Arkansas running back Isaiah Augustave announced that he is going to enter the college football transfer portal on Saturday night. He did so just hours after playing in the Razorbacks’ spring game.
The timing created rather unfortunate optics and it didn’t go over well with Hogs fans.
Here’s the thing. Augustave will not be the only player to leave his respective college football program after going through the spring practice period. That list will be pretty substantial.
However, most players choose to enter the portal before playing in the spring game.
Of course, “most” is not “all.” Wide receiver Montana Lemonious-Craig entered the transfer portal one day after going for 154 yards and two touchdowns in Colorado’s nationally televised spring game last year. He later landed at Arizona and actually played against his former team in the fall.
Augustave is not alone in this and the athletes — in any sport — are always encouraged to do what is best for them. Who are we to criticize the decisions of others without knowledge of their situation?
With that being said, we are absolute allowed to ask questions or point to optics.
Isaiah Augustave, a four-star recruit in the Class of 2023, ran for 202 yards and one touchdown on 35 touches during his freshman season. He stayed through the entire spring and ran the ball seven times (for just 10 yards) during Saturday’s scrimmage. It was actually the second-most rushing attempts by any single player on the team.
And then, less than eight hours later, Augustave announced his decision to leave on the same night.
Not a great look.
The transfer portal does not reopen until Tuesday. He could have waited until Monday to declare his intentions. At the very least, he could have waited 24 hours like Lemonious-Craig, who also drew criticism for his timing.
This is the new era of college football! Chaos is around every corner.