NIL

Evaluating VCU's transfer portal

What does the college basketball world think of VCU‘s work in the transfer portal under first-year coach Phil Martelli Jr.? As the sun sets on portal season, rosters across the country solidify and players begin to arrive on campus to commence their summer workout schedules, pundits are taking stock of the nation’s winners and losers. […]

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2 months ago

June 3, 2025

Your Sports Nation

What does the college basketball world think of VCU‘s work in the transfer portal under first-year coach Phil Martelli Jr.?

As the sun sets on portal season, rosters across the country solidify and players begin to arrive on campus to commence their summer workout schedules, pundits are taking stock of the nation’s winners and losers.

Tobias Bass, a staff editor for The Athletic’s college hoops coverage, released a list of mid-major winners of the 2025 transfer portal season.

Bass, a scout, analyst and Texas Tech alumnus who’s been at The Athletic for three years, listed VCU, in addition to Atlantic 10 foes George Washington, Saint Joseph’s and Dayton, among his standout mid-major winners.

My transfer portal Mid Major winners pic.twitter.com/ZRaOHS8Jv0

— Tobias Bass (@tobias_bass) June 1, 2025

The Rams brought in seven transfers —junior guard Tyrell Ward (LSU); redshirt-senior guard Jadrian Tracey (Oregon); sophomore guard Ahmad Nowell (UConn); junior forward Keyshawn Mitchell (Bryant); senior forward Barry Evans (Bryant); redshirt-sophomore forward Jordann Dumont (Villanova); and junior forward Lazar Djokovic (College of Charleston).

That incoming haul will augment five returners — sophomore guards Brandon Jennings and Terrence Hill; junior wing Michael Belle; senior forward Christian Fermin; and redshirt-junior forward Obi Okafor — plus a pair of high-caliber Class of 2025 recruits in freshmen guards Nyk Lewis and Jordan Tillery.

Martelli’s roster reload: New VCU basketball coach breaks down Rams transfers, recruits

Bass highlighted the collective size Martelli brought in — every transfer, sans Nowell (6-foot) is at least 6-foot-5, and Mitchell, Evans, Dumont and Djokovic are all taller than 6-8.

“This is a big team, and (Martelli) brought in guys that are just productive,” Bass said. “A lot of times, you see teams that are victims of the portal. You don’t want to be a victim. You want to be someone that brings in good players consistently.”

‘No fear’: VCU alum, former New Kent coach Pellot-Rosa aims to revitalize Richmond City

By “victim of the portal,” Bass means that programs are often shoehorned into bringing in players based purely on talent, and not on how those individuals fit into a given team’s culture and style of play.

“Obviously you want to get the best player you can get, but I think you need to get guys that make sense for your culture and your team,” Bass said.

“Especially when you’re bringing in seven guys, they not only have to be good (talent-wise), but they have to be good people. There are so many different personalities, egos, adjustments. They have to be decent individuals, good character kids who want to buy into what you’re trying to sell them.”

032825-rtd-met-martelli — New VCU coach Phil Martelli Jr. shows off a notebook he received for attending a basketball clinic at the 2011 Final Four at Houston, where the Rams made their first and only appearance in the NCAA tournament national semifinals.

Margo Wagner, Times-Dispatch

When former Rams big whistle Ryan Odom departed Utah State for VCU two years ago, former Aggies Max Shulga and Sean Bairstow proved the nucleus around which Odom’s first VCU roster was built.

Such is the case for Martelli with Evans and Mitchell, who bring an understandings of the Bulldogs’ culture and style. Additionally, forwards were at a premium nationally this transfer portal season.

“There are teams now that are still looking for bigs,” Bass said. “And in the A-10, especially at that level, you’ve got to have size because the league is so physical. You have to have some tough guys, and especially some guys you’ve coached in the past, so that was huge for them to get both those guys in there … I would really lean on those guys. They know how coach (Martelli) operates, they know what he expects.”

