Someone smarter than me on all things portal: how are we honestly looking?

[Imafan4evr_]

Anyone really well-versed in the portal game and willing to enlighten the dumber amongst us (as I raise my hand) on how we should be feeling based on our current commits and visitors?

It’s hard for me to get a solid feel when I’ve obviously heard of nearly none of these guys based on their previous programs and / or spots on their previous teams’ pecking orders. Are we looking good? Meh? Like we will be better suited battling for 5th place in the MAC?

Tell us how to feel.

 

[Edgarman]

Anyone really well-versed in the portal game and willing to enlighten the dumber amongst us (as I raise my hand) on how we should be feeling based on our current commits and visitors?

It’s hard for me to get a solid feel when I’ve obviously heard of nearly none of these guys based on their previous programs and / or spots on their previous teams’ pecking orders. Are we looking good? Meh? Like we will be better suited battling for 5th place in the MAC?

Tell us how to feel.

No one including Mark Stoops can build a football team through the portal. You build your team through recruiting and developing your recruits. You then can fill a few holes through the portal. A QB is the most difficult to get a good player through the portal. Most QBs enter the portal because they are not good enough to play with the team they are leaving. Look at our last two portal QBs. I would like to see a list of portal players we have gotten in last 3 years that have been great. Basketball is different because one great portal player can totally change a basketball team, not football.

 

[YardCat]

I have heard we have picked up a OL Tackle, guard and a center. That is a great start to rebuild our offensive line. These guys have to be better than what we walked out on the field this season.

 

[Bereacat420]

No one including Mark Stoops can build a football team through the portal. You build your team through recruiting and developing your recruits. You then can fill a few holes through the portal. A QB is the most difficult to get a good player through the portal. Most QBs enter the portal because they are not good enough to play with the team they are leaving. Look at our last two portal QBs. I would like to see a list of portal players we have gotten in last 3 years that have been great. Basketball is different because one great portal player can totally change a basketball team, not football.

Leary was the starter before his injury. He most likely would have been if he stayed. He was a top portal qb that many teams wanted. He just didn’t recover from his injury.

 

[Bereacat420]

Anyone really well-versed in the portal game and willing to enlighten the dumber amongst us (as I raise my hand) on how we should be feeling based on our current commits and visitors?

It’s hard for me to get a solid feel when I’ve obviously heard of nearly none of these guys based on their previous programs and / or spots on their previous teams’ pecking orders. Are we looking good? Meh? Like we will be better suited battling for 5th place in the MAC?

Tell us how to feel.

The OT they added was #44 in the portal and #4 OL. Not bad but not going to change the team

 

[Coach Marrow]

Is Braun good? I was wondering why he would leave R-kansas unless he just never wants to see Petrino again like everyone else.

 

[TuckyFan]

3 teams in On3’s 2024 portal rankings are in the CFP and at least 1-2 others got dang close. I think the idea you CAN’T build from the portal has been debunked. It’s not how I want UK to do it but it can clearly be done and done well.

 

[bthaunert]

I go by rankings. That’s the only way to really do it imo. We have picked up the following:

#6 OT (45 overall)
#10 IOL (212 overall)
#9 LB (190 overall)
#19 edge (158 overall)

As of 4 days ago, there were over 1,500 FBS scholarship players in the portal. We have a lot of work to do, but it’s a decent start.

 

[dallasg23]

Leary was the starter before his injury. He most likely would have been if he stayed. He was a top portal qb that many teams wanted. He just didn’t recover from his injury.

And he still turned out to be the 2nd best QB in the stoops era.

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

Edgarman is pretty much dead on. You can fill a few holes with portal guys but you can get too many and loose all team chemistry. QB is a tough call, lots of QBs hit the portal because if you aren't the top dog you don't play much. Some for whatever reason are starters hit the portal. Always a safer bet to get a starter, but still a gamble

 

[mrschwump]

Oregon is currently the #1 team and 14 of their 22 starters are out of the portal including their QB.

 

[Eccain01]

No one including Mark Stoops can build a football team through the portal. You build your team through recruiting and developing your recruits. You then can fill a few holes through the portal. A QB is the most difficult to get a good player through the portal. Most QBs enter the portal because they are not good enough to play with the team they are leaving. Look at our last two portal QBs. I would like to see a list of portal players we have gotten in last 3 years that have been great. Basketball is different because one great portal player can totally change a basketball team, not football.

This is a lie. Oregon is the number 1 team in the country and over half of their starters are from the portal. Most Indiana teams is also from the portal. I could really keep going. Also cam ward and Dillion Gabriel who were heisman finalists both came from the portal lol

 

[catfan220]

This is a lie. Oregon is the number 1 team in the country and over half of their starters are from the portal. Most Indiana teams is also from the portal. I could really keep going. Also cam ward and Dillion Gabriel who were heisman finalists both came from the portal lol

As was Travis Hunter, albeit two seasons ago. In fact almost the entire Colorado team are transfers and they were one win away from the playoffs.

