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The early signing period is nearly through as programs across college football put the finishing touches on their 2024 recruiting classes.
While you might be excited or dejected about the current state of your favorite team, remember that the roster will likely look much different in the very near future.
The transfer portal has become a prevalent part of the college football landscape as players hop on and off the market to gauge interest from potential suitors. We’re seeing that now more than ever as unrestricted free agency overtakes the sport.
Add on top of that the behind-the-scenes tampering and unlimited NIL opportunities, and we’ve walked into the perfect storm.
Look no further than Texas A&M as evidence.
In 2022, the Aggies signed the most decorated recruiting class in college football history, bringing 18 of the nation’s top 100 players to College Station.
Fast forward two years and half of those blue-chip talents are or will soon be playing elsewhere.
Things can change very quickly in this new era, a point that’s been magnified with conference realignment. Oregon State and Washington State were left behind in the PAC 12 as the rest of the league bolted for greener pastures.
With uncertainty surrounding that duo’s future, vultures have come to prey.
Cougars QB Cam Ward quickly entered the portal, reportedly landing a stack of seven-figure offers. He’s yet to make a decision on where he’ll play next season.
The Beavers were hit harder, seeing their head coach, QB1, and QB2 each leave in a matter of weeks.
Starting quarterback DJ Uiagalelei is a former five-star passer, who’d already transferred from Clemson. Behind him was four-star signal caller Aidan Chiles. Neither plans to remain in Corvallis.
Stories like these can be found throughout the sport as coaches work overtime to manage their rosters.
That constant movement had college football media reminding not to get hung up on recruiting rankings. A large number of top prospects that will likely play for new schools within the next two seasons.
Reminder no matter what happens today….recent history shows us that only 40% of 5⭐️’s & 4⭐️’s will be on their original team’s roster in 2 years from now.
And that number likely to rise over the next few seasons as the portal continues to develop.
— Peter Burns (@PeterBurnsESPN) December 20, 2023
Signing day used to be a day of celebration, and it still is to an extent. It’s important, however, to temper expectations when looking at where current classes stand.
Whether your team successfully flipped a star recruit or lost a player to a hated rival, a lot can change, even for the most disappointing of cycles!
Remember if you’re upset your team lost a recruit…he’s most likely going to be in the portal in a year anyway so don’t sweat it.
— Danny Kanell (@dannykanell) December 20, 2023
Don’t sweat losing that five-star prospect to a signing day flip. He may very well play for your team in a few seasons!