Portal recruiting is going to be a disaster this offseason.

[travis.sixpack]

We've already got indications how portal recruiting will go when we offer one of the very first CB's to go into the portal - Kennesaw State's Jayven Williams.

A.) Kennesaw State is barely an FBS program. Why the hell are we targeting any of their players?
B.) Why the hell are we handing out offers to any portal players this early, especially one who isn't even a top C-USA player (like Kelly A. was last year)?
C.) Why should we trust the evaluation of any of the current defensive coaches? The best transfer we had on that side of the ball *literally* grew up a Bulldog fan, otherwise we don't get him.

Our defensive recruiting under this staff is indistinguishable from a Sunbelt team. We could have $50 million to hand out if NIL money and we'd still end up with a bunch of G5 nobodies and P4 has-beens.

 

[8dog]

We've already got indications how portal recruiting will go when we offer one of the very first CB's to go into the portal - Kennesaw State's Jayven Williams.

A.) Kennesaw State is barely an FBS program. Why the hell are we targeting any of their players?
B.) Why the hell are we handing out offers to any portal players this early, especially one who isn't even a top C-USA player (like Kelly A. was last year)?
C.) Why should we trust the evaluation of any of the current defensive coaches? The best transfer we had on that side of the ball *literally* grew up a Bulldog fan, otherwise we don't get him.

Our defensive recruiting under this staff is indistinguishable from a Sunbelt team. We could have $50 million to hand out if NIL money and we'd still end up with a bunch of G5 nobodies and P4 has-beens.

Well the one luxury we have is there is almost no limit to how many people we can bring in up to 85. Because we could probably run off 60 kids and not blink.

 

[patdog]

What do you mean? We're tied for 2nd in the portal recruiting rankings. **

https://247sports.com/Season/2025-Football/TransferTeamRankings/

 

[Maroon Eagle]

Well the one luxury we have is there is almost no limit to how many people we can bring in up to 85. Because we could probably run off 60 kids and not blink.

Luxury…

Now I’m sadder than I was before…

 

[ronpolk]

Don’t take this as my support of the staff or that I have faith in them but I don’t have a problem with us taking a transfer from any program. There are guys that get drafted every year from small programs. We need to be turning over every stone possible… plus we’ve taken several guys from large programs that have sucked. Our best offensive player was at Jackson state not too long ago.

With all that said, I don’t have a lot of confidence. But I’m not gonna freak out over a transfer from Kennesaw state just like I’m not gonna really get excited over one from Georgia.

 

[FormerBully]

Hutz has realized that as long as he has no talent, he will not be fired by Lebby. You can't call him a bad coach if talent never improves***

 

[patdog]

Hutz has realized that as long as he has no talent, he will not be fired by Lebby. You can't call him a bad coach if talent never improves***

I don't think Hutzler is going anywhere. I think the decision has been made not to throw good money after bad on next year's season. We'll suffer through another one about like this one, and then maybe start to make some positive decisions. And honestly, with our schedule next year that might be the best thing to do right now.

 

[Dawgzilla2]

Our defensive recruiting under this staff is indistinguishable from a Sunbelt team.

I WISH we recruited as well as a Sunbelt team

 

[GloryDawg]

Watching many of these SEC games, many of the powerhouse football teams have guys on roster that transferred from G5 teams. Ours just didn't pan out.

 

[patdog]

Watching many of these SEC games, many of the powerhouse football teams have guys on roster that transferred from G5 teams. Ours just didn't pan out.

"Just didn't pan out" or we did a poor job of evaluating and/or recruiting? For the money they're making head coaches can't have many recruits and transfers "just not pan out." It's their job to recruit recruits & transfers that do pan out.

 

[85Bears]

"Just didn't pan out" or we did a poor job of evaluating and/or recruiting? For the money they're making head coaches can't have many recruits and transfers "just not pan out." It's their job to recruit recruits & transfers that do pan out.

Talent evaluation. We brought in Randy Charlton, Jackie Matthews , Jalen Green , Banks, Makai Polk, Lasoya , JRob, Mosely..,,back when we had coaches who could evaluate talent. I cant believe weve gone two years and brought in nothing.
Thats why i keep thinking it has to be nil problems we cant possibly be this inept. But then Leachs staff almost assuredly had less NIL money.

 

[patdog]

Talent evaluation. We brought in Randy Charlton, Jackie Matthews , Jalen Green , Banks, Makai Polk, Lasoya , JRob, Mosely..,,back when we had coaches who could evaluate talent. I cant believe weve gone two years and brought in nothing.
Thats why i keep thinking it has to be nil problems we cant possibly be this inept. But then Leachs staff almost assuredly had less NIL money.

