Link: 2026 Transfer Portal

[AWRTR]

Deboer ain’t changing his philosophy

Well then he will either turn the corner this year or get fired next December. I’m pulling for him to turn the corner.

 

[NoNC4Tubs]

This staff is getting absolutely BODIED right now.

Real Time Rankings:

View attachment 55123

There are literally 60 Staffs doing a better job and 50 of those are working with less NIL funds.

Says who? Who exactly is assigning these values? Unless they are prophets, its just a wild-butt guess. It's been stated ad nauseum that recruiting isn't an exact science...

 

[81usaf92]

I thought the NCAA had gone to a single window now (for 15 days from Jan 2nd to the 16th) with the exception being for those teams in the CFP where they get five days after their teams’ last game or if there is a head coaching change?

There is only one portal window now: January 2 to 16.

Correct. I’m still on old rules. Maybe my dying investment or too busy to care about it contributes.

My point is still however is that we can’t just look at one or two moves as “this killed us” or “this made us”. The truth is we won’t know until October. FSU spent an insane amount of money in the portal last year and got nothing outside of a win over Bama out of it. Yet Indiana pays almost nothing and gets a national championship berth. It’s a bigger crapshoot than recruiting.

 

[BamaMoon]

So a question: If we admitted we swung and struck out last year in the portal, do we really think our staff is so stupid that they'd just try the same method again this year???

IDK, but I've got more confidence in CKD and his staff than that!

Patience is a virtue!

 

[BamaBoySince89]

I’m of the opinion of @BamaMoon, we really don’t know what the strategy is but in the meantime we’re all getting antsy and irritated because it “appears” that we’re not making any progress.

I’m just sitting back and watching, only time will tell if this staff is really up to task right now or everything is falling apart.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

#2 recruiting class and we were in the final 8…
We’re very spoiled. It’s not the Bama Standard but it’s better than most…

And those recruiting classes are now irrelevant because most of that #2 class will be gone after one year if theyre not playing or getting a raise. Its the portal recruiting and retainafe thats now the most important, not HS recruiting classes.

 

[BamaMoon]

I’m of the opinion of @BamaMoon, we really don’t know what the strategy is but in the meantime we’re all getting antsy and irritated because it “appears” that we’re not making any progress.

I’m just sitting back and watching, only time will tell if this staff is really up to task right now or everything is falling apart.

Thank you. My point exactly.

And if/when the time comes that it is clear and evident this staff has failed, I'll eat crow, but the point is we won't know until this time next year.

 

[NoNC4Tubs]

The issue is they should have room to sign over 20 more guys, and yet they're actually not very active in the portal. This is a team that lost 20 players via the portal! They have needs, but they're slow walking the portal additions, which to me is the opposite of what you should do if you have your list of evaluation finds, 3 stars, those sort of things. Those guys are waiting to be snatched up, so what is the staff waiting for?

There is absolutely no reason to wait to snatch up a hidden gem you found. So the fact that they're not leads one to conclude they didn't find them, which is not a good look. Couple this with the bad portal class last year and it starts to add up.

Edit: Even Clemson has more portal additions! Dabo, who famously hates the portal and doesn't want to use it has added more players via the portal!

The only Portal contacts that are being widely reported are the highest ranked players, so how do we know we aren't extremely active right now? Do you know somebody in the program that is telling you this is true?

 

[BamaBoySince89]

Thank you. My point exactly.

And if/when the time comes that it is clear and evident this staff has failed, I'll eat crow, but the point is we won't know until this time next year.

I just hope their action with the portal/NIL is not an indication of how they’ve prepared to play games because we’ve seen multiple times how that worked out

 

[tusks_n_raider]

I agree, but those guys would not be getting high ratings in the Portal Rankings either. You can't have it both ways...

My point is being misconstrued.

I’m saying *IF* we can’t get 4 stars consistently (and apparently we can’t even though we have Top 10 NIL Coffers)

Then

Adapt

Adjust the plan

Stop throwing money at that exclusively.

Start digging through the 2 and 3 stars now while the better ones are available and identify and find the guys that fit the ‘CKD proverbial system’ and then start signing them.

It’s not necessarily an either or thing.

You probably need to target a mix of system fits and higher caliber talent.

But if we keep messing around with the 4 and 5 stars and whiffing we won’t have much but absolute scraps to dig through later.

