Transfer Portal Thread

[tim]

It feels like we are faring ok and holding a lot of players compared to other socons. Making offers that will improve us if we sign them. BUT it has just begun.

[FUwolfpacker]

A lot happened in this thread since the last time I looked.

The last 2 portal entries mentioned on here were PWO’s. If they didn’t see the field last year, it was unlikely they ever were going to besides special teams. Good luck to them.

Furman is doing ok for the most part as far as losses go relative to a lot of places. Hinton probably hurts the most followed by Chappell, Maier, and Hicks. I think the thing that probably stings the most is the loss of good young players. You can tolerate the loss of a grad transfer better (to me at least)…or at least understand it easier.

I think people are just going to have to accept this is reality now. The coaches are doing what they can to not only replace but improve at some of the places people are leaving. We’ll see where everything falls out in the spring/fall.

[FUwolfpacker]

Also, just so everyone is prepared...don't be surprised if more names go in the portal. I have no inside info on that, but kids can enter anytime between December 9th and 28th.

Of note, neither Grant Robinson nor Alex Maier have posted any offers at this point. That doesn't mean they don't have any or haven't heard from anyone, but they haven't publicly posted anything yet. If we could have anyone back at this point (assuming Hicks, Hinton, and Chappell are definitely gone), Maier would certainly be the most helpful as we are thin at the Bandit position as of now.

Also, thought this was interesting. As jackal said, this is happening everywhere. Not just Furman.

[The Jackal]

I think the undergrad transfers are the ones that bug me the most.

I can understand earning a Furman degree and then leveraging your last year or two of football for a graduate degree. I am not sure I can get my head around committing to a school (especially when that school took a chance on you that few, if any, schools were willing to), not earning a degree, then transferring somewhere else.

It's gotta be hard on the coaches. I can understand why some programs take the position that once you enter the portal, they cut you loose. It's hard to recruit your replacement when you are half in/half out based on whether you like your potential suitors more than the one you currently have.

[FUwolfpacker]

I think the undergrad transfers are the ones that bug me the most.

I can understand earning a Furman degree and then leveraging your last year or two of football for a graduate degree. I am not sure I can get my head around committing to a school (especially when that school took a chance on you that few, if any, schools were willing to), not earning a degree, then transferring somewhere else.

It's gotta be hard on the coaches. I can understand why some programs take the position that once you enter the portal, they cut you loose. It's hard to recruit your replacement when you are half in/half out based on whether you like your potential suitors more than the one you currently have.

Agreed on all points. Furman has benefited from having a few guys come back after entering the portal, but I certainly don't blame any coaching staff for drawing a line in the sand.

[The Jackal]

Also, just so everyone is prepared...don't be surprised if more names go in the portal. I have no inside info on that, but kids can enter anytime between December 9th and 28th.

Of note, neither Grant Robinson nor Alex Maier have posted any offers at this point. That doesn't mean they don't have any or haven't heard from anyone, but they haven't publicly posted anything yet. If we could have anyone back at this point (assuming Hicks, Hinton, and Chappell are definitely gone), Maier would certainly be the most helpful as we are thin at the Bandit position as of now.

Also, thought this was interesting. As jackal said, this is happening everywhere. Not just Furman.

If I were advising a kid, I'd look at those numbers and run the opposite way. The grass isn't always greener, and most lower level FBS schools aren't any better than your middle tier FCS schools.

I suspect most of the portal kids fall into one of a few buckets:

1. Have really stood out at their current level with an opportunity to "move up."
2. Are not getting playing time and want to go somewhere they'll see the field.
3. Want some sort of pay day.
4. Some personal reason the current program isn't a good fit (closer to home/family, coaching change, etc.)
5. I would wager some guys just love being recruited. I expect it's a lot of fun being the center of attention.

[AllTimeFU]

Agree on many points above. It must really suck as a coach to go through this...most of the time. There are probably some headaches that leave now and they are good with that. With Furman being a team that gets players in and develops them, it hurts to loose any kid you have been developing.

What I'd like to focus on are players that came in with a scholarship, haven't played and are leaving. I'm interested in swings and misses on the recruiting trail that end up leaving because they just haven't developed or there is some other issue.

You would think a player like Brody on the OL would have gotten a lot more opportunity to develop, other than mop up duty, in a year like this. There were several games where a full quarter of play would have helped develop him and perhaps not have lost him. Sticking with the starting 5 (or 6) on the OL until the final minute either speaks poorly to the rest of the OL roster or game management to develop.

[FUwolfpacker]

For those interested...

Best I can tell based on twitter/x snooping, Furman has 23 offers out currently. Certainly some of these have come because we're probably out of it with a few of the earlier offers, but just posting the numbers so everyone can see where we are.

6 RB
3 OL
1 TE
13 DBs

Tyriq Poindexter – OL VMI
Jordan Washington – DB Dartmouth
Shamar Baker – DB Johnson C Smith
Jalen Newman – DB Princeton
Gavin Shipman – DB Harvard
Donte Harrison – DB Shepard
Q Jones – RB Dartmouth
Dallas Shirley – OL Newberry
Marvae Myers – DB MTSU
Joseph Reddish – DB Wingate
Kolubah Pewee – DB Georgetown
CJ Stokes – RB Charlotte
Taylen Blaylock – DB Lindenwood
Branson Adams – RB WCU
Rashan Murray – DB
Damon Bankson – DB Weber St
Roman Pearson – DB Bucknell
Luke Clyburn – TE Newberry
Zach Palmer-Smith – RB Richmond
Javious Bond – RB ECU
Darren Burton II – DB Hampton
Jaydon Collins – OL WF
Tavierre Dunlap – RB Michigan

[The Jackal]

I suppose it is at least moderately encouraging that Furman does not have a lot of reported offers out to wide receivers or pass rushers and only one to a tight end.