VCU basketball notes: Lewis invited to U19 national team camp; Okafor return confirmed

UConn, Oregon, LSU, Villanova — another facet of VCU’s work in the transfer portal that Bass likes is Martelli’s ability to pull players from high-major programs. Tracey has experience in the NCAA tournament with the Ducks.

Nowell was a top-40 recruit out of high school. Ward was among the SEC’s best shooters two years ago. Though Dumont played sparingly last season after undergoing surgery on both his hips, that fact that the Wildcats recruited him suggests there’s a high ceiling there if he can get healthy for a full summer in the gym with Martelli’s staff.

“Whenever you can get kids at the high-major level that have played in the (NCAA) tournament, that know what it’s like to win games, that’s always important,” Bass said.

“The more (NCAA) tournament players you can bring in, the better. So bringing in Tracey who’s had experience, played in a physical league in the Big 10, he’s going to be another really good player for VCU next year. And Tyrell Ward, he sat out last year but that kid’s really talented … a change of scenery will do him well. He’ll be a sneaky pickup for them.”

If there’s a hole in VCU’s roster on paper, it is perhaps backcourt experience. Hill, Jennings, Nowell and Lewis are all underclassmen, and much of the ballhandling responsibility figures to fall on their shoulders.

Ward has appeared in 54 college games, but sat out last season. Tracey has appeared in 93 college games, so his veteran presence will be vital to the makeup of VCU’s backcourt, though he’s a physical guard / forward hybrid, not an on-ball distributor whom you’d expect to bring the ball up the floor.

“It’ll just be age, you can’t teach experience,” Bass said. “It is something to to keep an eye on. Those early games, getting them experience against some good teams, that’ll do them well. Because by the time they get to conference play, you want them to be ready.”

Around the A-10, Bass was struck by how many high-major transfers, and players who were top-100 recruits out of high school, chose to join the league.

The Revolutionaries, Hawks and Flyers all made headway in that regard. For years now, the A-10 has sought to rediscover the days in which it was earning three-to-five at-large bids to the NCAA tournament.

“This year, you’re going to see very good college basketball players, the transfer portal, sometimes it gives, sometimes it takes away,” Bass said, adding that he expects Martelli to win immediately at VCU, and to get the Rams back to the Big Dance.

“The A-10, they definitely got a lot of talent this year. Every night is going to be a war.”

Photos: VCU drops 1st-round game to BYU in NCAA Tournament

The Cougars prevailed 80-71

Zach Joachim (804) 649-6555

zjoachim@timesdispatch.com

NIL

Nation’s top uncommitted college football recruit hints at decision day

The top available recruit in the class of 2026 is nearing a decision while entertaining three major college football programs. Five-star EDGE Anthony “Tank” Jones is down to Alabama, Texas A&M and Oregon before announcing his commitment. The 6-foot-3, 245-pound pass rusher ranks as the No. 18 overall recruit and the No. 5 EDGE in […]

Published

7 minutes ago

July 29, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The top available recruit in the class of 2026 is nearing a decision while entertaining three major college football programs.

Five-star EDGE Anthony “Tank” Jones is down to Alabama, Texas A&M and Oregon before announcing his commitment. The 6-foot-3, 245-pound pass rusher ranks as the No. 18 overall recruit and the No. 5 EDGE in the class.

Jones, who plays for St. Paul’s Episcopal High School in Mobile, Alabama, totaled 84 tackles (18 for loss) with 16 sacks as a junior in 2024. He holds an On3 NIL valuation of $314,000 entering his senior season.

The highly-coveted recruit is favored to land with head coach Kalen DeBoer and the in-state Crimson Tide over Texas A&M and Oregon, according to Rivals. However, after officially visiting his top-three contenders and making trips to both Miami and Auburn, Jones has yet to reveal when he will make his decision.

While that exact date is still unknown, Jones updated his process on Monday, revealing that he will make his choice “either this week or next week.”

