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Dec 11, 2024 | 5:45 AM EST
The transfer portal is the wild west of CFB recruiting, where opportunities are traded like poker chips, and high school players are left wondering if they even have a seat at the table. It’s the biggest shake-up to the college football ecosystem in recent memory, and the ripple effects are hitting high school athletes harder than ever.
For college coaches, the logic is simple. Why bet on the potential of a high school recruit when a seasoned, college-ready player is just a portal entry away? “Win now” is the mantra, and in a world where job security for coaches is as fragile as a glass slipper, the portal provides an immediate solution. If put it bluntly, with the portal, you get a player who can contribute tomorrow, not two years down the road. This strategy, however, has left many prep players in limbo, waiting for scholarships that may never come.
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The numbers back it up. According to NCAA reports, over 3,000 players entered the portal in 2023, with many transferring multiple times during their college careers. The sheer volume of transfers means college rosters are filling up before high schoolers even get a chance to sign. And for players on the cusp—those three-star recruits hoping to earn a last-minute offer—the portal has become a roadblock. Coaches know that experienced college players are often a safer bet, especially under pressure to deliver immediate results for boosters and administrators.
This shift has also changed the dynamics of how scholarships are managed. Once a player enters the portal, their current school isn’t required to honor their scholarship beyond the semester. It’s a calculated risk for athletes looking to upgrade their situation. Some land on their feet at a new program, while others find themselves without a team—or a scholarship. And this same uncertainty is now creeping into the high school ranks, where coaches are reluctant to commit resources to players who might not pan out.
It’s a high-stakes balancing act for high school athletes. The NCAA Eligibility Center sets strict academic standards, requiring a certain GPA and test scores for eligibility. But even meeting these benchmarks doesn’t guarantee a scholarship offer anymore. Players now face an added layer of competition from transfers, many of whom have already proven their worth at the college level. Just take the case of the Liberty Flames star Kaidon Salter, who announced he’s entering the portal again. It’s not just about being good anymore. It’s about being undeniable.
For the class of 2024, the path to college football has never been more uncertain. Players are working harder than ever to stand out, knowing that scholarships are increasingly scarce. As not everyone is a 5-Star Buffs commit, or the No. 1 prospect of the 2026 class. The portal also has a severe impact on high school recruiting.
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High School football players are constantly being overlooked because of the transfer portal. When it comes to college football, winning isn’t just everything—it’s the only thing. Fans, administrators, and deep-pocketed boosters demand results, and when the heat is on, coaches know they have to deliver now. With their jobs often hanging by a thread, recruiting becomes a high-stakes game of chess, and every move is critical.
Take Florida State, for example. The Sunshine State is a hotbed for high school football talent, yet the Seminoles seem to have tapped the brakes on locking down high school commitments. A few years ago high school recruit, offensive lineman Jaylen Early, pledged back on August—and he’s not even from Florida! Early hails from Duncanville, Texas, a powerhouse program just outside Dallas.
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This cautious approach reflects a shift in strategy. Instead of rolling the dice on high school players who might take a year or two to develop, FSU and other programs are increasingly eyeing seasoned transfers who can make an instant impact. It’s a risky but understandable move in today’s win-or-else college football landscape.
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