I would assume that if those current rostered players were good as gone, we would be peppering the portal for veterans at those positions.

[FUBeAR]

Again, this is going to feel like a roller coaster for those of us that have followed Furman and/or college football for more than, say, 5 years.

But take at least some solace that this carousel is happening literally everywhere.

Mercer, for instance, lost on Saturday and arguably their best defensive player (Brayden Manely) entered the portal Sunday. He led the SoCon in sacks.

No argument about it. Manley was the SoCon DPOY for good reason.

FUBeAR attended Mercer’s opener this season against PC and said, during the game, that Manley would be playing P5 next season. He’s gonna get PAID!

Hate for Mercer and the SoCon to lose such talent, but this will be one of those that there is no way he can walk away from the money he will get and no way Mercer can match it.

Such is the way of College Football 2024

[FUwolfpacker]

I suppose it is at least moderately encouraging that Furman does not have a lot of reported offers out to wide receivers or pass rushers and only one to a tight end.

I would assume that if those current rostered players were good as gone, we would be peppering the portal for veterans at those positions.

Agreed. Although that can change at any point. The only one that's surprising to me is the lack of an edge offer. Those do seem to be at a premium right now. I know the coaches have followed a few pass rushers. I guess if Maier were to come back they might feel ok with Maier, Cheido, Short, and Schuck. There is also the option we could take one in the spring, but I would think they would want more than just Cheido (who hasn't played much), Short (a RS freshman), and Schuck (a preferred walk on sophomore who played admirably when forced into action). Even if Maier comes back he's coming off a season ending injury and hasn't played in a game since 2023. Will be interesting to see what the coaches decide to do.

[FUATT]

I suppose it is at least moderately encouraging that Furman does not have a lot of reported offers out to wide receivers or pass rushers and only one to a tight end.

I would assume that if those current rostered players were good as gone, we would be peppering the portal for veterans at those positions.

I would not expect Maier, Robinson or Hicks to be back. I think Hinton and Chappel could come back. Not sure on Balliew.
Agreed. Although that can change at any point. The only one that's surprising to me is the lack of an edge offer. Those do seem to be at a premium right now. I know the coaches have followed a few pass rushers. I guess if Maier were to come back they might feel ok with Maier, Cheido, Short, and Schuck. There is also the option we could take one in the spring, but I would think they would want more than just Cheido (who hasn't played much), Short (a RS freshman), and Schuck (a preferred walk on sophomore who played admirably when forced into action). Even if Maier comes back he's coming off a season ending injury and hasn't played in a game since 2023. Will be interesting to see what the coaches decide to do.

[FUwolfpacker]

I would not expect Maier, Robinson or Hicks to be back. I think Hinton and Chappel could come back. Not sure on Balliew.

Since Balliew committed to UWG, that feels pretty definite. If Maier and Robinson aren't likely to come back, then I doubt anyone will be back. Hinton and Chappel seem like they have enough offers at this point to expect that they won't be coming back. Those that have come back in the past (Blackshear, Yates, and Clark) did not have many public offers. Of course none of us know for sure.

If no one comes back AND no one else goes in, Furman will have had less portal turnover than most. Again, a lot can happen in 12 days. We'll see where everything shakes out in the spring.

[AllTimeFU]

For those interested...

Best I can tell based on twitter/x snooping, Furman has 23 offers out currently. Certainly some of these have come because we're probably out of it with a few of the earlier offers, but just posting the numbers so everyone can see where we are.

6 RB
3 OL
1 TE
13 DBs

Tyriq Poindexter – OL VMI
Jordan Washington – DB Dartmouth
Shamar Baker – DB Johnson C Smith
Jalen Newman – DB Princeton
Gavin Shipman – DB Harvard
Donte Harrison – DB Shepard
Q Jones – RB Dartmouth
Dallas Shirley – OL Newberry
Marvae Myers – DB MTSU
Joseph Reddish – DB Wingate
Kolubah Pewee – DB Georgetown
CJ Stokes – RB Charlotte
Taylen Blaylock – DB Lindenwood
Branson Adams – RB WCU
Rashan Murray – DB
Damon Bankson – DB Weber St
Roman Pearson – DB Bucknell
Luke Clyburn – TE Newberry
Zach Palmer-Smith – RB Richmond
Javious Bond – RB ECU
Darren Burton II – DB Hampton
Jaydon Collins – OL WF
Tavierre Dunlap – RB Michigan

I'm curious which of the OL seem to be the likeliest to commit to FU?
- Tyriq with offers from Virginia Tech and Northwestern
- Jaydon - offers from West Georgia (with Brody) and Gardner-Webb
- Dallas - offers from UT Martin, ETSU, etc..

Any other OL offers out there not listed?

[Davemeister]

We have a lot of offers out there.

Dabo Swinney said earlier this year: "80% of the players in the portal aren't good enough to play for Clemson."

What percentage of the players in the portal aren't good enough to play for Furman?