NIL
NCAA Transfer Portal Hits Record Numbers—Again
NCAA Transfer Portal Hits Record Numbers—Again Loading stock data… Privacy Manager 25
NIL
How the portal went from trickle to tidal wave
The concept of the Transfer Portal for college athletics was initially meant to give student-athletes an opportunity to find more playing time, better system fits, or an ability to escape toxic environments without being punished by losing a season of eligibility. Now, the Transfer Portal is an unlimited free agency, and the number of total […]
The concept of the Transfer Portal for college athletics was initially meant to give student-athletes an opportunity to find more playing time, better system fits, or an ability to escape toxic environments without being punished by losing a season of eligibility.
Now, the Transfer Portal is an unlimited free agency, and the number of total entrants has skyrocketed in recent seasons.
It never made sense to punish players for transferring, particularly when coaches have always had the ability to leave without any recourse. But, I think most fans of the sport would agree that the portal has now completely jumped the shark. Thousands of college football players enter the portal every offseason, and some players make it an annual tradition. The impact that has on fan interest and graduation rates will be interesting to study in the coming years.
The Transfer Portal was birthed in 2018, and while plenty of players took advantage of it, the initial portal entry numbers from the first few years of its existence pale in comparison to what we are seeing now. Why? NIL payments became legal in July of 2021, and the portal went from an avenue for athletes to seek better opportunities to unlimited free agency and the Wild West.
Players now leave good situations to seek the highest possible payday. They sell themselves to the highest bidder, turning themselves into mercenaries for hire and rejecting opportunities for immortality at their current schools.
There’s perhaps no better example of that than WR Isaiah Bond. Bond left Alabama for Texas following the 2023 season, leaving behind a lasting legacy in Tuscaloosa stemming from his game-winning touchdown reception to beat Auburn in the Iron Bowl on a miraculous 4th-and-31 conversion to chase a bag and a Lamborghini in Austin. Bond, through a disappointing season and off-field troubles, went undrafted in the 2025 NFL Draft. He left Alabama as a projected first or second-round pick.
Since NIL became legal and opened the door for pay-to-play in college sports, there’s been a drastic increase in yearly portal entrants in college football:
2018: 1561
2019: 1695
2020: 1583
2021: 2531
2022: 2918
2023: 3700
2024: 3843
After three years of stagnant numbers, the Transfer Portal exploded in 2021 with the beginning of NIL. There were nearly 1000 more portal entries in 2021 than in 2020, and that number has steadily grown every year since then.
It will be interesting to track moving forward what the impact of revenue-sharing in college sports has on the portal. Players will be entering into legal contracts with schools, and the language of those contracts will be fascinating to watch.
For example, Texas Tech landed 5-star OT Felix Ojo recently, agreeing on a 3-year, $5.1 million pact to lure the talented prospect to Lubbock. Is that three-year pact binding? Is there a buyout if he decides to enter the portal after a year or two?
NIL had a seismic shift on the Transfer Portal, pushing more and more student-athletes to seek a bigger payday from other programs. Revenue-sharing is the next seminal moment in the sport, and when the winter portal window opens in December, we’ll get a better idea of its impact.
NIL
New NIL deal is a game changer for Georgia’s pursuit of No. 1 LB
Tyler Atkinson is the No. 1 linebacker in the 2026 recruiting class and is a top target for Georgia. Atkinson is yet to announce a commitment date yet, but the expectation is that he could share that news sometime this next month. So while the college football world waits for that announcement, Atkinson recently shared […]
Tyler Atkinson is the No. 1 linebacker in the 2026 recruiting class and is a top target for Georgia. Atkinson is yet to announce a commitment date yet, but the expectation is that he could share that news sometime this next month.
So while the college football world waits for that announcement, Atkinson recently shared some big personal news involving a new NIL deal.
The No. 1 linebacker in the class of 2026, Tyler Atkinson, has signed with adidas as an NIL partner /// https://t.co/85QmCTyZJm pic.twitter.com/3TDipPZQLQ
— Nice Kicks (@nicekicks) June 27, 2025
Tyler Atkinson’s Adidas NIL deal changes the game
It isn’t very common for high school athletes to sign NIL deals, but certain brands will strike deals with the top players in the country. Apparently Atkinson fits that description because he was one of six top high school recruits that have signed a deal with Adidas.
While this is an amazing accomplishment for him and his family, this could be an interesting development for Georgia in their pursuit of him. Atkinson now will likely only wear Adidas gear for the time being because of this NIL deal, but Georgia wears Nike gear for all of their sports. So could this new NIL deal impact Georgia’s chances?
