Spring college football transfer portal: NIL, dates and positions to watch

Spring transfer portal eve has arrived.

On Tuesday morning, the 15-day period will open. Currently, 2,618 players have entered the transfer portal since August. That number very well could soar to 3,000 by the end of the month. Athletes who enter don’t have to commit by April 30, when the portal closes.

This spring window will be one of the most intricate college football has ever seen. Thanks to multiple preliminary injunctions, booster-funded NIL collectives will be able to openly negotiate with athletes before they commit. Meanwhile, multi-time transfers can enter the portal and play immediately next season. Previously, players would sit for a year or have to secure a waiver to play right away.

In an environment with little enforcement, open negotiations and financial threats are expected these next couple of weeks.

“We had a player’s mother approach us and asked us to guarantee in a contract that her son received a certain amount of playing time because she had heard another player had a similar agreement,” an agent told On3 about a situation he handled in the winter portal window. “We were just like, ‘You’re out of your mind if you think we’re going to walk into a coach’s office and do that.’ And they were asking for a certain number of looks per game, too.”

“From there, it just put a sour taste in the parent’s mouth. Just not something we were willing to do. Parents have their best interest for their kid, but sometimes just cross the line.”

SEC rules call for athletes who transfer inside the league after the winter portal window must sit a year before playing. Oklahoma and Texas will follow that rule this year since they join the conference this fall.

On3 has spoken with sources at football programs across the country in recent weeks. If December was to restock the talent pool, April provides the chance to go through the roster with a fine comb before August.

Most do not anticipate the portal to be deep with talent. But there is always room for surprises. The quarterback market is not expected to be robust, unlike this winter, when 148 scholarship quarterbacks hit free agency. Running backs, linemen and defensive backs are in demand, though.

Do not undervalue how coaches will approach the portal. Sources have told On3 that the spring window is prime time for programs to unload players and open scholarship slots. The shorter window forces programs to evaluate talent even quicker than in December.

“The portal always finds a way to surprise you,” a source told On3.

What is the transfer portal?

The spring transfer portal window is just 15 days, a crammed period that could reshape the 2024 college football offseason. The portal tool was launched in 2018 to allow athletes to be more involved in the process of transferring. Athletes must notify institutions of their intent to transfer. Each school’s compliance team has 48 hours to put a name into the portal. 

A total of 538 FBS scholarship players put their names in the transfer portal on Day 1 of the winter window in December. That number is not expected to be as high, in part because plenty of high-profile programs are still going through spring practice. 

After an athlete is officially in the portal, there is no rush on making a decision as long as they are properly enrolled at a new institution in time for fall camp. Commitments do not have to be made during the 15-day window. Grad transfers are allowed to enter the portal at any time. 

Roster retention will be crucial for programs, with NIL playing a vital role in keeping rosters together in the new age of college football. Exactly 645 FBS players transferred in last year’s spring window. 

The NCAA’s Division I Council could adopt emergency legislation for a new transfer rule in its next meeting, slated for April 17-18. The new rule would mirror the interim portal policy that has been in place since December. All undergraduate athletes would be able to transfer and play immediately as long as they meet specific academic requirements.

What will quarterback market look like?

December was dominated by quarterback musical chairs when 148 scholarship quarterbacks hit the portal. Most starting jobs around the country have already been taken, however, sources expect the spring window to be filled with backup quarterbacks. 

What does that mean? Some programs could rush to add a backup or two depending on who decides to leave.

Auburn made a last-ditch effort to get into the Cam Ward sweepstakes. But sources tell On3 the Tigers are not expected to be in the hunt for a quarterback this spring. Part of the reason is the upside they see in true freshman Walker White. 

Northwestern and UCLA are both in the market. Michigan has a question mark at the position entering its final week of spring practice. Junior Alex Orji has been the leader thus far in the starting battle. The 6-foot-3, 236-pound quarterback and former four-star recruit sat behind JJ McCarthy and is a dual-threat quarterback. 

Wisconsin quarterback Nick Evers has already announced he plans to enter the portal. 

It’s worth saying: If a high-profile, experienced quarterback does decide to enter, some programs could reevaluate their position. 

What positions are in high demand?

While the quarterback position brings the glitz and glam to portal conversations, there are plenty of positions that programs have circled that need to be retooled through the two-week period after evaluating talent in spring practice.

Here’s a breakdown of what we’re hearing:

Running back: Quinshon Judkins and Trevor Etienne ran fast recruitments in December, deciding on Ohio State and Georgia, respectively. Ole Miss, Miami and Tennessee are all expected to target the position. USC might push for someone to pair with Jo’Quavious Marks, too. Oregon State’s Damien Martinez already announced he will enter. He could turn out to be one of the top players in the spring portal.

Wide receiver: Adding a difference-maker in the passing game is always crucial. If programs were targeting quarterbacks in the winter window, spring will be a key time to find a wide receiver, sources tell On3. 

Offensive & Defensive Linemen: Talk to any program across the country and they’ll say you can never have too many linemen. Talent is at a premium in the trenches. Arkansas offensive tackle Andrew Chamblee previously announced he’s entering and will take visits to Kansas State, Colorado, Virginia Tech and UCLA. The spring window is the last time Oklahoma and Texas can stack their lines before entering the SEC.

Linebackers: Speaking with sources in recent weeks, multiple high-profile programs would love to add a starting linebacker in college football’s free agency. The only problem is many are unsure how many talented athletes at the position will jump in the portal. If one does, expect it to be a high-profile recruitment.