: 23 total tackles, 4 solo, 0 sacks

TJ Jackson (West Virginia): 33 total tackles, 18 solo, 5.5 sacks, 1 FR.


Now, Kpaka would've been a fine pickup if you are picking him up strictly for depth because I do think he's improved this year. But the point I'm trying to make, and I've already seen it in this thread, is that just because someone comes from the G5 doesn't mean they can't play.

I talked to Dave Bartoo about this a couple of weeks ago since he follows these trends. He basically agrees that the portal players who are more often than not going to fail are the ones who are transferring down from better brands/recruiters are cannot get playing time on those teams. Someone like a Ryland Goode, who we took last year when he couldn't get on the field after three years at Georgia. Or someone like Jordan Morant, who was highly recruited but couldn't get on the field at Michigan. Turns out, he can't get on the field here either.

[StarkVegasSteve]

I talked to Dave Bartoo about this a couple of weeks ago since he follows these trends. He basically agrees that the portal players who are more often than not going to fail are the ones who are transferring down from better brands/recruiters are cannot get playing time on those teams. Someone like a Ryland Goode, who we took last year when he couldn't get on the field after three years at Georgia. Or someone like Jordan Morant, who was highly recruited but couldn't get on the field at Michigan. Turns out, he can't get on the field here either.

Correct. If it's guys who can't get on the field at those programs and are 3rd year and above guys, then no you don't take them. But if they're still first or second year guys in the program and you have good evals on them, I don't have a problem taking them. I mean look at Trey Amos at Ole Miss. He transferred to Bama from ULL. He was really good at ULL, but couldn't get on the field at Bama. He transfers to OM and will probably be a top 3 round pick.

Now if it's a guy like Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy, 5 star and 11th ranked overall player in the 22 class, we need to be careful. He has been in the program 3 years and has 4 total tackles.

[Cooterpoot]

The transfer portal is the definition of stop gap recruiting. Trying to constantly build your team through the portal isn't sustainable. You have to be able to recruit the high school level players, get them into the program, and develop them. The problem with that is that you aren't going to be able to turn things around "quick enough" by going that route. However, it is more sustainable for success long-term.

Jeff Lebby didn't inherit the type of team Joe Moorhead, who was an established "up-and-coming" head coach (4 years at Fordham with a 38-13 record), inherited in 2018.

LOL working for Colorado, OM, Missouri, ASU, and just about any school doing it. It's about taking the right players, not just a body.

[HancockCountyDog]

Selmon did not make a bad hire.

To be fair - we don't know that yet. I'm giving Lebby a free pass this year, except for the Toledo game. You will never convince me that we didn't have the talent to beat Toledo. WKU, Buffalo, Bowling Green and Ohio all beat Toledo. We lost to Toledo by 24 points at home.

I want to ignore that because I really like Lebby and because I want this to work, but that doesn't mean that loss isn't a turd in the punch bowl type loss. Shapen played the whole game.

[Cooterpoot]

Lebby has to part ways with that defensive staff. They aren't recruiting or coaching well. I lose confidence in him if he can't figure that out. If Hutzler has to stay on as a Co-DC while a good DC calls the defense, so be it. But we can't run this shit back or Lebby won't be employed here very long.

[StarkVegasSteve]

Lebby has to part ways with that defensive staff. They aren't recruiting or coaching well. I lose confidence in him if he can't figure that out. If Hutzler has to stay on as a Co-DC while a good DC calls the defense, so be it. But we can't run this shit back or Lebby won't be employed here very long.

I do agree that we need to overhaul the staff. If the contract is the big reason Hutzler is staying and you don't feel it will get better with talent, then let him coach LBs and move him to STC. Definitely get rid of Turner. The other two haven't shown me anything one way or the other so if a new DC has guys for those positions then can them.

[HancockCountyDog]

Lebby has to part ways with that defensive staff. They aren't recruiting or coaching well. I lose confidence in him if he can't figure that out. If Hutzler has to stay on as a Co-DC while a good DC calls the defense, so be it. But we can't run this shit back or Lebby won't be employed here very long.

Honest question, how can you judge this defensive staff with the talent we have on the roster? I don't care if we keep Hutzler or fire him today, I just don't know how you can judge a defense when we don't have a DL on the roster that can win a one on one battle.

I guess when it comes to defense I'm a big believer in Jimmy's and Joe's over X's and O's. We don't have a single dude on defense. I don't think we have anyone on the defensive roster that can make an NFL roster. That is the first time I've thought that since following the team. I don't think there is a single guy on the 85 man roster that can make an NFL roster. The only possibility is Isaac Smith and honestly I don't think he has the speed to play in the NFL, he is a solid college safety.

Saying that, I don't know how you judge a DC with that level of talent deficiency. Now, if your response is Toledo scored 41 points, then I hear ya, and its a solid argument. I just think the defense is getting better.

[StarkVegasSteve]

Honest question, how can you judge this defensive staff with the talent we have on the roster? I don't care if we keep Hutzler or fire him today, I just don't know how you can judge a defense when we don't have a DL on the roster that can win a one on one battle.

I guess when it comes to defense I'm a big believer in Jimmy's and Joe's over X's and O's. We don't have a single dude on defense. I don't think we have anyone on the defensive roster that can make an NFL roster. That is the first time I've thought that since following the team. I don't think there is a single guy on the 85 man roster that can make an NFL roster. The only possibility is Isaac Smith and honestly I don't think he has the speed to play in the NFL, he is a solid college safety.

Saying that, I don't know how you judge a DC with that level of talent deficiency. Now, if your response is Toledo scored 41 points, then I hear ya, and its a solid argument. I just think the defense is getting better.