Thankfully this deal likely won’t impact Atkinson’s recruitment in any way because all five of his finalists are Nike schools. This includes Oregon, Clemson, Texas, Ohio State and Georgia who all wear Nike gear every game.
There’s a chance this deal with Adidas will only last during the rest of his high school career, but it could bleed into his time at Georgia or any other school he commits to. Atkinson could still wear Adidas gear in his personal life and make appearances for the brand while still wearing Nike gear during game days. This is something Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith currently does, so that likely would be allowed at Georgia as well.
It’s a good sign that this deal won’t impact Georgia’s chances of landing Atkinson because they’ve been the leader for a few months now. So hopefully Atkinson announces his commitment soon, because Georgia fans would love nothing more than to add another five-star recruit to their recruiting class.
NIL
Every Ohio State offensive player rating in ‘College Football 26’
It’s almost here. Yes, college football season would fit that description, and by extension, the Ohio State football season, but we’re talking about the release of EA Sports back by popular demand and NIL pondering, “College Football 26.” Leading up to the mass release on July 10, but those who bought the Deluxe edition have […]
It’s almost here. Yes, college football season would fit that description, and by extension, the Ohio State football season, but we’re talking about the release of EA Sports back by popular demand and NIL pondering, “College Football 26.”
Leading up to the mass release on July 10, but those who bought the Deluxe edition have access as of Monday. So, with it, we have a look at what all of the player ratings are, and that includes each and every Ohio State football player in the game.
We already know, based on previous information released by EA Sports, that Jeremiah Smith and Caleb Downs are the two highest-rated players in the game, and that Ohio State is the No. 3 ranked squad in the game, but now we get an under-the-hood look at each rating.
Here’s a look at every position group and the Ohio State football player ratings for each on the offensive side of the ball. We’ll bring you the defensive player ratings on Tuesday, so check back.
Quarterbacks
The ratings from highest to lowest
This makes sense here. Though there is a quarterback battle ongoing between Sayin and Kienholz, it would be a pretty major surprise if Kienholz came out of it as the starter with the hype and skills the former 5-star recruit Sayin possesses. If anything, Kineholz should probably be rated a little higher than the freshman St. Clair.
Running Backs
The ratings from highest to lowest
- James Peoples | 87
- CJ Donaldson Jr. | 86
- Bo Jackson | 80
- Sam Williams-Dixon | 76
No issue with this at all. Peoples and Donaldson will most likely be used as a tandem just like TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins were last year. Carries should be split pretty evenly, but we’ll see how it all plays out when the season gets rolling.
Wide Receivers
The ratings from highest to lowest
- Jeremiah Smith | 98
- Carnell Tate | 91
- Brandon Inniss | 80
- Mylan Graham | 78
- Quincy Porter | 78
- Bryson Rodgers | 76
- De’Zie Jones | 72
- Bodpegn Miller | 71
I am often amazed at how realistic these ratings are from EA Sports. They really do their homework, and I have no issue here with the top six. Maybe Mylan Graham should be a little higher, but the pecking order makes a lot of sense.
Tight Ends
The ratings from highest to lowest
- Max Klare | 91
- Will Kacmarek | 82
- Jelani Thurman | 82
- Bennett Christian | 79
- Nate Roberts | 75
- Max LeBlanc | 71
- John Ferlmann | 56
Klare is clearly the class of the tight ends and is rated as such. However, I don’t know that the game is giving the next two guys — Kacmarek and Thurman — their due and think they should be rated a wee bit higher than 82. It’s hard to argue too much with where this stands, however.
Left Tackle
The ratings from highest to lowest
- Ethan Onianwa | 85
- Ian Moore | 75
- Carter Lowe | 74
This actually lines up quite well with what we project with the two-deep offensive depth chart, so no complaints here. It’s really hard to get a massive rating as an offensive lineman in the game, and that’s reflected here.
Left Guard
The ratings from highest to lowest
- Luke Montgomery | 78
- Devontae Armstrong | 69
- Jake Cook | 69
Montgomery makes sense here, but during spring, we didn’t see either of the Armstrong twins really make a move. Don’t be surprised if Devontae is further behind on the depth chart here. The rating makes sense, but not sure someone else won’t be slotted in as backup should they be needed.
Center
The ratings from highest to lowest
- Carson Hinzman: 81
- Joshua Padilla: 73
Hinzman will start, so that makes sense, but the 81 rating is a bit low considering the experience and how he played at the end of last year. I expect an All-Big Ten type of year from him.
