David Pollack believes upwards of 35 players will hit the portal from Athens.
Question here today…who is most likely to jump, and, more importantly, who do you hope doesn’t? Just a few thoughts…
- Jaden Rashada – I’m guessing he came to Athens to develop and move on. I can’t imagine he stays if there’s a high likelihood Stockton is QB1 or if a portal addition comes in.
- Christen Miller – He already tried to jump last year, and with McLeod getting better and the talent coming in across the D line, he might seek more exposure and playing time elsewhere.
- Ellis Robinson – I can’t still explain why he didn’t see the field more, and I wonder if he does, too. In the world of player tampering I can see someone making him an offer he can’t refuse.
- Either Robinson RB – With Nate Frazier being a sure pick to be RB1, I wonder how they will view the RB room heading into 2025. Georgia has some RB talent coming in through recruiting and may pick up a RB in the transfer portal, so it’ll be interesting to see what happens. Both fathers of the Robinsons are active on Twix, and I can tell they aren’t fans of Georgia fans and their reactions to losses.
Although it’s been said “it’s fine, we’ll replace you”, it stands to reason that there are some places we could’ve benefitted from having depth this past year. The current landscape of CFB, though, seems to prevent teams from having roster depth that might’ve been possible just a few years back.
What’s your thoughts?
The variable we don’t know is how much are other schools offering? Remember sometimes the equation is addition by subtraction. Think back to the 2020 season and who played in the peach bowl vs who left. The ones that stayed ended up with rings…….
At this point, I don’t really care. If you don’t want to be here, go somewhere else.
I never had a problem with NIL until the collectives showed up. That combined with the tampering that comes with unrestricted transfers is ruining college sports.
I’m not usually a “Congress should get involved” type, but if my Hartman contribution that goes specifically to fund scholarships is not deductible, I think all contributions to athletic only causes (capital campaigns, collectives, etc.) shouldn’t be deductible either. Overall, I would be ok if Congress completely stripped university athletic programs who participate in Division 1 athletics of their ability to obtain tax-exempt status for the sports in which they participate in Division 1. These are big businesses now rather than responsible for providing educational opportunities.
Rant over.
Interesting, the banter on socials in the wake of Georgia’s loss is that “the SEC is over now that everyone can pay players” which suggests the SEC was the only conference that may have compensated players under the table. Pretty sure this happened everywhere, but it’s funny how people are now rejoicing in what equates to financially cheating to achieve goals. Of course, no one really took issue with Michigan cheating their way to a natty, but I’d bet my ass that if Georgia or Alabama got caught sending staffers onto opposing teams sidelines, we would never hear the end of it and one of us would have gotten the death penalty. Harbaugh got away with murder, but the SEC is the conference of cheaters. Hilarious.
Right … there’s a reason Reggie Bush had his Heisman taken away from him until recently.
This is one of the main reasons I can’t stand the hippo critical b10. Lairs and cheaters are ok if they are in their league. Former tOSU coach Jim Tressell writes books on ethics while lying to the FBI protecting his roster. Urban Meyer is a hero to these creeps. It’s all rooted in jealousy that will be on full display until they get beaten in play.
I agree with the “if they don’t want to be here” statement wholeheartedly. In fact, the thing makes me go “meh” is how many individual transfers actually make a difference to a team (Indiana transferring most of the James Madison team the exception). Our transfer portal players, outside of ETN, really didn’t have an impact. We have seen a few of our players go and have impacts on other teams but we really haven’t seen a lift from the players we have gone after. In all reality, there may be 5-10 difference makers in the portal every year for the upper tier teams. Most of the rest will be difference makers for the lower level teams to set a market with a low ROI.
I believe a lot of that has to do with existing talent on the teams they went to. Good example being Jackson Meeks, who went over 1000 yds this season. Did we whiff and let a dynamic receiver go? Or was he #4 or #5 on our depth chart, but still easily #1 on theirs? If that’s the case (I believe so) then maybe his production is more of a by-product of his position on the depth chart. Another would be the linemen that left us and went to FSU a couple years ago, then proceeded to lead them in sacks and rack up some good stats. He would’ve been lucky to be on the 2 deep, had he stayed. Also consider the competition both of those players moved into. I would bet more SEC tackles and defensive backs are in the league, as opposed to the ACC..
