Transfer portal adds a new way for college athletes to move schools

      As of October 15th, 2018, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) made a rule that all students were allowed to enter a “portal” to make it easier for them to transfer to another college. The players are allowed to enter their names into the transfer portal, which allows schools to talk with the players. Even though a player may enter their name in the portal, that does not officially mean a player is going to transfer. This creation holds no restrictions for athletes to communicate with other schools while still at their university.

     Although this sounds very appealing to student athletes, there are consequences. If an athlete enters the transfer portal they could lose their scholarship at their current school. Another way it affects the athlete is by increasing the chance they will not able to play the first year they transfer because they are not graduate transfers, meaning they are not approaching their final year of college. If you are a graduate transfer you can play the first year at the new school, like Oklahoma transfer Quarterback Jalen Hurts. Hurts played 3 years at Alabama, and won a National Champion for the Crimson Tide. When Jalen Hurts was relieved of his starting position in the 2018 season, Hurts decided to enter the portal. Hurts had recently transferred to University of Oklahoma to finish his college career.

     “I feel they should let [the players] be able to transfer without having to sit out for a year,” football coach Milton Ramiro said. “I like how the players are given the chance to transfer easily because it helps them pursue other opportunities and options.”

     Redshirt Sophomore quarterback (QB) Tate Martell has also been a big story regarding the transfer portal. Martell was a backup at Ohio State University (OSU) for two years.  Expecting to start this year at OSU, everything fell apart when the past top-recruited high school player Justin Fields decided to transfer to OSU. Martell recently announced his transfer to the University of Miami. The transfer portal has stirred a lot of drama because many incoming transfers will force other players to transfer. It has also stirred up the question of college football players no longer being loyal to their school or wanting to compete for the starting job.

     The impact the transfer portal has on the student athletes has ultimately changed college football. This offseason alone there has been 159 football players in the portal. This opportunity gives current backup players or players who are unhappy at the school a chance to flourish at another school.