2024 Transfer Portal

[azgreg]

Emmanuel Karnley to the portal. I believe that makes an even 20 guys in teh portal.

[TheCatInTheHat]

Manu and Karnley definitely hurt. Hopefully no more defectors, and then we'll see what the one-sided equation looks like when it's balanced with incoming transfers.

[dmjcat]

How many of these guys end up in Washington? I would guess at least a couple of them

One or two at the most. The UA football team wasn't exactly loaded with talented players this past season.

Wendell Moe would be the player with the best chance of getting some B1G Washington NIL. Manu maybe, but he is recovering from a knee injury and a lot of teams aren't going to take a chance on an injured player.

So far Wendell Moe is the only declared player that I hate to see on the transfer list. Most of the players that have entered thus far are going to wind up in MWC type programs or end up not finding a place to land.

[Merkin]

Just reading about Manu's injury and how it make affect his NIL value.

About the most preventable injury in the history of the modern world. About 34:15.

https://youtu.be/_6Nat3_x-N4?t=2033

[azcat49]

Would love to know reasons for the transfers, especially Manu. His injury could hurt him $ wise and he could definitely start here coming off the injury.

Karnley also would be in the rotation next year and I wonder if he really will get more then he would get here at the level he may be recruited at

[Chicat]

Would love to know reasons for the transfers, especially Manu.

For the same reason the lifeboats on the Titanic were suddenly popular.

[azcat49]

Would love to know reasons for the transfers, especially Manu.

For the same reason the lifeboats on the Titanic were suddenly popular.

They would know wouldn’t they. Does the captain (CBB) know though LOL

[azgreg]

[Carcassdragger]

Manu is a stud and he'll recover. I'm really hoping he stays with us.

[84Cat]

Arizona defensive lineman Taitai Uiagalelei has entered the transfer portal

[azgreg]

That makes 23.

[Merkin]

That makes 23.

For comparison to last season. Don't know a lot about football, but this doesn't seem like a good sign.

https://www.azdesertswarm.com/football/ ... pL6h2UPhKQ

Since the portal opened Monday the Wildcats have seen 22 players from the 2024 roster enter. Last year Arizona had 11 go in during the initial December window, though another 16 entered in January after Jedd Fisch took the Washington job.

[TheCatInTheHat]

That one stings a bit, too. There isn't a single player (probably other than Noah) that would especially bother me; it's just the cumulative effect. Meanwhile, I'm not crazy about what I assume are some handlers' concepts of "trickle down" announcements to get maximum attention. You should get something like 48 hours to announce, not 20 days. You're either happy with the school, the coaches, and your circumstances, or you're not. Theoretically the school could then bring in a Tom Brady to push you down the depth chart. But, if you're any good, you know they're going to look elsewhere to bolster the roster. In any event, at some point, you've got to draw the line with this transfer ping-pong/extortion.

[dmjcat]

That one stings a bit, too. There isn't a single player (probably other than Noah) that would especially bother me; it's just the cumulative effect. Meanwhile, I'm not crazy about what I assume are some handlers' concepts of "trickle down" announcements to get maximum attention. You should get something like 48 hours to announce, not 20 days. You're either happy with the school, the coaches, and your circumstances, or you're not. Theoretically the school could then bring in a Tom Brady to push you down the depth chart. But, if you're any good, you know they're going to look elsewhere to bolster the roster. In any event, at some point, you've got to draw the line with this transfer ping-pong/extortion.

Yes, the system is screwed up and even if it wasn't the UA doesn't have the money to play the game. I have been holding out hope for some sort of Federal/Congresssional intervention but that hasn't panned out yet. Senator Cruz has been trying but it doesn't look like anything will happen this year.

https://apnews.com/article/ted-cruz-nca ... 9868326263

https://www.oaoa.com/sports/college-spo ... ncaa-ally/

Nick Sabans take on NIL is in the 1st article:

Nick Saban, who led Alabama football to six national titles in 17 seasons, said the current landscape shaped by NIL funds and loosened transfer rules contributed to his decision to retire at 72.

