Mark Stoops: Coaches are bracing for more transfer portal entries this season

There’s no question the transfer portal has already made a heavy impact on the college sports landscape in its early stages, and with the early signing period right around the corner in early December expectations are high for heavy activity in not just high school recruiting, but recruiting through the portal. Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops was asked about the transfer portal as it relates to the early signing period and how strong of an impact he anticipates the two having on recruiting.

“It’s hard to determine, I think yes, we’re all bracing for much more volume than it was a year ago. I think even last year going through it for the first time was a little slower maybe in the fall and in football than you’re gonna see this year. I think maybe you saw some sports throughout the winter and spring it impact them even differently than it did us just because of how new it was a year ago,” Stoops said.

With many players already entering the portal throughout the duration of this season, Stoops believes there will definitely be an adjustment period during these new uncharted waters of recruiting.

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“But I think there will be quite a bit, I think it’s something we all have to adapt to, we always want to continue to develop the guys within your program and keep the guys that want to be a part of that and embrace that challenge but also adapt,” Stoops said. “It’s gonna definitely be different here this year and were all kind of preparing for that the best we can.”

With two important weeks of football left, including the Wildcat’s next matchup versus No. 1 ranked Georgia this week, Stoops and staffs across the country definitely have a lot to manage between the task of the current season and managing the nuances of the transfer portal in recruiting. Thankfully, there is a little bit more structure in this next recruiting period regarding the transfer portal windows, which Stoops believes will be helpful.

“I do, I really do, I think there’s no easy answers with some of this but that is definitely a part of it. As we go out through all the different tasks that we have throughout the week in our preparation, roster management in dealing with it is certainly something that we have to discuss,” Stoops said.

The first transfer portal window will open on December 5 following the selection of this year’s championship teams, which will open the floodgates of an unprecedented period of recruiting through the portal that Stoops and coaches across the country are doing their best to brace for.

“And I think with having that last week after the regular season to have these discussions and get things in place, I think with probably each of us, but I can’t speak for the other teams, but certainly with us you probably know certain people that you know that are clear cut that will be in the portal and you have those discussions and you’re prepared for them,” Stoops said. “I think maybe different surprises or people that you don’t know that gives you time to at least have a meeting and get organized for it before you get on the road in December and start your visits because it’s always such a hectic time for all of us.”