The Transfer Portal Decision: What Every Parent and Athlete Needs to Know

The Transfer Portal Decision: What Every Parent and Athlete Needs to Know

By Coach Rod

Listen up, parents and players. I’m getting this question every single day: “Coach Rod, should my son enter the transfer portal?”

Here’s the truth nobody wants to hear: most kids who jump into that portal are making an emotional decision, not a strategic one. And that’s where careers go to die.

I’ve been doing this for over 20 years. I’ve seen kids make million-dollar mistakes because they got frustrated, listened to the wrong people, or chased a bag of cash without thinking about development. So let me break this down the way I would if you were sitting across from me at a recruiting table.

The Bottom Line Up Front

You should only enter the transfer portal if you can answer “YES” to this question:

“Is there a concrete, better opportunity that addresses a specific, unmet need at my current school?”

If you can’t say yes with confidence, stay put. The grass isn’t always greener—sometimes it’s just painted.

How to Make the Decision: The Five-Point Evaluation

Here’s the framework I use with every family I work with. Print this out. Put it on your refrigerator. Make your athlete walk through it before they make any moves.

1. DEVELOPMENT & PLAYING TIME (This is 50% of your decision)

Ask your current coaches these questions face-to-face:

• “What’s your vision for my role next season?”
• “How do you plan to develop me for the next level?”
• “What do I need to improve to see the field?”

Their answers tell you everything. If they dodge, give vague responses, or can’t articulate a clear plan—that’s a red flag.

Key Questions to Ask Yourself:

• Is my position coach invested in my development?
• Am I stuck behind someone for 2-3 years with no path to the field?
• Has the scheme changed in a way that hurts my game?
• Do I have a legitimate shot to compete for the starting job?

2. ACADEMIC REALITY CHECK (This is Your Insurance Policy)

Football ends for everyone. Your degree doesn’t.

Before you portal:

• Will your credits transfer to the new school?
• Can you graduate on time if you move?
• Does the new school have your major?

I’ve seen kids lose an entire year of eligibility because they didn’t ask these questions first. Don’t be that kid.

3. THE NIL & BUSINESS FACTOR (Follow the Money, But Don’t Chase It)

Yes, NIL is real. Yes, it matters. But here’s what I tell every family:

Never make NIL your #1 reason to transfer.

If everything else is equal—development, fit, academics—then NIL can be the tiebreaker. But going to a worse situation just for money is short-term thinking. You’ll end up broke AND underdeveloped.

Questions to ask:

• Is the NIL opportunity at the new school legitimate and sustainable?
• What happens if that NIL deal falls through—do I still want to be there?

4. RELATIONSHIP & CULTURE FIT (The Stuff Nobody Talks About)

Your teammates are your brothers. Your coaches are your mentors. That locker room is your second home.

Real talk:

• Are you leaving because of a genuine problem, or because you’re frustrated after a bad season?
• Do you trust the people in your current program?
• Are you happy in that town, on that campus?

Culture fit matters more than parents realize. I’ve seen All-Americans transfer and become miserable because they underestimated this.

5. THE RISK FACTOR (The Portal Isn’t a Guarantee)

Here’s what they don’t tell you: When you enter the portal, your current scholarship is no longer protected.

You could end up:

• ✅ In a better situation
• ⚠️ In a worse situation
• ❌ With no scholarship at all

The portal is a calculated gamble. If you enter it, you better have a Plan B, a Plan C, and a backup plan for your backup plan.

The Timeline: When to Make Your Move

BEFORE JANUARY 3RD (Portal Opens):

Sit down with your coaches. Have the hard conversations. Ask the direct questions. Their responses will tell you everything you need to know.

JANUARY 3RD – 17TH (Window):

If you’re entering the portal, do it early in the window. The best spots fill up fast. Schools aren’t waiting around.

AFTER ENTERING:

• Be proactive. Reach out to coaches.
• Ask them the SAME tough questions you asked your current staff.
• Compare offers honestly—don’t just take the first one because it feels good.

The “Stay or Go” Checklist

Print this out and work through it with your parents:

✅ REASONS TO STAY:

• My coaches have a clear development plan for me
• I have a realistic path to playing time
• I’m in a good academic program
• The culture and relationships are strong
• I’m being developed for the next level

⚠️ REASONS TO CONSIDER LEAVING:

• Coaching staff has given me no clear path forward
• I’m buried on the depth chart with no opportunity to compete
• There’s a proven offer from a school with better development
• Scheme change doesn’t fit my skillset
• Academic or personal situation makes staying impossible

My Final Word to Parents

Mom and Dad, your job isn’t to make the decision for your kid. Your job is to help them think clearly when emotions are running high.

Most of the time, the right answer is to stay. Build on what you’ve started. Trust the process. Develop where you are.

But if the situation is truly broken—if there’s no path, no development, no opportunity—then the portal can be a lifeline.

Just make sure you’re running TO something better, not just running AWAY from something hard.

What Questions Are You Facing?

Parents and athletes—I know this recruiting landscape is confusing. The rules change every year, and nobody’s giving you straight answers.

Drop a comment below and tell me:

• What’s the biggest recruiting challenge you’re facing right now?
• What do you wish someone had told you earlier in this process?

I read every single comment, and I use your questions to shape future articles.

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Coach Rod
National Recruiting Mentor
Helping Families Navigate the Scholarship Process Since 2003

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