“All the things I believed in for all these years, 50 years of coaching, no longer exist in college athletics,” Saban said. “It’s whoever wants to pay the most money, raise the most money, buy the most players is going to have the best opportunity to win. And I don’t think that’s the spirit of college athletics, and I don’t think it’s ever been the spirit of what we want college athletics to be.”

[Fishclamps]

Just go ahead and fuck me up transfer portal, hit me with your best shot

[TheCat]

Arizona defensive lineman Taitai Uiagalelei has entered the transfer portal

This one hurts to see.

[azgreg]

Gunner

[AZCatGirl]

So glad we kept Brennan for this shit show.

[EastCoastCat]

Can we just relegate ourselves now?

[azcat49]

Losing more guys to the scum will gut me

[Chicat]

Maybe it’s just me but it kiiiiiiinda feels like a whole bunch of guys who were around Brennan for a season are telling us exactly how confident they are in his ability to coach them and the team.

[Irish27]

Almost all schools are being affected by the transfer portal. Kentucky is losing a lot of talent. SMU, who is in the playoffs, one of their quarterbacks has entered the transfer portal, but is going to stay through the playoffs, https://www.espn.com/college-football/s ... l-stay-cfp

College sports is basically professional minor leagues. I am not going to stress over what UofA players have entered the portal since this will happen every year in every sport.

[IrishAzCat]

The Wildcats would hope and would dream,
Of building a top-notch football team.
But recruits just won’t stay,
They keep running away,
Guess cactus and sand's not their scene!

[AZCatGirl]

Almost all schools are being affected by the transfer portal. Kentucky is losing a lot of talent. SMU, who is in the playoffs, one of their quarterbacks has entered the transfer portal, but is going to stay through the playoffs, https://www.espn.com/college-football/s ... l-stay-cfp

College sports is basically professional minor leagues. I am not going to stress over what UofA players have entered the portal since this will happen every year in every sport.

While this is true, the amount of players hitting the portal is alarming. ESPN even has an article on how we have one of the highest amount of players entering the portal.

[dmjcat]

Maybe it’s just me but it kiiiiiiinda feels like a whole bunch of guys who were around Brennan for a season are telling us exactly how confident they are in his ability to coach them and the team.

Possibly, but they could be leaving for a whole host of other reasons including:

1) They have concluded they are not going to start/play at the UA

2) Their agent has been contacted and informed that College X will pay more than the UA

3) Some players, especially seniors, may not want to stick around for a rebuild

[Merkin]

Count up to 24 now?

Seems most of the players are starters and impact players.

It's a telling sign when you have 2 players with serious injuries go into the portal since they will have reduced value to other teams.

Just wondering if S&C has anything to do with injured players leaving.

[Irish27]

Count up to 24 now?

Seems most of the players are starters and impact players.

It's a telling sign when you have 2 players with serious injuries go into the portal since they will have reduced value to other teams.

Just wondering if S&C has anything to do with injured players leaving.

The team was terrible, so bring in new guys to see if they can get it done. If not, Brennan will be looking for a new job.

[azgreg]

Gunner Maldonado
Taitai Uiagalelei
Nick Fernandez
Elijha Payne
Emmanuel Karnley
Kamuela Kaaihue
Tristan Davis
Jonah Rodriguez
Keyan Burnett
Malachi Riley
Jackson Holman
Reymello Murphy
Demetrius Freeney
Jacob Manu
Jai-Ayviauynn Celestine
Anthony Garcia
Brandon Johnson
Wendell Moe Jr.
JT Hand
Rayshon Luke
AJ Jones
Bryce Echols
Dorian Thomas
Brayden Dorman

[Carcassdragger]

Gunner Maldonado
Taitai Uiagalelei
Nick Fernandez
Elijha Payne
Emmanuel Karnley
Kamuela Kaaihue
Tristan Davis
Jonah Rodriguez
Keyan Burnett
Malachi Riley
Jackson Holman
Reymello Murphy
Demetrius Freeney
Jacob Manu
Jai-Ayviauynn Celestine
Anthony Garcia
Brandon Johnson
Wendell Moe Jr.
JT Hand
Rayshon Luke
AJ Jones
Bryce Echols
Dorian Thomas
Brayden Dorman

Great post and greatly appreciated Greg. Thanks.

[azgreg]

Great post and greatly appreciated Greg. Thanks.