 

[Rockfly78]

You can absolutely build/turnaround a program from the portal. Arizona st won 4 games last year. Look at where Indiana is. Now you maybe can’t build a national champion from the portal alone but you can go from 4 wins to 7-8 with the portal. Honestly if you’re a Kentucky fan you’d have to be ecstatic if stoops can pull that off. Then you gotta hope to keep a top 30 class intact and then hit the portal hard again. The portal allows programs like ours to close the gap on the big guys but you damn sure better pay the right kids to come over. Or you get what we just had

 

[ellowelzees]

If we hit on Maalik Murphy and that RB from ULM then I’ll start to believe we’re maybe more of a 6-6 team next season than a 3-9 one.

 

[gamecockcat]

2023 FSU also had a lot of transfers. It bit them in the butt this year, so it's not a risk-free route to relevancy, but it can be done. My thought, though, is it's a short term fix. You still need good HS recruiting and development. It's not an either/or situation.

 

[FirewithFire]

If you couldn't build a team from the portal Vandy wouldn't have beat our ass this year. The problem with the portal is that first there have to be players there that you need, and second is evaluating them properly.

We need everything so no problem there. The eval is my concern.

 

[trueblujr2]

No one including Mark Stoops can build a football team through the portal. You build your team through recruiting and developing your recruits. You then can fill a few holes through the portal. A QB is the most difficult to get a good player through the portal. Most QBs enter the portal because they are not good enough to play with the team they are leaving. Look at our last two portal QBs. I would like to see a list of portal players we have gotten in last 3 years that have been great. Basketball is different because one great portal player can totally change a basketball team, not football.

False, Tell that to IU, Colorado, Ole Miss. Lots of teams being built by utilizing the portal to their advantage.

 

[catsfanbgky]

No one including Mark Stoops can build a football team through the portal. You build your team through recruiting and developing your recruits. You then can fill a few holes through the portal. A QB is the most difficult to get a good player through the portal. Most QBs enter the portal because they are not good enough to play with the team they are leaving. Look at our last two portal QBs. I would like to see a list of portal players we have gotten in last 3 years that have been great. Basketball is different because one great portal player can totally change a basketball team, not football.

Lane Kifin thinks you are full of it. I do not think you entire post could be more wrong ??? Cam Ward, Dillon Gabriel two of the 4 Heisman finalist was portal signings. Hell, the winner was a transfer. Hunter from Jackson State to Colorado. Kyle McCord - OSU, Riley Leonard - ND, Tyler Shough - UL, Diego Pavia - Vandy, Kurtis Rourke - Indiana, Sam Leavitt - ASU, are just a FEW QB's that was signed out of the portal. There are numerous others, actually too many to name.

This years portal entries :
Darian Mensah - Tulane
Kaidon Salter - Liberty
Jackson Arnold - Oklahoma
John Mateer - Washington State
Miller Moss - USC
Conner Weigman - Texas A&M
Maalik Murphy - Duke

 

[mrschwump]

Lane Kifin thinks you are full of it. I do not think you entire post could be more wrong ??? Cam Ward, Dillon Gabriel two of the 4 Heisman finalist was portal signings. Hell, the winner was a transfer. Hunter from Jackson State to Colorado. Kyle McCord - OSU, Riley Leonard - ND, Tyler Shough - UL, Diego Pavia - Vandy, Kurtis Rourke - Indiana, Sam Leavitt - ASU, are just a FEW QB's that was signed out of the portal. There are numerous others, actually too many to name.

This years portal entries :
Darian Mensah - Tulane
Kaidon Salter - Liberty
Jackson Arnold - Oklahoma
John Mateer - Washington State
Miller Moss - USC
Conner Weigman - Texas A&M
Maalik Murphy - Duke

Mensah, Arnold, Moss, Weigman are gone. Mateer is thought to be leaning to Oklahoma. Murphy/Cazada visited or are visiting here.

Does UK have a visit from Salter on the horizon?

 

[seccats04]

False, Tell that to IU, Colorado, Ole Miss. Lots of teams being built by utilizing the portal to their advantage.

Don’t forget UL too. They suck at HS recruiting so the majority of their roster are transfers. They went from a nobody under Satterfield to an almost playoff team last year.

 

[MrHotDice]

If you couldn't build a team from the portal Vandy wouldn't have beat our ass this year. The problem with the portal is that first there have to be players there that you need, and second is evaluating them properly.

We need everything so no problem there. The eval is my concern.

You have to decide do I need ol who can pass block or run block based on what you do best. Problem at UK is just what do we do best?

 

[FanofUK]

All I want for Christmas is a great offensive line.

 

[Soupbean]

Don’t forget UL too. They suck at HS recruiting so the majority of their roster are transfers. They went from a nobody under Satterfield to an almost playoff team last year.

Stole my next post

 

[catsfanbgky]

Mensah, Arnold, Moss, Weigman are gone. Mateer is thought to be leaning to Oklahoma. Murphy/Cazada visited or are visiting here.

Does UK have a visit from Salter on the horizon?

I know, I was just listing quality QBs that entered portal debunking the posters statement that you can't live on signing QBs from the portal.

 

[WizardWCN]

the big question is do you take a MAC starter or do you take a SEC 2nd stringer?

 

[catsfanbgky]

or maybe a ACC starter ??

 

[Thecycle27]

I know people like the Liberty QB. Blah. Very questionable his skill set translates in SEC. This class of QB is pretty weak.

Murphy from a talent and production perspective is good. I think he has to be guaranteed the job just seems like that would be a requirement for his crew.