Jalen Smith LB to Transfer Portal

[TAF]

 

[VFL92]

Ouch. That one hurts. Smith was our highest graded LB against Vanderbilt, according to PFF.

 

[Carp]

Ouch. Strange that these guys aren't staying through the playoffs. Not going to partake in the celebration come January.

 

[Vol in Buckeye Land]

Wow. This one surprises me. He was getting significant PT.

 

[hUTch2002]

Why in the world would you announce that now? There’s plenty of time to transfer after we win it all.

 

[VFL92]

Ouch. Strange that these guys aren't staying through the playoffs. Not going to partake in the celebration come January.

Portal timing, along with school calendar, continues to make this a very difficult and awkward timeline. And there's not an easy solution, especially for teams in the playoffs.

 

[VFL92]

Why in the world would you announce that now? There’s plenty of time to transfer after we win it all.

In order to enroll in their new school, which will likely start their semester around Jan 6, the portal timeline essentially forces them to declare now and start the process. It's a sad reality of the state of college football.

 

[BigOrangeFanatic]

Good Riddance

 

[barney]

wow that is surprising and disappointing. Other teams poaching or is something else going on? We gotta fix this system yall.

 

[RockyTop140]

He was getting good PT but with Carter and Telander we got two good starters already. Understand him wanting a starting role somewhere else

 

[Vol in Buckeye Land]

He was getting good PT but with Carter and Telander we got two good starters already. Understand him wanting a starting role somewhere else

Makes me wonder if one of the other two has been a little banged up and that’s why he’s been playing more snaps. Otherwise you would think he would have the potential to ply even more next year. Might say something about the freshmen we’ve got coming in too.

 

[PEPPERJAX]

That leaves UT with Carter, Perry, Telander, Spillman, Burns, and the 4 LBs signed for 2025 class coming in next season.

 

[Vol_sanity]

Spillman was gonna pass him. Would have passed him if healthy

 

[Carp]

Portal timing, along with school calendar, continues to make this a very difficult and awkward timeline. And there's not an easy solution, especially for teams in the playoffs.

I thought portal timeline was extended for players on playoff teams?

Though I suppose they are technically still on the team aren't they, since a player can take their name out of the portal at any time? So, maybe they still play through the playoffs?

 

[onevol74]

Play for money. See where the market takes him. Does not mean he is actually leaving.

 

[hUTch2002]

In order to enroll in their new school, which will likely start their semester around Jan 6, the portal timeline essentially forces them to declare now and start the process. It's a sad reality of the state of college football.

If they want to do Spring practice sure but that’s not required. If the kid doesn’t want to be here then so be it, let him go and I wish him well. The timing just makes no sense though.

 

[OrangeInKy]

Play for money. See where the market takes him. Does not mean he is actually leaving.

Oh, he's leaving. This is a guy seeing playing time that goes in the portal right before a playoff run. I can't imagine them letting him come back after doing this now.

 

[VolFreakJosh]

Too many good LBs coming in.

Not sweating this one

 

[TAF]

Too many good LBs coming in.

Not sweating this one

 

[sonofUT62]

He was getting good PT but with Carter and Telander we got two good starters already. Understand him wanting a starting role somewhere else

He’s getting good playing time because we lost a LB to a season ending injury. The fact he hasn’t considered this could happen to Carter or Tealander is pretty short sighted.

 

[PEPPERJAX]

Oh, he's leaving. This is a guy seeing playing time that goes in the portal right before a playoff run. I can't imagine them letting him come back after doing this now.

That would be my thoughts too but Jenkins did the same thing last year and elected to come back. You are correct about the timing though. Also, Smith has gotten a good amount of snaps this year.

 

[VFL92]

If they want to do Spring practice sure but that’s not required. If the kid doesn’t want to be here then so be it, let him go and I wish him well. The timing just makes no sense though.

If you want to play early at your new school, which I'm assuming is his priority, then you'd better be at spring practice. Sure, it's not a requirement, but it's like "voluntary workouts" in sports. If you want a spot, you'd better be there.

 

[Godfatha]

The portal and early recruiting period are really dumb timing from the NCAA.

 

[Bloodrunsorange27]

I don't get a player who is getting significant playing time walking out on his team right before the playoffs. And he's only a RS Freshman - not like he's running out of time to be a starter. We can replace him in the portal potentially, but it hurts our depth and he would have been needed

 

[PEPPERJAX]

The portal and early recruiting period are really dumb timing from the NCAA.

I bet the coaches love the early signing period though. They don't have to babysit until February and essentially lock up an entire class for the most part.