St. Paul’s ‘26 5 star EDGE Anthony “Tank” Jones provided an update on his recruitment. @Tank_Jones251

“I’m making a decision either this week or next week.”

He’s down to Alabama, Oregon & Texas A&M. pic.twitter.com/bxKC88bnye

— Larry Rudolph (@ScoutFball) July 28, 2025

Texas A&M currently leads the pack with the fifth ranked class of 2026 followed by Alabama (6th) and Oregon (7th). DeBoer and Co. might have the edge as far as home proximity, but Mike Elko’s Aggies and Dan Lanning’s Ducks should be respected as serious contenders with plenty of NIL backing.

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What is the Legacy of Nebraska Football’s Tom Osborne?

Tom Osborne biographer Henry Cordes of the Omaha World Herald and Brandon Vogel of the Counter Read Newsletter join the Common Fans for the final episode of the Tom Osborne series. Simply put, TO is the best coach in Nebraska football history, and one of the greatest college football coaches of all time. Beloved by […]

Published

12 minutes ago

July 29, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Tom Osborne biographer Henry Cordes of the Omaha World Herald and Brandon Vogel of the Counter Read Newsletter join the Common Fans for the final episode of the Tom Osborne series.

Simply put, TO is the best coach in Nebraska football history, and one of the greatest college football coaches of all time.
Beloved by his players to this day.
Deep and lasting connection to his players, built on a concern for them first as people and second as football players.
The Lawrence Phillips question.
What if TO had kept coaching?
Can TO’s development-focused approach still work in today’s era of NIL and the transfer portal?
How has the standard of excellence established by Osborne and Devaney affected every Nebraska coach who came after him?
And so much more!

Thanks to Henry Cordes and Brandon Vogel for joining us for this fantastic conversation. GBR for LIFE!

Listen on the Common Fan website, Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, Pandora, iHeart Radio, and PocketCasts.

Or watch below!

More from Nebraska Cornhuskers On SI

Stay up to date on all things Huskers by bookmarking Nebraska Cornhuskers On SI, subscribing to HuskerMax on YouTube, and visiting HuskerMax.com daily.

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USD Football Picked First in 2025 PFL Preseason Poll

Story Links 2025 PFL Coaches Poll (PDF) ST. LOUIS (PFL) – For the first time since 2019, San Diego football has been tapped as the Pioneer Football League’s preseason favorite in the league’s 2025 Preseason Coaches Poll, released Monday. Pioneer Football League2025 Preseason Coaches’ […]

Published

30 minutes ago

July 29, 2025

Your Sports Nation

ST. LOUIS (PFL) – For the first time since 2019, San Diego football has been tapped as the Pioneer Football League’s preseason favorite in the league’s 2025 Preseason Coaches Poll, released Monday.

PL	Team	1st	2nd	3rd	Points
Pioneer Football League 2025 Preseason Coaches’ Poll
1.	San Diego	5	4	1	94
2.	Drake	3	2	1	78
3.	St. Thomas	1	2	0	72
4.	Butler	0	1	4	66
5.	Dayton	0	1	2	65
6.	Morehead St.	1	0	0	64
7.	Presbyterian	1	1	1	55
8.	Davidson	0	0	1	53
9.	Marist				24
10.	Valparaiso				18
11.	Stetson				16
First-place votes in parentheses. 10 points awarded for a first-place vote, with one point less for each succeeding place. (Maximum score = 100) Coaches were not allowed to vote for their team.

The PFL will present its 2025 Preseason All-PFL Team on Tuesday.

San Diego picked up five first-place votes and was not ranked lower than third by any of the league’s head coaches to earn the poll’s top spot with 94 points.

Drake, the 2024 PFL Champion, was first on three ballots and was picked in the top three on six ballots to earn second in the poll with 78 points. St. Thomas, with 72 points, including a first-place vote, was third with 72 points.