A lot of people made up their mind after Arizona St and Toledo just added fuel to the fire. We were getting better and then Arkansas happened. I think, like you, that's it's more talent than scheme.

[KB21]

LOL working for Colorado, OM, Missouri, ASU, and just about any school doing it. It's about taking the right players, not just a body.

It's a short-term fix. Colorado and Arizona State are in year two of their portal recruiting just to get to the point where they can compete. For every Ole Miss, there is a Florida State. I'm also not throwing shade at portal recruiting. We have to do it to get back to being competitive. It's not something that is sustainable long-term though.

[KB21]

Lebby has to part ways with that defensive staff. They aren't recruiting or coaching well. I lose confidence in him if he can't figure that out. If Hutzler has to stay on as a Co-DC while a good DC calls the defense, so be it. But we can't run this shit back or Lebby won't be employed here very long.

How is Hutzler not recruiting well when four of our six four star rated players are defenders?

[Johnson85]

Honest question, how can you judge this defensive staff with the talent we have on the roster? I don't care if we keep Hutzler or fire him today, I just don't know how you can judge a defense when we don't have a DL on the roster that can win a one on one battle.

I guess when it comes to defense I'm a big believer in Jimmy's and Joe's over X's and O's. We don't have a single dude on defense. I don't think we have anyone on the defensive roster that can make an NFL roster. That is the first time I've thought that since following the team. I don't think there is a single guy on the 85 man roster that can make an NFL roster. The only possibility is Isaac Smith and honestly I don't think he has the speed to play in the NFL, he is a solid college safety.

Saying that, I don't know how you judge a DC with that level of talent deficiency. Now, if your response is Toledo scored 41 points, then I hear ya, and its a solid argument. I just think the defense is getting better.

If we don't have the talent to be competitive with Toledo, then that's on this staff too. There are enough defensive players out there in the portal each year to at least supplement even a bad SEC defense and be a competitive G5 defense.

But I think you judge it based on just how out of position we are. If a DB gets beat because he's not athletic enough, he's still going to generally be somewhere in the vicinity. When a team can go long on 4th down because they know they can get three receivers deep and us only get two DBs back to cover them, that's coaching.

[RezDog7]

Honest question, how can you judge this defensive staff with the talent we have on the roster? I don't care if we keep Hutzler or fire him today, I just don't know how you can judge a defense when we don't have a DL on the roster that can win a one on one battle.

I guess when it comes to defense I'm a big believer in Jimmy's and Joe's over X's and O's. We don't have a single dude on defense. I don't think we have anyone on the defensive roster that can make an NFL roster. That is the first time I've thought that since following the team. I don't think there is a single guy on the 85 man roster that can make an NFL roster. The only possibility is Isaac Smith and honestly I don't think he has the speed to play in the NFL, he is a solid college safety.

Saying that, I don't know how you judge a DC with that level of talent deficiency. Now, if your response is Toledo scored 41 points, then I hear ya, and it's area solid argument. I just think the defense is getting better.

We have to be at the bottom of opponent completion percentage. I understand our dline sucks. Blitz somebody. The scheme sucks.

[Goldendawg]

I do agree that we need to overhaul the staff. If the contract is the big reason Hutzler is staying and you don't feel it will get better with talent, then let him coach LBs and move him to STC. Definitely get rid of Turner. The other two haven't shown me anything one way or the other so if a new DC has guys for those positions then can them.

Wow, seems like Hutzler was coaching ST/LB at bama, and we give him $1 million for 3 years to learn to be our DC (did something similar under Arnett but maybe not $1 million per). Who continues to sign off on our "On the Job Training Program" for AD's, HC's and DC's at State?*****

[confucius say]

A lot of people made up their mind after Arizona St and Toledo just added fuel to the fire. We were getting better and then Arkansas happened. I think, like you, that's it's more talent than scheme.

I've been off Hutzler since Florida, but I will say Arkansas was the only game where we didn't keep getting better and it was the only one without all of your DL (Dinkins, Trevion, KBJ, and Russel). In games where Trevion and Russell have been back, the upward trajectory has continued. Will see how Mizzou goes.

[Goldendawg]

Honest question, how can you judge this defensive staff with the talent we have on the roster? I don't care if we keep Hutzler or fire him today, I just don't know how you can judge a defense when we don't have a DL on the roster that can win a one on one battle.

I guess when it comes to defense I'm a big believer in Jimmy's and Joe's over X's and O's. We don't have a single dude on defense. I don't think we have anyone on the defensive roster that can make an NFL roster. That is the first time I've thought that since following the team. I don't think there is a single guy on the 85 man roster that can make an NFL roster. The only possibility is Isaac Smith and honestly I don't think he has the speed to play in the NFL, he is a solid college safety.

Saying that, I don't know how you judge a DC with that level of talent deficiency. Now, if your response is Toledo scored 41 points, then I hear ya, and its a solid argument. I just think the defense is getting better.

Getting better? We will probably go 2-10 and end the season close to last in most "D" stats nationally. This is definately a combination of poor talent and bad coaching.

[Goldendawg]

If we don't have the talent to be competitive with Toledo, then that's on this staff too. There are enough defensive players out there in the portal each year to at least supplement even a bad SEC defense and be a competitive G5 defense.

But I think you judge it based on just how out of position we are. If a DB gets beat because he's not athletic enough, he's still going to generally be somewhere in the vicinity. When a team can go long on 4th down because they know they can get three receivers deep and us only get two DBs back to cover them, that's coaching.

This 100%. Been to every home game and opposition receivers still running wide open.