No matter what some on this site are telling us, there's no question NIL is a problem for us.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

No matter what some on this site are telling us, there's no question NIL is a problem for us.

It isn’t though. When players are committing to other places on less money than what State is offering that’s not an NIL problem.

 

[8dog]

Talent evaluation. We brought in Randy Charlton, Jackie Matthews , Jalen Green , Banks, Makai Polk, Lasoya , JRob, Mosely..,,back when we had coaches who could evaluate talent. I cant believe weve gone two years and brought in nothing.
Thats why i keep thinking it has to be nil problems we cant possibly be this inept. But then Leachs staff almost assuredly had less NIL money.

I’m not sure how much better any of those guys would make us. A little but not much. Polk was the best one but that’s the one position we are decent. Robinson was not good. But that staff had also been in place. I’d like to see what happens with this staff in place for a year. Hell the only reason we even have an offense is thru the portal.

 

[travis.sixpack]

Watching many of these SEC games, many of the powerhouse football teams have guys on roster that transferred from G5 teams. Ours just didn't pan out.

Theirs were All-conference players, ours are JAGs.

 

[Seinfeld]

There is not one thing about this football program that one can point to and say, that right there is a sign on things heading in the right direction. Not one thing

 

[greenbean.sixpack]

It isn’t though. When players are committing to other places on less money than what State is offering that’s not an NIL problem.

Deets on this please.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

Deets on this please.

Can’t really say more than that because those players are still being recruited.

 

[85Bears]

I’m not sure how much better any of those guys would make us. A little but not much. Polk was the best one but that’s the one position we are decent. Robinson was not good. But that staff had also been in place. I’d like to see what happens with this staff in place for a year. Hell the only reason we even have an offense is thru the portal.

All those guys were solid SEC players. compare that to what we brought in under arnett and lebby. How many misses ? Very few under Leach. Look at our last portal class with Pounders. What did we hit on about 3 out of 25 players ?

Randy Charlton Jackie Matthews and Jalen Green compared to what we have on defense. Lol

 

[The Cooterpoot]

We've already got indications how portal recruiting will go when we offer one of the very first CB's to go into the portal - Kennesaw State's Jayven Williams.

A.) Kennesaw State is barely an FBS program. Why the hell are we targeting any of their players?
B.) Why the hell are we handing out offers to any portal players this early, especially one who isn't even a top C-USA player (like Kelly A. was last year)?
C.) Why should we trust the evaluation of any of the current defensive coaches? The best transfer we had on that side of the ball *literally* grew up a Bulldog fan, otherwise we don't get him.

Our defensive recruiting under this staff is indistinguishable from a Sunbelt team. We could have $50 million to hand out if NIL money and we'd still end up with a bunch of G5 nobodies and P4 has-beens.

 

[Shmuley]

So have we concluded that it might have been a bad idea to roll the dice with a coordinator hire while, at the same time, asking an inexperienced staff to learn (on the job) how to recruit in the NIL era?

 

[patdog]

It isn’t though. When players are committing to other places on less money than what State is offering that’s not an NIL problem.

That's an even bigger problem then. Much bigger.

 

[ETK99]

That's an even bigger problem then. Much bigger.

Hell, it's happened in baseball. It's not just a football thing.

 

[Maroon13]

I don't think Hutzler is going anywhere. I think the decision has been made not to throw good money after bad on next year's season. We'll suffer through another one about like this one, and then maybe start to make some positive decisions. And honestly, with our schedule next year that might be the best thing to do right now.

If he is still around this time next week, I think you are on it.

No need to pay two DCs a severance in 2026.

 

[greenbean.sixpack]

Can’t really say more than that because those players are still being recruited.

No offense dude, i ain't buying that a player is signing for less, unless it would be his dream school, closer to home or a blue blood. Even then the money would have to be similar.

I can see where a QB wouldn't want to come in behind a freshmen who has played well and compete for the same position.

 

[ETK99]

No offense dude, i ain't buying that a player is signing for less, unless it would be his dream school, closer to home or a blue blood. Even then the money would have to be similar. I

I can see where a QB wouldn't want to come in behind a freshmen who has played well and compete for the same position.

Well, you're wrong. Kids don't want to lose. This ugly rebuild is a tough sell. Then you've got Montgomery who went to A&M in baseball but we had a better offer. It's happening.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

No offense dude, i ain't buying that a player is signing for less, unless it would be his dream school, closer to home or a blue blood. Even then the money would have to be similar. I

I can see where a QB wouldn't want to come in behind a freshmen who has played well and compete for the same position.