Butler, Dayton, and Morehead State were tightly packed in the next three spots. Butler was fourth with 66 points thanks to five votes in the top three. Dayton was a point behind in fifth place at 65 points. Morehead State nabbed a first-place vote and was sixth in the poll with 65 points for its best preseason positioning since 2022, when it was picked fifth.

Presbyterian had one vote for each of the top three spots and edged out Davidson for the No. 7 position in the poll with 55 points. Davidson was eighth with 53 points.
Marist, Valparaiso, and Stetson rounded out the PFL Preseason Coaches’ Poll, ranked ninth, 10th, and 11th, respectively.

The poll reflects the vastly different landscape in the PFL entering the 2025 season with five programs helmed by new head coaches: Kevin Lynch at Butler, Saj Thakkar at Davidson, Joe Woodley at Drake, Mike Jasper at Stetson, and Andy Waddle at Valparaiso.

The upcoming 2025 season marks the 33rd year of the Pioneer Football League. The league will feature 11 teams, each playing an eight-game schedule to determine the league champion and recipient of the automatic bid to the NCAA FCS Championship. The 2025 schedule gets underway Thursday, August 28, with Dayton, Drake, and St. Thomas set to kick off on opening night. Marist opens its season on Friday, August 29, followed by the league’s remaining seven teams on Saturday, August 30.

About the Pioneer Football League
The Pioneer Football League is the only non-scholarship, football-only NCAA Football Championship Subdivision conference. The PFL is a truly national conference with members on each coast and throughout the nation’s heartland. Butler University, the University of Dayton, Drake University, and Valparaiso University were among the league’s founding members in 1993, with Davidson College, Marist University, Morehead State University, Presbyterian College, the University of San Diego, the University of St. Thomas, and Stetson University joining to form the current 11-team league.

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NIL

Welcoming All-American Volleyball Stars Andi Jackson and Izzy Starck

Avoli Elevates Roster with Elite NIL Signings: Welcoming All-American Volleyball Stars Andi Jackson and Izzy Starck Avoli Elevates Roster with Elite NIL Signings: Welcoming All-American Volleyball Stars Andi Jackson and Izzy Starck Avoli Further Solidifies Leadership in Women’s Volleyball, Driving Growth Through Strategic Athlete and Brand Partnerships PORTLAND, Ore., July 28, 2025–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Avoli, the first […]

Published

60 minutes ago

July 29, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Avoli Elevates Roster with Elite NIL Signings: Welcoming All-American Volleyball Stars Andi Jackson and Izzy Starck

Avoli Further Solidifies Leadership in Women’s Volleyball, Driving Growth Through Strategic Athlete and Brand Partnerships

PORTLAND, Ore., July 28, 2025–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Avoli, the first and only athletic brand dedicated exclusively to the performance needs and aspirations of women and girl volleyball athletes, today announced its most significant collegiate NIL athlete signings to date: Andi Jackson (University of Nebraska) and Izzy Starck (Penn State University). These pivotal partnerships highlight Avoli’s unwavering commitment to empowering the sport’s top talent and its strategic position within the rapidly expanding landscape of women’s volleyball.

Joining Avoli’s elite roster are two of the NCAA’s most impactful and celebrated volleyball athletes:

Andi Jackson, a dominant middle blocker entering her junior season at the University of Nebraska, is a First-Team AVCA All-American and a two-time All-Big Ten selection (First Team in 2024). She boasted a remarkable .448 hitting percentage, ranking 4th in Division I, during the 2024 season, and is a cornerstone of Nebraska’s championship program.
Izzy Starck, entering her sophomore season at Penn State University, was the 2024 AVCA Freshman of the Year and a Second-Team All-American. She led Penn State to the 2024 National Championship with a record 1,483 assists, including the final point.

