The college football transfer portal is open

Not every football team in the state has finished its spring camps yet; but players are already on the move. The college football transfer portal for the 2024 season opened on Tuesday. Players have a 15-day window, starting from April 16 and ending on April 30, to enter the portal.

During this time period, the player can decide whether they want to explore transfer options. Just because a player enters the portal doesn't mean that they necessarily have to leave their school. It does allow players to explore other options. Players may have had a poor spring game and think that players are ahead of them on the depth chart ahead of next season, so are looking for a school where they are more likely to get more playing time. The opposite is also very much in play, where a player who was a top performer last season and/or in the spring is looking to transfer to schools that will pay him more in NIL money.

NIL (name image and likeness) money was originally intended so that players can market themselves and was supposed to be separate from the athletics department and the coaching staff. That may have been the original intent, but instead collectives formed that allow boosters for a school to pool their money in order to pay the top high school players to go to their favorite school. The creation of the transfer portal meant that players can change schools without sitting out a year. The combination of NIL and the transfer portal means that collectives are able to bid for college players at other schools.

State schools in Alabama will likely lose some players in the coming days as players leave to get an opportunity to get more playing time or simply to make more money. That is the risk of the portal.

State schools are also looking to add talent to positions where they were weak at in the spring. New Alabama head football coach Kalen DeBoer recently told reporters that the Tide will be looking at bringing in some help at defensive back. Auburn is reportedly recruiting Ohio State running back Dallen Hayden.

Auburn linebacker Brenton Williams and Cornerback JD Rhym both announced on Tuesday that they were entering the portal. Rhym has been away from the team for weeks and appears to be done with the Tigers.

UAB is also hoping to add talent from the portal without losing key contributors. This is one of the most hectic times of the year for college football coaching staffs. If they lose a player, they likely need to get a player from another school.

To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com