Right Guard
The ratings from highest to lowest
- Tegra Tshabola | 80
- Gabe VanSickle | 71
- Julian Goines-Jackson | 67
The depth here is thin, but it is on the roster as well as what many consider the weakest link on the offensive line. No issues from us, but as we stated in our offensive depth chart projection, someone (Ian Moore perhaps) could slide down the line and take Tshabola’s spot if there are issues during the season.
Right Tackle
The ratings from highest to lowest
- Austin Siereveld: 78
- Phillip Daniels: 76
- Deontae Armstrong: 73
Siereveld’s rating is way too low based on what we’ve heard from the coaching staff, but the order and depth look pretty good. With the praise he’s drawing, Siereveld could be a breakout star on the offensive line, and you definitely feel better about this spot than right guard.
Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.
NIL
Troubling NIL deal, Kirby Smart message, 5-star woes
It’s been a few days now since Georgia football has earned a commitment, but that doesn’t mean there hasn’t been a lot of important updates on the recruiting trail. This is especially the case with the best players in the country who Georgia is aggressively pursuing. So let’s dive right in and discuss three important […]
It’s been a few days now since Georgia football has earned a commitment, but that doesn’t mean there hasn’t been a lot of important updates on the recruiting trail. This is especially the case with the best players in the country who Georgia is aggressively pursuing.
So let’s dive right in and discuss three important updates, beginning with the No. 1 linebacker in the country.
Georgia hits potential speed bump in Tyler Atkinson’s recruitment
Georgia’s top remaining target in the 2026 class is five-star linebacker Tyler Atkinson. A commitment date isn’t none for Atkinson yet, but many experts believe that Georgia is the current team to beat. But a new NIL deal that Atkinson signed could be changing that.
Atkinson is one of six top high school recruits who have just signed an NIL deal with Adidas. The reason this could be a problem for Georgia is because they wear Nike gear, not Adidas.
The good news for Georgia is that every other finalist in Atkinson’s recruitment (Clemson, Oregon, Texas and Ohio State) are all Nike schools as well. There are also examples of current college football players who have an NIL deal with Adidas even though their team wears Nike gear. But this latest NIL deal is a small reason for Georgia fans to be a little worried in Atkinson’s recruitment.
Kirby Smart wants the No. 3 EDGE bad
One of Georgia’s top targets in the 2027 recruiting class was made abundantly clear earlier this week. David Jacobs Jr. is a four-star EDGE and the No. 12 overall player in the country according to On3. Jacobs is also from the Peach State, so it isn’t surprising to find out how badly Kirby Smart wants him in Georgia’s recruiting class. But Jacobs recently was quoted stating the last message Smart shared with him.
“He (Smart) was like, ‘Lock me in, your future head coach.’”
It will be interesting to see how this recruitment plays out over the next year, but Georgia has a great chance to strike gold if Smart is taking this much of an interest in Jacobs’ recruitment.
Texas Tech moving past Georgia for top ranked recruit
The No. 1 recruit in the 2027 recruiting class is LaDamion Guyton who just so happens to be from the state of Georgia as well. Everyone knows this means Georgia will have a great chance to win this recruitment, and that was confirmed when 247Sports originally logged a prediction for UGA to win this recruitment.
Georgia however no longer appears to be trending for Guyton anymore as Rivals insider Sam Spiegelman placed a prediction on Monday for Guyton to commit to Texas Tech instead.
Who knows how accurate this prediction is, but seeing Guyton trend to any school not named Georgia is a little concerning. Thankfully there is still plenty of time in Guyton’s recruitment, so Georgia will have many opportunities to surpass the Red Raiders by the time his recruitment comes to an end.
NIL
Dick Vitale
With his signature catch phrases, ESPN’s Dick Vitale assessed college basketball’s transfer portal winners on Monday. He really likes Michigan’s class. Vitale noted that about 2,300 Division I men’s basketball players entered the portal this year. His top-five “PTPers (prime-time players)” from that group include a new Wolverine. If you purchase a product or register […]
With his signature catch phrases, ESPN’s Dick Vitale assessed college basketball’s transfer portal winners on Monday. He really likes Michigan’s class.
Vitale noted that about 2,300 Division I men’s basketball players entered the portal this year. His top-five “PTPers (prime-time players)” from that group include a new Wolverine.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
NIL
College basketball too
The transfer portal has closed, the NBA draft is complete and the pieces are mostly in place for the coming men’s college basketball season.We previously did our too-early Top 25 preseason rankings after Florida finished as national champions in April. Now three months later, we revisit whether the Gators and others have moved up or […]
The transfer portal has closed, the NBA draft is complete and the pieces are mostly in place for the coming men’s college basketball season.We previously did our too-early Top 25 preseason rankings after Florida finished as national champions in April. Now three months later, we revisit whether the Gators and others have moved up or down in our projections.