Avoli, recognized as the first footwear brand to sign women’s volleyball athletes to NIL deals, has been at the forefront of NIL since its launch in 2023. Having worked with high-profile athletes like Harper Murray and Anna DeBeer, Avoli proactively utilizes these elite talents to amplify its brand. Andi Jackson and Izzy Starck will be prominently highlighted across Avoli’s channels throughout the upcoming NCAA season and beyond.

“Bringing Andi and Izzy into the Avoli family is a natural extension of our commitment to empowering women and girls in volleyball,” said Rick Anguilla, Avoli Co-Founder. “They are exceptional athletes and inspiring role models to young volleyball players, and their decision to champion our brand underscores the real impact we’re having on the sport. We’re thrilled to welcome them to the Avoli team as we continue to innovate and support the sport’s incredible momentum.”

Avoli’s rapid success is strengthened by strategic partnerships, notably with top sports retailer SCHEELS. Since launching in select retail locations in 2024, Avoli has achieved remarkable growth, driven by its unparalleled innovation and high-quality footwear that is unique in the women’s volleyball space.

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Offensive lineman DJ Wingfield files lawsuit against NCAA in bid to play for USC

When DJ Wingfield picked USC in the transfer portal last January, it seemed like an ideal one-year arrangement for both parties. The Trojans desperately needed experience on the interior of their already thin offensive line. Wingfield — after two seasons at a junior college, one at New Mexico and another spent at Purdue — was […]

Published

1 hour ago

July 29, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Offensive lineman DJ Wingfield files lawsuit against NCAA in bid to play for USC

USC offered him a clear path to playing time at left guard, as well as a $210,000 payday for his name, image and likeness. He just needed the NCAA to approve a waiver for him to play another season.

Neither Wingfield nor USC figured that would be a problem at the time. But the NCAA denied Wingfield’s initial request for a waiver in late March, then later denied his appeal.

So, with fall camp set to open this week, Wingfield took the only route remaining for him to play at USC: He filed a lawsuit against the NCAA, seeking injunctive relief in order to play for USC.

Wingfield is seeking to challenge the lawfulness of the NCAA’s “Five-Year Rule”, which contends that players are eligible to play four seasons of competition across five years. Both USC and Wingfield believed, according to the complaint, that his waiver would be approved, considering recent rulings in the cases of Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia and Rutgers’ Jett Elad, each of whom won the right in court to play an additional season.

But the waiver was denied, robbing Wingfield, he claims, of what could have been a “once-in-a-lifetime” NIL payday as well as an opportunity to “enhance his career and reputation” by playing at USC.

“The effect of the NCAA’s anticompetitive conduct will be to penalize Wingfield for having attended a junior college and for the disruptions caused by the pandemic,” the complaint reads. “The NCAA’s anticompetitive conduct, coupled with its unreasonable denial of Wingfield’s meritorious request for a waiver, thus threatens him with immediate irreparable harm.”

Wingfield’s collegiate career began in 2019 at El Camino College, a junior college in Torrance. He left El Camino during the 2020 season due to the pandemic, as Wingfield was tasked with taking care of his mother.

He played at El Camino in 2021 before transferring to New Mexico in the spring of 2022. Before completing a single game with the Lobos, he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee, ending his season. He returned to play in nine games in 2023 before entering the transfer portal.

Wingfield transferred to Purdue where he earned a starting job in 2024, five years after he first started his college football career.

Still, he figured the NCAA would look past that timeline, given his circumstances and the cascade of legal challenges claiming that the NCAA is violating antitrust laws by limiting athletes’ eligibility.

Now that decision — and Wingfield’s college football future — is in the hands of a federal judge.

Whatever that judge decides could have an adverse impact on the Trojans offense this season. Without Wingfield, USC would be perilously thin up front. His absence could mean sliding projected right tackle Tobias Raymond to guard, while sophomore Justin Tauanuu steps in as starting right tackle. Otherwise, USC is likely to turn to inexperienced sophomore Micah Banuelos at left guard.

