What we're hearing inside CFB's transfer portal market
Here’s an early look at this year’s market, based on conversations with coaches, recruiting staffers and players from around the country.
theathletic.com
Kentucky is focusing its efforts on former NC State starter Devin Leary, industry sources told The Athletic. Leary is arguably the top quarterback in the portal right now and should command a lucrative NIL deal. Perhaps his commitment could be the one that sets things in motion for others in the market.
If Leary decides Kentucky is his best move, that pairing would make sense on both sides. Liam Coen is coming back to Lexington as offensive coordinator. He’d be a good guy for Leary to put his trust in, considering his NFL background and what he achieved with Will Levis in 2021. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler had a Day 3 draft grade on Leary going into the season, and NFL scouts graded Leary in the fourth to fifth round range prior to his season-ending pec injury.
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The amount of money collectives are investing in quarterback recruiting these days leaves some staffers wondering whether quarterbacks looking at mid- to late-round draft grades would be wiser to enter the portal and spend an extra year in college than enter the draft. Sam Howell got a $361,000 signing bonus as an early fifth-round pick this year. Brock Purdy, the last pick in the draft, got just $77,000 guaranteed. The sums some collectives are allegedly offering would surely far exceed that.
“There’s more money to be made as a portal QB than as an NFL QB,” one SEC recruiting coordinator told The Athletic.