Unsurprisingly, the list is mostly filled with teams from the Big 12, Big Ten and SEC but the top half of the rankings have a balanced spread across the five major conferences, portending a wide-open race for who will be crowned national champion in Indianapolis at the end of the season. For reference, the previous rankings are in parenthesis.
1. Houston (1)The defending national runner-up loses stalwarts L.J. Cryer and J’Wan Roberts but is poised to make another run to the title game behind one of the top recruiting classes in the country, led by five-star forward Chris Cenac Jr. and guard Isiah Harwell. Returning contributors include guards Milos Uzan and Emanuel Sharp and frontcourt defensive standout Joseph Tugler.Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel and Khaman Maluach are off to the NBA along with Tyrese Proctor, but Jon Scheyer put together another top recruiting class. Next year’s group will be led by wingers Cameron and Cayden Boozer, the twin sons of former Blue Devils star Carlos Boozer. Also arriving are guards Dame Sarr and Sebastian Wilkins. They’ll join several veterans who opted to return, including Isaiah Evans and Caleb Foster.3. Connecticut (3)Three in a row wasn’t in the cards, but a third title in four years isn’t out of the question for UConn. Liam McNeeley is gone after just one year in Storrs, but reinforcements are coming for Danny Hurley, whose top-five recruiting class features a pair of McDonald’s All-Americans and an international prospect from Down Under. Post man Eric Reibe and guard Braylon Mullins comprise the domestic talent, and Australian wingman Jacob Furphy will arrive in the States this summer. Georgia transfer Silas Demary will provide even more backcourt depth. In addition, veteran forward Alex Karaban and rising junior Solo Ball return.
10. UCLA (4)Mick Cronin has put together a transfer class that should make the Bruins one of the best teams in the Big Ten. The biggest addition is point guard Donovan Dent from New Mexico, who led the Mountain West with 20.4 points per game this season and may have been the best overall player in the portal. Another three incoming transfers join a roster headlined by returning starters forwards Eric Dailey Jr. and Tyler Bilodeau.11. Louisville (10)While several key pieces behind last year’s rebound under coach Pat Kelsey have been lost to graduation, Louisville was a sought-after destination for a strong transfer class. The impact newcomers include Isaac McKneely from Virginia, Ryan Conwell from Xavier and Adrian Wooley from Kennesaw State. The Cardinals will add another perimeter threat in freshman Mikel Brown and will get a boost from the return of big man Aly Khalifa, who redshirted last season after knee surgery.12. Texas Tech (7)Texas Tech’s roster has taken shape after reigning Big 12 Player of the Year JT Toppin and guard Christian Anderson opted to return to Lubbock. This pair will set the pace for another run at the Final Four after coming up one win shy this March. The Red Raiders’ transfer haul includes sharpshooting guards Donovan Atwell (UNC Greensboro) and Tyeree Bryan (Santa Clara) along with forward LeJuan Watts (Washington State) and center Luke Bamgboye (Virginia Commonwealth).13. Iowa State (14)A very deep roster took a hit with Eastern Washington transfer Mason Williams needing hip surgery that is likely keeps him out for the season.. But Iowa State has the bodies to replace that projected production and make a March Madness run. Newcomers such as forwards Blake Buchanan (Virginia) and forward Eric Mulder (Purdue-Fort Wayne) and a highly rated recruiting class will join holdovers in Tamin Lipsey, Joshua Jefferson and Milan Momcilovic to make the Cyclones a national player.14. Kentucky (16)Getting leading scorer Otega Oweh back in the fold for another year will keep the Wildcats in the mix for the SEC crown under second-year coach Mark Pope. One huge factor that could determine where Kentucky lands is the health of sophomore transfer Jayden Quaintance (Arizona State), one of the top prospects in the nation and a potential difference-maker on the defensive end. Quaintance injured his knee last season but is expected to be ready in the fall. Kentucky also upgraded its backcourt by adding Jaland Lowe (Pittsburgh) and Denzel Aberdeen (Florida).
21. Kansas (17)
There were plenty of swings and misses by Bill Self in the transfer portal as he was unable to add a big-time playmaker. He was able to salvage it by bringing Tre White from Illinois and Jayden Dawson of Loyola-Chicago. Still, the Jayhawks await the arrival of top recruit Darryn Peterson. He has top NBA draft pick potential and he will join sophomore forward Flory Bidunga, who saved the offseason by choosing to stay in Kansas. The Jayhawks still feel like a bit of a mystery of whether it’ll be a boom or bust season.
