Mark Stoops talks transfer portal, Georgia on SEC Teleconference

After a bad loss to Vanderbilt at home, the Kentucky Football team needs to dust itself off quickly because No. 1 Georgia is coming to town. On today’s SEC Teleconference, Mark Stoops shared his thoughts on the Bulldogs, who haven’t missed a step on defense despite losing several starters to the NFL, and the transfer portal. Those latter comments are much more interesting as Kentucky enters the home stretch of the season and players evaluate their futures.

In August, the NCAA approved new transfer portal windows.  Instead of being able to leave a school at any time, players now have to enter the portal within set dates. The first window opens the day after the championship teams are selected, so Dec. 5, and closes 45 days later on Jan. 18, 2023. There is also a 15-day spring period from May 1-15.

Hear Stoops’ thoughts on Georgia and the portal below.

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Opening statement…

“Obviously, coming off a tough loss for us a week ago, last Saturday. Give Vandy credit, Coach Lea. They really did a good job and came in here and beat us and so we’ve got a lot of improvement to make. I like the way our team has responded. You don’t have much time to feel sorry for yourself when you have a team like Georgia coming in. Once again, Kirby has a fantastic football team, good in all three phases. Can hurt you in any area at any time. Really good team and we’re preparing and getting ready for another big game at home.”

On any drop-off he’s seen in Georgia’s defense from a year ago…

“Yeah, that’s tongue-in-cheek. It is kind of funny, I was asked that earlier in my Monday press conference as well. After having so many guys be such high picks and being so dominant a year ago, it’s really a credit to Kirby and his staff, the way they develop their team, their program to have guys they can plug in. Obviously, when they’re as dominant as they’ve been, they’re able to play so many guys and get valuable game experience and that’s evident in this situation where you have so many maybe star players a year ago and these guys got quality reps. They’re developing and recruiting and so, they’re plugged in and ready to go. There’s absolutely no drop-off.”

On how big a factor he believes the transfer portal will be this offseason…

“It’s hard to determine. I think, yes, we’re all bracing for it. Much more volume than it was a year ago. I think even last year, going through it for the first time. It was a little slower, maybe, in the fall in football than you’re going to see this year. You saw maybe some sports throughout the winter and spring, it impacted them even differently than it did us just because of how new it was a year ago. But I think there will be quite a bit. I think it’s something that we all have to adapt to. You 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. It’s going to definitely be different here I think this year and we’re all kind of preparing for that as best we can.”

On whether or not the new transfer portal windows (open Dec. 5, close Jan. 18) 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 and as we go through all the different tasks we have throughout the week in our preparation, roster management and dealing with it is certainly something that we have to discuss. 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, 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. 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.”

On what he’s learned about roster management in recent years…

“I don’t know if there’s any one thing that jumps out at me that’s helped me. I think maybe just the amount of time we have to put into it is maybe different. Just constantly going through the roster, combing through it, having conversations with your players, and trying not to be caught off guard is something that we’re constantly adjusting to.”