![]() Are there any teams that you’d classify as losers after this version of the transfer portal?ĭochterman: Purdue is the most unfortunate example of what happens to a program coming off a successful season and then its coach leaves. But given that most of these players have a collegiate track record, it’s fair to judge those teams that either whiffed on their needs or lost too many important players. Signing-day evaluations and NFL Draft grades often age poorly, especially with knee-jerk reactions. ![]() Penn State didn’t add the total number of players like at Wisconsin or Michigan State, but the substance was critical. Finally, grabbing Florida Atlantic punter Riley Thompson (45.8 yards per punt) was an under-the-radar move. Dante Cephas w as outstanding at Kent State and could fill Parker Washington’s role, as could Malik McClain of Florida State. Cornerback Storm Duck (great name, by the way) was a second-team All-ACC pick last year at North Carolina. The Nittany Lions dealt with the typical pre-portal type of attrition with backups looking for playing opportunities but snagged four huge pickups in the portal. The Wolverines fortified their offensive line and with significant returnees, they will remain the Big Ten favorite. I’m a fan of what Michigan and Penn State did. I’m intrigued by how it comes together because it’s so un-Wisconsin-like. Scott Dochterman: Wisconsin completely shook up both its offensive roster and reputation by adding talent and big names, all of whom you listed above. And Maryland upgraded its pass-catching spots for QB Taulia Tagovailoa. I like what Michigan did up front on offense in snagging Stanford transfers Myles Hinton and Drake Nugent. Williams, a top-100 prospect in 2022 who played at USC last year. Help at wide receiver is on the way, too, led by C.J. The QB competition will be fierce in Madison. The Badgers landed Tanner Mordecai, the seasoned starter at SMU who threw 72 touchdowns the past two years, then added Nick Evers from Oklahoma and Braedyn Locke from Mississippi State. New head coach Luke Fickell aggressively pursued quarterbacks after Graham Mertz, the three-year starter, entered the portal in early December and landed at Florida. Mitch Sherman: Wisconsin is widely recognized as the Big Ten team that most improved its roster. But there is plenty of credible information to analyze the comings and goings.įirst, which schools do you think clearly got better during the past six weeks through the transfer portal? Some are intraconference transfers while others are walk-ons, so the numbers are a bit sketchy. When we look at the portal numbers, unofficially Big Ten schools have added 92 newcomers via the transfer portal and lost 144 players. Here’s a conference-wide analysis and rundown of the work completed by every Big Ten team as this period of portal activity closes. Still, the impact of transfers in and out, around the league, rates as more significant today than ever. Hits are harder to find on the field than in sifting through the portal moves every winter. During the past two years, the Big Ten landed only five players on the season-ending All-Portal teams. What matters, as in recruiting, are the results. The transfer landscape at Penn State, with head coach James Franklin set to enter his 10th year after an 11-win season capped by a win in the Rose Bowl, differs dramatically from the situations under new coaches at Nebraska, Purdue and Wisconsin. So be wary of ratings that judge every team on talent acquisition or loss. Amid a coaching transition in a year, like this one, that permits unlimited initial counters, the portal can work to flip a roster. For others, the portal serves to fill a specific need. For some schools, it’s used to chop unproductive weight. Unlike in recruiting, the purpose of the portal is not simply to stock up on talent.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |