2025/26 Transfer Portal & Roster Changes Thread

Nemo said:
So if Campbell's specialty is developing players, it is concerning that Brahmer is not much of a blocker
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It's the TE coach's job to teach blocking, with some help from the OL coach. Blocking is a learned skill and something any big, strong athlete can get better at. Seems a little too early to worry about it.
 
TheNewBoss said:
Another OL guy back. I believe he played quite a bit in the Pinstripe Bowl
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I believe Rulli is a former walk on and has been one of the backup Centers that last couple years, and the 2nd team Center in 2025. I do belive he started and played most of the bowl game and played very well. One season to play. He may have a good chance to win the starting Center job for 2026.
 
LudicrousSpeedGO! said:
Because $30m has to be divided up to 105 players in the most efficient way possible. You cannot overvalue players, or you are hurting yourself at other position groups. So many players will think they can command more value in free agency. Let them try. Nearly 4000 players in the portal. There are only a handful of teams with more NIL to work with this year. Maybe one of those will overvalue them? Or maybe they will find themselves in a worse opportunity? It doesn't work out for 4000 of 4000 players. It's just numbers. If you have no loyalty, it is just numbers.
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Two things

1) I don't think the $30 million has to be divided among 105 players. I don't even think the team is required to have 105 on the roster. Correct me if I'm wrong but I think that's just a limit.

2) I don't understand your comment that only a handful of teams have more NIL than PSU. I think we've been around 15th so what's changed? OSU will have more NIL money than PSU. They might spend more to keep their existing players like Jeremiah Smith and PSU might spend more for new players but the total will still favor OSU.

11 players have entered the portal from ND and 14 from OSU. PSU is well over 30 and I think more of the PSU kids would have had opportunity for significant PT. We're losing highly rated players like Coleman, Mack, Boyer, Fisher, & Harris. Where are they going to get more PT? That tells me the PSU kids aren't being offered as much money or that they're upset about Franklin/Campbell. Of course it could also be that Campbell is trying to change the culture and isn't interested in keeping some kids who he doesn't think fit. Maybe we'll make it up by signing 15 of the top 100 rated portal players but I'm not getting that sense right now.
 
bdroc said:
11 players have entered the portal from ND and 14 from OSU. PSU is well over 30 and I think more of the PSU kids would have had opportunity for significant PT. We're losing highly rated players like Coleman, Mack, Boyer, Fisher, & Harris. Where are they going to get more PT? That tells me the PSU kids aren't being offered as much money or that they're upset about Franklin/Campbell. Of course it could also be that Campbell is trying to change the culture and isn't interested in keeping some kids who he doesn't think fit. Maybe we'll make it up by signing 15 of the top 100 rated portal players but I'm not getting that sense right now.
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Do you believe Coleman is leaving for more playing time? He's likely leaving for more money. He's bascially a 5 star transfer and he can go to the highest bidder, a team like Oregon that has mega $ backers, and he'll be a starter where ever he goes..

Fisher and Harris were starters at PSU, so at worst they are top reserves that will get starter snaps. They may just want a change. Or more money as well. Or a chance to play in the playoffs in their last seasons.

Boyer started one game, the Pinnstripe Bowl. Who knows why he's leaving. Could be any number of reasons including following his OL coach or another coach. Or he's homesick, or................

Generalizations don't seem to work in trying to figure out why 18-22 year olds make decisions. But we can probably say that money is a much bigger factor than it was 10 years ago.
 
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bdroc said:
Two things

1) I don't think the $30 million has to be divided among 105 players. I don't even think the team is required to have 105 on the roster. Correct me if I'm wrong but I think that's just a limit.

2) I don't understand your comment that only a handful of teams have more NIL than PSU. I think we've been around 15th so what's changed? OSU will have more NIL money than PSU. They might spend more to keep their existing players like Jeremiah Smith and PSU might spend more for new players but the total will still favor OSU.

11 players have entered the portal from ND and 14 from OSU. PSU is well over 30 and I think more of the PSU kids would have had opportunity for significant PT. We're losing highly rated players like Coleman, Mack, Boyer, Fisher, & Harris. Where are they going to get more PT? That tells me the PSU kids aren't being offered as much money or that they're upset about Franklin/Campbell. Of course it could also be that Campbell is trying to change the culture and isn't interested in keeping some kids who he doesn't think fit. Maybe we'll make it up by signing 15 of the top 100 rated portal players but I'm not getting that sense right now.
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Cultural change is going ti take more than one year i would think. Thankfully next year's schedule is favorable
 
bdroc said:
Two things

1) I don't think the $30 million has to be divided among 105 players. I don't even think the team is required to have 105 on the roster. Correct me if I'm wrong but I think that's just a limit.

2) I don't understand your comment that only a handful of teams have more NIL than PSU. I think we've been around 15th so what's changed? OSU will have more NIL money than PSU. They might spend more to keep their existing players like Jeremiah Smith and PSU might spend more for new players but the total will still favor OSU.

11 players have entered the portal from ND and 14 from OSU. PSU is well over 30 and I think more of the PSU kids would have had opportunity for significant PT. We're losing highly rated players like Coleman, Mack, Boyer, Fisher, & Harris. Where are they going to get more PT? That tells me the PSU kids aren't being offered as much money or that they're upset about Franklin/Campbell. Of course it could also be that Campbell is trying to change the culture and isn't interested in keeping some kids who he doesn't think fit. Maybe we'll make it up by signing 15 of the top 100 rated portal players but I'm not getting that sense right now.
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To answer the questions,

1) I don't believe anyone thinks that NIL must be given to all players. Maybe you could do a base $10k or less for the backup long snapper or whatever.

2) I believe Kraft said the new staff would have $30m+. That's definitely much more than last year. Although I think Ohio st had used $35m on their underachieving team this year. Wonder what Indiana spends?

3) There are more from PSU in the portal than many teams that didn't fire their coaches but there are some teams with more that both did and did not change out the coaching staff. I think we are about the same as most. There are 4000 players or 1/3 of all D1 players are in the portal. About 1/3 of our roster is and we have retained many of those we needed. Plus, we are going to add a bunch of key contributors. We already upgraded at TE in terms of who will see the field. We will elsewhere as well.

Also, it is clear that you have to embrace the portal to win.
https://twitter.com/x/status/2007479100647080262
 
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GregInPitt said:
Do you believe Coleman is leaving for more playing time? He's likely leaving for more money. He's bascially a 5 star transfer and he can go to the highest bidder, a team like Oregon that has mega $ backers.

Fisher and Harris were starters at PSU. They may just want a change. Or more money as well. Or a chance to play in the playoffs in their last seasons.

Boyer started one game, the Pinnstripe Bowl. Who knows why he's leaving. Could be any number of reasons including following his OL coach or another coach. Or he's homesick, or................

Generalizations don't seem to work in trying to figure out why 18-22 year olds make decisions. But we can probably say that money is a much bigger factor than it was 10 years ago.
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Your comment about Coleman supports my point that PSU DOES NOT have more money than all be a handful of schools. I also wonder if his lack of PT during the season was all due to injury. I wonder if there were disciplinary issues.

Fisher is a PA kid who is leaving without completing his degree. He could have started and finished his degree. Harris performance really declined this year. He actually got benched at one point and perhaps that didn't go down very well.

Each player has their own reasons but the fact is kids who would have received significant PT have left PSU in greater numbers than at other schools. Maybe the players dislike Kraft. Maybe it's the uncertainty about the staff but I hoped that Terry Smith would be able to hold them together.
 
bdroc said:
Your comment about Coleman supports my point that PSU DOES NOT have more money than all be a handful of schools. I also wonder if his lack of PT during the season was all due to injury. I wonder if there were disciplinary issues.

Fisher is a PA kid who is leaving without completing his degree. He could have started and finished his degree. Harris performance really declined this year. He actually got benched at one point and perhaps that didn't go down very well.

Each player has their own reasons but the fact is kids who would have received significant PT have left PSU in greater numbers than at other schools. Maybe the players dislike Kraft. Maybe it's the uncertainty about the staff but I hoped that Terry Smith would be able to hold them together.
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My thoughts on those you offered up.

1) Coleman was gone after the Ohio St game when their staff member offered on camera at the conclusion of the nationally televised game. He probably burned bridges. Now it is looking like Ohio St is backing off because they know they openly tampered and were caught on national TV. Coleman is still a hot commodity and places like Tennessee may overpay for this. Tennessee has plenty of cash and don't necessarily use it wisely. Mission accomplished for Ohio St. They will grab a prospect that they don't have to overpay and they've taken a top prospect away from PSU without inviting more scrutiny.

2) Fisher wasn't going to start next year. He has reached his potential. He doesn't want to be a backup in his final year if they grant another year.

3) Harris was benched for awhile earlier this year and young players at that position are ready to take the job anyway.
 
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