22. Michigan State (15)
The Spartans will have to replace their top production as Jase Richardson’s jump to the NBA means last season’s top three scorers are gone. Michigan State played a deep rotation, so experience isn’t a big issue. Jeremy Fears Jr. will have to assume a bigger role and Carson Cooper will have to be a force down low. They’ll get help in Coen Carr and Jaxon Kohler. The transfer and recruiting haul is promising, but perimeter shooting still appears to be an issue.
23. Illinois (NR)
Illinois jumps into the rankings thanks to the international flair coming to Champaign; Mihailo Petrovic leads the Balkan squad now playing for Brad Underwood. Petrovic is a 22-years-old guard among the best players in the European ABA League. Also joining is Andrej Stojakovic, who had a great freshman season at California, and former Arkansas big man Zvonimir Ivišić, who joins brother Tomislav Ivišić to form a terrifying 7-foot duo. Also in the mix is guard Kylan Boswell after he showed maturity in the move to Illinois after leaving Arizona.
24. Oregon (NR)
Another new addition to the rankings, Oregon is looking to maintain success after an up-and-down season. Back are the top two scorers in Nate Bittle and Jackson Shelstad, who are consistent scorer. But they can’t be the only ones producing, and the Ducks have to replace TJ Bamba. That appears to be answered in the transfer portal. TK Simpkins led Elon in scoring last season and improved his 3-point shooting. Sean Stewart (Ohio State) also could be a breakout player as he finds a more elevated role.
25. Auburn (24)
Experienced stars led Auburn last season, but the entire starting unit is gone following the tough loss of Chad Baker-Mazara to Southern California. Bruce Pearl knew he had to replenish the roster, and he did so with significant recruiting and transfer classes. Keyshawn Hall (Central Florida) and Kevin Overton (Texas Tech) arrive after strong season, and there’s intrigue with the Tigers brining in the top junior college transfer, Abdul Bashir. A new crop of players will join Tahaad Pettiford, the one key returnee that had a big role in the Final Four squad.
Dropped out: Baylor, North Carolina.
Just missed: Texas, North Carolina State and Oklahoma.
How the portal went from trickle to tidal wave
Bruins Add Theo Brunner to Beach Volleyball Staff
Rolling and tumbling: Damelio balancing gymnastics, school and ardent dreams | Local
FIFA Club World Cup Selects Evolv AI Security Tech for 12-Stadium Deployment
I’ve never seen the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra as cheap as it is this Amazon Prime Day
BoltBetz.com Unveils Groundbreaking Cashless Gaming Technology, Powered by Konami Gaming’s SYNKROS® System and a Strategic Alliance with Bank Card Services and GBank
ESPN ranks every Big Ten Football team ahead of 2025 season
Monday musings: Of Paramount importance
Ace Bailey showing the tools!
Setting up a major track meet At Hayward Field
The MLB trade deadline a dud? Plus, ranking college football's rivalries
How to Fix College Football 26 Team Builder Google Chrome Crash
New NIL deal is a game changer for Georgia’s pursuit of No. 1 LB
Pensacola nephew shoots uncle over broken TV in Warrington
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Returning as Crew Chief? JR Motorsports Sets the Record Straight on Sonoma Speculation
has always dreamed in Mercurial. Now his initials are on the boots.
The new Kyl…
Portal Update – Basketball and Gymnastics Take Hits
Former South Carolina center Nick Pringle commits to Arkansas basketball, John Calipari
Deputies investigating incident that caused panic at Pace youth sports complex
This is poetry in motion.
-
Technology2 weeks agoPet fitness and wellness trends for a healthier and happier dog
-
College Sports2 weeks agoWAC to Rebrand to UAC, Add Five New Members in 2026
-
Motorsports1 week agoWhy Cosmetics are Making Up for Lost Time in Women’s Sports
-
Professional Sports2 weeks agoAlex Pereira responds to rumors of UFC heavyweight title fight with threatening message
-
College Sports3 weeks ago
Women's Basketball Thanks Shannon LeBeauf for 14 Seasons
-
College Sports2 weeks agoAlabama Basketball
-
Professional Sports2 weeks agoFrancis Ngannou sends Dana White a message following Jon Jones' shock UFC retirement
-
Motorsports2 weeks agoNASCAR This Week – Patriot Publishing LLC
-
College Sports2 weeks agoA new era of Dickinson hockey begins behind the bench – The Dickinson Press
-
Sports2 weeks agoSEC Conference imposing a fine will create the opposite effect.