NIL

Nick Saban, Greg Byrne praise Trump’s NIL Executive Order: ‘takes a huge step’

President Donald Trump issued an executive order on name, image and likeness (NIL) in college sports — the first major step toward placing regulations and guardrails on a system that has taken on a life of its own. The order, according to a release directly from the White House is aimed to “protect student-athletes and […]

Published

2 hours ago

July 29, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The order, according to a release directly from the White House is aimed to “protect student-athletes and collegiate athletic scholarships and opportunities, including in Olympic and non-revenue programs, and the unique American institution of college sports.

Critics of NIL have argued for years now how it will be the end of non-revenue sports on college campuses, and the very first goal on the list for the order is preventing that.

RELATED: Trump issues NIL executive order on same day SCORE Act passes in U.S. House committee

Trump’s executive order has the stamp of approval from two of the most important people in the state of Alabama, former Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban and current Alabama athletics director Greg Byrne.

Byrne released a statement of support on his X account on Thursday night, while Saban also praised the decision during an appearance on Fox News on Friday:

pic.twitter.com/eFYQnq6bax

— Greg Byrne (@Greg_Byrne) July 25, 2025

“The University of Alabama applauds this executive order from President Trump to help secure a long-term sustainable model of intercollegiate athletics,” Byrne said. “We are proud of our broad-based athletics programs and strongly support future regulatory and Congressional action that will preserve these opportunities for student-athletes.”

Nick Saban praises @POTUS‘ Executive Order protecting student-athletes & collegiate athletic scholarships:

“I think @POTUS‘ Executive Order takes a huge step in providing the educational model that has always been what we’ve tried to promote to create opportunities for players.” pic.twitter.com/kehXs6kGg5

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 25, 2025

“I think President Trump’s Executive Order takes a huge step in providing the educational model that has always been what we’ve tried to promote to create opportunities for players male and female, revenue and non-revenue,” Saban said. “I think we sort of need to make a decision here relative to do we want to have an education based model which the President made a huge step towards doing that, or do we want to have universities sponsor professional teams? I think most people would choose the former.”

RELATED: As new Alabama-driven NIL bill gains traction, Congress moves to rein in ‘Wild West’ of college sports

College athletics have been moving towards a model — especially in football and basketball — to where players are employees rather than students, and the constant hemming and hawing of which direction will be taken in that area has stalled anything definitive from happening.

With Trump’s Executive Order though, it sounds like that momentum is being halted, and as Saban mentions, preserving not only non-revenue sports, but an educational-based system.

One critic of the amount of impact this will actually have was one of the most prominent college football reporters on the topic in Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports, who appeared on Paul Finebaum Thursday upon the news coming out and downplayed exactly what impact there is going to be:

Instant reaction from @RossDellenger :

“I wish I could tell you that (Trump’s executive order) was some groundbreaking thing and everything’s going to change in college sports after this…but I don’t think that’s the case.” pic.twitter.com/WxfjJIemE8

— Paul Finebaum (@finebaum) July 24, 2025

Dellenger pointed out that Congressional legislation is a much more permanent solution rather than any sort of Executive Order

“I wish I could tell you that (Trump’s executive order) was some groundbreaking thing and everything’s going to change in college sports after this…but I don’t think that’s the case.”

RELATED: Shomari Figures making bipartisan play to address NIL with support from GOP leaders, Alabama AD Greg Byrne

Ironically, U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures’ SCORE Act passed out of U.S. House committee on the same day and is moving towards passing as well, so perhaps actual change can be seen. The SCORE Act has similar goals as the Executive Order and could be even more critical than any sort of Executive Order.

Clearly, there is still a long road to go in order to get any sort of control on what college sports have become. Momentum though is moving in the right direction, and it certainly seems like those who make the every day decisions in college sports are in favor of action which has already been taken.

Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP and hear him every weekday morning from 6 to 9 a.m. on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5, available free online.

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