Live tracker can be found here:

https://247sports.com/Season/2025-Footb ... ferPortal/

[dmjcat]

Count up to 24 now?

Seems most of the players are starters and impact players.

It's a telling sign when you have 2 players with serious injuries go into the portal since they will have reduced value to other teams.

Just wondering if S&C has anything to do with injured players leaving.

I only see 4 players who were starters for the whole season (or up until they were injured) Manu, Maldonado, Moe, and Uiagaleilei. Some of the others were backups or in the rotation (or moved into starting roles after injuries). Not a lot of talent on that list, however, which is the primary issue AZ had this season. Irish is right, Brennan needs to recruit a better group or he's going to be hitting the portal himself. Hopefully, the AD manages to find a little NIL to help him or its really going to get ugly next year.

[AZCatGirl]

Scheer estimates 5-10 more players could enter the portal.

[azgreg]

[UAEebs86]

I told you guys - the list of who is not in the portal would be easier to keep track of

[TheCatInTheHat]

Count up to 24 now?

Seems most of the players are starters and impact players.

It's a telling sign when you have 2 players with serious injuries go into the portal since they will have reduced value to other teams.

Just wondering if S&C has anything to do with injured players leaving.

I only see 4 players who were starters for the whole season (or up until they were injured) Manu, Maldonado, Moe, and Uiagaleilei. Some of the others were backups or in the rotation (or moved into starting roles after injuries). Not a lot of talent on that list, however, which is the primary issue AZ had this season. Irish is right, Brennan needs to recruit a better group or he's going to be hitting the portal himself. Hopefully, the AD manages to find a little NIL to help him or its really going to get ugly next year.

That's correct, which is not meant to minimize the issue, and I'm not happy about Maldonado leaving. But other than about 5 or 6 on the list, a few more had some so-far unproven potential, but the rest weren't likely to be critical contributors. We'd be a helluva lot better off with the 5 or 6 staying and adding transfers in that situation, and if Scheer's click-bait "5 or 10 more" tease/guess is true, that could be really bad, depending on who. So we'll see what leverage the promise of instant playing time in the Big XII means in the portal. If Brennan demands OKG types and can't get a decent number of elite playmakers and difference-maker linemen, it seems likely we're headed toward something like Sumlin II. Only with the portal, everything moves faster.

[azgreg]

Tacario Davis in the portal.

[azgreg]

Dalton Johnson in the portal.

[UAEebs86]

Tacario Davis in the portal.

Not declaring?

[CopaCat]

Well at least Brennan's not in the portal. Boy are we lucky on that development.

[azgreg]

Scheer made a point on today's podcast that this is what we were expecting of the portal last year. The basketball halftime thing last year just delayed it a year.

[Fishclamps]

Oh boy Tacario and Dalton hurt

[azcat49]

Over/under on how many of these kids come back? I would set it at 3

[azgreg]

Noah Clement in the portal.

[Chicat]

At this point I’m just curious about the replacements. Are Brennan & Co. going to be scouring mid-level Mountain West teams for backups and wasting what NIL money we do have on 5th year “names” that never lived up to their hype or can they find some actual players who can start and succeed at a Power 5 school?

[dmjcat]

Oh boy Tacario and Dalton hurt

Yes it does. But it appears that they are both going to be getting a lot more money where they are going. NIL strikes again.

[Chicat]

NIL strikes again.

[84Cat]

We're like a minor league team now. Come to UA and prove your worth and then go to a heavy hitter that will pay you top dollar. How long before we all lose interest in this charade.

CBB better get a decent OC or Noah is next

[azgreg]

Arizona players to the portal:

[dmjcat]

NIL strikes again.

Just pointing out facts......and reality. Things that you obviously have problems with.

[Irish27]

We're like a minor league team now. Come to UA and prove your worth and then go to a heavy hitter that will pay you top dollar. How long before we all lose interest in this charade.

CBB better get a decent OC or Noah is next

There are a bunch of schools feeling the same way. Unless we can get a lot of people to donate, we won't be seeing players stay here for more than a few years. For the first time, I am starting not to care about college sports, which is sad. I hope the transfer portal and NIL policies are changed in the near future to allow schools like Arizona, to be able to compete.