I promise you it’s happening.

 

[greenbean.sixpack]

Well, you're wrong. Kids don't want to lose. This ugly rebuild is a tough sell. Then you've got Montgomery who went to A&M in baseball but we had a better offer. It's happening.

I don't think you understand how money works. Most of these kids are dirt poor and coming from single parent homes. They are much more concerned with the bag than winning.

If you're right, no losing team would ever recruit well and would always stay down. OM had a great 2013 class, that was coming off a 2-10 record in 2011 and a 7-6 record in 2012. You think those recruits came to win? They came for the cheddar.

 

[civildawg88]

No offense dude, i ain't buying that a player is signing for less, unless it would be his dream school, closer to home or a blue blood. Even then the money would have to be similar.

I can see where a QB wouldn't want to come in behind a freshmen who has played well and compete for the same position.

It's absolutely happening. I forget what portal player it was last year but we offered him WAY more than anyone else and he went somewhere else. Someone refresh my memory on what portal target that was

 

[85Bears]

It's absolutely happening. I forget what portal player it was last year but we offered him WAY more than anyone else and he went somewhere else. Someone refresh my memory on what portal target that was

You can look around the country , i dont care what program you pick, no one who is willing to spend money is having a hard time getting players in the portal.

I believe we have incompetent coaches doing bad evaluations but i have a hard time believing we have the same nil money kentucky, arkansas and auburn has. Look at their portal classes and look at ours. They are getting four and five star players and we are getting guys who couldnt start for Milsaps.

 

[ababyatemydingo]

Well, you're wrong. Kids don't want to lose. This ugly rebuild is a tough sell. Then you've got Montgomery who went to A&M in baseball but we had a better offer. It's happening.

Offered Paul Skenes more than LSU offered, too

 

[karlchilders.sixpack]

I think that several that enter the portal, already have a plan where they are going.
So, to have a player tell us no, it is not really the end of our portal recruiting.
And, it's early in that game.

 

[85Bears]

Arizona under Fish loaded up in the portal, Arizona State loaded up in the portal. Arkansas was bad last year and they loaded up in the portal. Lots of bad teams not having a problem getting good players.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

Arizona under Fish loaded up in the portal, Arizona State loaded up in the portal. Arkansas was bad last year and they loaded up in the portal. Lots of bad teams not having a problem getting good players.

Because they’re doing a better job of recruiting. You can’t just throw money and that be it. I don’t understand why this is so hard to grasp.

 

[85Bears]

Because they’re doing a better job of recruiting. You can’t just throw money and that be it. I don’t understand why this is so hard to grasp.

I’m not sure transfer portal recruiting and HS recruiting are the same animal. transfer portal seems a lot more about two things, Money and Playing time opportunity.

 

[IBleedMaroonDawg]

Because they’re doing a better job of recruiting. You can’t just throw money and that be it. I don’t understand why this is so hard to grasp.

I said that yesterday and I was treated like an idiot.

 

[karlchilders.sixpack]

I said that yesterday and I was treated like an idiot.

The wisdom of the PACK.

 

[85Bears]

I don't think you understand how money works. Most of these kids are dirt poor and coming from single parent homes. They are much more concerned with the bag than winning.

If you're right, no losing team would ever recruit well and would always stay down. OM had a great 2013 class, that was coming off a 2-10 record in 2011 and a 7-6 record in 2012. You think those recruits came to win? They came for the cheddar.

Exactly. the current transfer portal model really resembles free agency. those guys want two things 1) Money 2) PT and opportunity to showcase for the League.

It’s not like you are recruiting an 18 year old HS kid and his parents leaving home for the first time choosing what school they grew up rooting for.

 

[greenbean.sixpack]

It's absolutely happening. I forget what portal player it was last year but we offered him WAY more than anyone else and he went somewhere else. Someone refresh my memory on what portal target that was

Who was it and how do you know? You read it on a message board? I haven't seen definitive amounts for what players are offered, where are you seeing that? There's tons of speculation and rumors.

 

[TrueMaroonGrind]

I’m not sure transfer portal recruiting and HS recruiting are the same animal. transfer portal seems a lot more about two things, Money and Playing time opportunity.

And the recruiting effort/ability of the staff and the current state of the program. It’s not hard to understand there are multiple factors INCLUDING money that could affect players decisions.

This is just like interviewing for a job at this point. Money is important but it isn’t the only factor. If kids are turning us down when we offer same or more money wise(which has been reported) then other problems are driving kids away. It’s not that complex.