 

[sanjosecrimson]

That’s a pretty big accusation…how do you know this? Swings and misses don’t mean you’re not working…retaining your current roster doesn’t mean you’re not working…my goodness everyone back off the edge. We’re not the only team trying to navigate this crazy new world. It sucks, everyone has said they hate it, we get it…I hate it…I’m guessing that there are a handful in here that could do better than our staff??? Come on…

I woke up this morning, and I read 4-5 pages of the same old angst on this portal mess, and I should have stay in bed a little longer. its Saturday, the weekend. 36 degrees in San Jose, a beautiful cold winter morning. I suggest some posters enjoy their weekend and let the chips fall where they may.

 

[NoNC4Tubs]

For all of you saying "be patient", "let the process work itself out", "back off from the ledge", etc., I have one question: Can you name one piece of evidence, one past concrete action that gives you even a modicum of confidence that this staff is going to figure this out and salvage this portal effort?

I'm willing to trust if there's good basis for doing so. I'm just not seeing it.

How can you judge the final product if the product is finished yet?

Man, the impatience of many posters here is...

 

[tusks_n_raider]

So a question: If we admitted we swung and struck out last year in the portal, do we really think our staff is so stupid that they'd just try the same method again this year???

IDK, but I've got more confidence in CKD and his staff than that!

Patience is a virtue!

Answer: Yes

2nd part: My Question

“Why?”

 

[RollTide-YNWA]

... only time will tell if this staff is really up to task right now or everything is falling apart.

Not being a smart-aleck, but how much time? If it seems like it's the same thing happening again, how many times does it happen before it's okay to question the process?

EDIT: I see BamaMoon answered my question a couple of posts later.

 

[NoNC4Tubs]

That’s his job snd he’s paid over s million a year! That’s the problem right there: low expectations for these jokers. Other programs have it already figured out but not this one. And we’re seeing the results on the field and in recruiting.

Morgan can't control the whims of an immature kid (and his parents/handlers) any more than you or I can. All of these dollar signs flying around tends to mess up otherwise effective recruiting efforts.

 

[NoNC4Tubs]

My point is being misconstrued.

I’m saying *IF* we can’t get 4 stars consistently (and apparently we can’t even though we have Top 10 NIL Coffers)

Then

Adapt

Adjust the plan

Stop throwing money at that exclusively.

Start digging through the 2 and 3 stars now while the better ones are available and identify and find the guys that fit the ‘CKD proverbial system’ and then start signing them.

It’s not necessarily an either or thing.

You probably need to target a mix of system fits and higher caliber talent.

But if we keep messing around with the 4 and 5 stars and whiffing we won’t have much but absolute scraps to dig through later.

So your plan would be...?

 

[81usaf92]

My point is being misconstrued.

I’m saying *IF* we can’t get 4 stars consistently (and apparently we can’t even though we have Top 10 NIL Coffers)

Then

Adapt

Adjust the plan

Stop throwing money at that exclusively.

Start digging through the 2 and 3 stars now while the better ones are available and identify and find the guys that fit ‘CKD proverbial system’ and then start signing them.

It’s not necessarily an either or thing.

You probably need to target a mix of system fits and higher caliber talent.

But if we keep messing around with the 4 and 5 stars and whiffing we won’t have much but absolute scraps to dig through later.

Everyone keeps saying “our plan is just throwing money at 4 and 5 stars” but we only have 2 of them. It’s like we see a guy say something and then we just parrot it to make sense of something we really don’t know what is actually happening. Based on who we have been chasing… outside of Smothers and Coleman are the only ones that we have really targeted I don’t we have made these huge money fishing expeditions in the process. It seems like we have been targeting guys that fit DeBoer’s offensive philosophy and defensive depth more than stars

 

[BamaBoySince89]

Not being a smart-aleck, but how much time? If it seems like it's the same thing happening again, how many times does it happen before it's okay to question the process?

When I say time, I mean he has a short one, like by the time the portal closes.

 

[mfleck]

I have said this numerous times, we better have a coaching staff that can develop the talent they bring in. We no longer will just be the most talented team in the field. I do have faith that our coaches are capable but reserve the right to change my mind next year. Have patience and trust the coaches

 

[BamaBoySince89]

Morgan can't control the whims of an immature kid (and his parents/handlers) any more than you or I can. All of these dollar signs flying around tends to mess up otherwise effective recruiting efforts.

The powers that be are very intentional, IMO about the mess that has ensued. Us as fans have been betrayed.

It messes up recruiting and development. A kid jumping around every year has to kill their development but most of them are trying to capitalize as much as they can, while they can. If you give a kid millions of dollars with no rules, then you can’t be mad at them for how they react.