Jermaine Johnson is who you are thinking of and I agree he is one of the ones I was thinking of. Mitchell and Burton are two others.
WRT Syracuse, they led the nation in passing. We were 12th and the Orangemen had almost 1000 more yards than we did and had almost 3 players with 1000 yards. I might put Meeks up there with Matt Landers.
Rashada came to be developed? By Bobo? Give me a break. Am hoping he stays at least thru spring ball and gets a serious look at QB1. I was on the field @ Tusca while the boys were warming up. Rashada was impressive with size & arm.
#52 would be a fool to leave. He is in prime position to be DT1….because he’s about the ONLY proven DT we’ve got coming back on the DL.
#1 — I’d leave too. Kirby really fucked up in mismanaging 6, 12, 7 all year. ERob & Damelo should have seen significantly more time/platooning with the three idiots we kept on the field in 2024. ERob should go get his $Mil and immediately play elsewhere! I’d be shocked if he stays.
#18/#19 — the two stars from the 2023 class need pledges of immediate p/t in 2025. Both were better equipped than 3, 5 & 10. If they don’t get the pledge, PORTAL!
All WRs free to portal. Good riddance.
#4/#7 —- I’d portal out. Disgraceful use of the TEs in 2024. If Bobo is back, PORTAL! Go get your $ and receptions!!
I can see 35 gone too….maybe more.
Pollack may be right but I think we all need to recalibrate how we view roster management going forward. It will be more like the NFL but without even their restrictions. HCs will need to fill out their 2-deep roster with the best talent available and use their NIL money to the maximum for this group of about 50 players. Strong mix of experienced Junior/Seniors and a couple of young superstars capable of starting now if you can get them. After that it’s practice squad fodder more than 3-4 year development projects. The kids that need time to grow, learn and mature need to go to smaller programs and JUCO. The romance of 4 year players for State U is over. Each season is a new run to the playoffs. Coaches become GMs in fitting pieces together that work immediately. Injuries, missed evaluations and inability to plug a talent hole will determine the outcome now. Adapt or die. If I’m Kirby I get an NFL guy on staff that really knows how to make this work…but never talk to Jerry Jones!
Wow. This is exactly why I don’t watch the NFL.
Agree. As a kid in the 70’s, the upcoming playoff games…both college and pro…would be must see tv. Now? Meh. Maybe it’s all the alternative entertainment, maybe it’s age. Either way, the passion is diminished.
FPD — well said!
FPD, that’s EXACTLY what CFP has become. I’ll always be a UGA fan, but my passion for CFB decreases by the day.
My sentiments exactly.
35 seems awfully high a number, I’d think 20-25 seems more accurate. Can see departures at all position groups for anyone 3rd string or lower, or a second stringer who gets a bag. It’s the norm now, unfortunately, for teams like Georgia.
I think there have already been 9 “counted” transfers in the portal before we even got out of 2024.
That’s right, I just don’t see another 20-25 like Pollack does. Unless Kirby thinks there were a lot of misses and cleans house. To me, that would be a huge surprise.
This ain’t your fathers roster management anymore, when student athlete$ will opt out before the season is over or even before the first ball is kicked off, ya shake your head and wonder, how much i$ not enough…GO DAWGS!!
Agreed, but Georgia ain’t broke either!
I think one thing affecting this is the coming roster limits next season, down significantly. That will necessarily drive players elsewhere.
Players who get paid quit on their team more times than not.
And then do transfer multiple times. (Looking at you Bear Alexander and Marvin Jones Jr.)
Adapt or die. The old landscape Kirby thrived in is mostly no more. Scouting, evaluation and minimizing “misses” are vital, now more than ever.
I’ve grown to hate the portal.
I don’t mind the portal and what was the NCAA’s original rule limiting immediate eligibility to one transfer plus a grad transfer. They folded when threatened with a lawsuit over it and then folded again when Pavia sued for his eligibility after JUCO. I can’t wait for someone to sue and say, “All of your eligibility rules prevent me from earning NIL.”
I don’t think you will have to wait long. I think the question what is the over/under. I set the lawsuit at 6 months and the decision at 9 months (following the Pavia timeline).