Various Ways Players Juggle the Transfer Portal and Bowl Games

If there’s more than one way to skin a cat, there’s more than one way to handle the transfer portal. College football’s free agency period is tied to the academic calendar, forcing players to make decisions prior to the January enrollment period. That complicates how individuals handle the postseason.

Penn State QB Beau Pribula provided fodder for all of the national media types. The Penn State backup quarterback entered the game when Drew Allar went down at Wisconsin and helped the Nittany Lions pull off the road win to keep their CFP hopes alive. Pribula made the difficult decision to enter the transfer portal now to make the most of his free agency opportunity and miss Penn State’s postseason run.

That’s one way to handle it. Two Kentucky offensive line targets are showing us a different path.

Mark Stoops has developed a transfer portal-friendly reputation among his players. In previous years, some Kentucky football players entered the transfer portal, yet stuck with the team for the bowl game. It was a surreal experience seeing KD McDaniel wiping away tears as confetti at the Citrus Bowl rained down, knowing he would be playing for UCF the following season.

That is how one future Kentucky offensive lineman is juggling the transfer portal and a bowl game. Alex Wollschlaeger used his weekend off of practice to visit Indiana and Kentucky. He committed to the Cats, then returned to practice for Bowling Green. The All-MAC right tackle will suit up for the Falcons against Arkansas State in the 68 Ventures Bowl on Dec. 26.

A Kentucky target is taking a slightly different approach. Evan Wibberley unceremoniously entered the transfer portal last week. He told Zack Geoghegan that he will be visiting Kentucky tomorrow. This evening he will be the center for Western Kentucky against James Madison in the Boca Raton Bowl. He’ll be snapping the ball to Caden Veltkamp, another player who is suiting up for the Tops one last time before finding a new school in the transfer portal.

The crazy college football calendar has forced players to make incredibly difficult decisions. In some cases, it completely decimates a program. Washington State will play in the Holiday Bowl without its head coach, offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach, running backs coach, starting quarterback, and 21 other players in the transfer portal. That’s not fair to the guys who stuck with the Cougs.

Tough choices must be made. At least two Kentucky offensive line targets are sticking with their team while also making the best decisions for themselves.