Landon Tengwall Media

His podcasts are the best. But we've seen this coming. Almost ALL of the QB's taking part in the limited Natty (4 teams) and updated Natty (12 teams) are upper classman. Moreover, the teams in the final four are almost ALL Jr/Sr xfers. So why not have upper classmen at every other position? I really feel that recruiting out of HS has been diminished by about 90%.
 
His podcasts are the best. But we've seen this coming. Almost ALL of the QB's taking part in the limited Natty (4 teams) and updated Natty (12 teams) are upper classman. Moreover, the teams in the final four are almost ALL Jr/Sr xfers. So why not have upper classmen at every other position? I really feel that recruiting out of HS has been diminished by about 90%.
90% is a bit high, those experience players have to start somewhere, but I get your point.
 
90% is a bit high, those experience players have to start somewhere, but I get your point.
If you go back and look at most of Paterno’s best teams, they were loaded with experienced seniors. This is really nothing new except that you can now portal in experience if you have the cash.
 
90% is a bit high, those experience players have to start somewhere, but I get your point.
Here's a question...Are you better off paying a HS kid NIL as a FR/SO or are you better off focusing NIL investments buying upperclassmen free agents who have proven themselves and developed physically?
 
If you go back and look at most of Paterno’s best teams, they were loaded with experienced seniors. This is really nothing new except that you can now portal in experience if you have the cash.
yeah but the difference is, you can spend a lot of money and time developing a 4 or 5 star HS kid and have them leave for greater NIL money when they pan out. If they don't, you are stuck with them.

You are MUCH better off to take a kid that proved himself at OU, NC State, Iowa State as a JR or Sr.
 
I'm not so sure I agree that the recruitment of 5-star players out of HS is a waste of resources. I think the issue is which program is signing such players.

That WR at OSU (Smith) hasn't left the Buckeyes for "greener pastures." Arch Manning hasn't left Texas, nor has the freshman QB left Michigan.
My point is that the Big Dog programs with (a) loads of cash, (b) excellent coaching and (c) tradition of CFP appearances can recruit and KEEP the 5-star talents.

It is the "lesser" (for want of a better word) programs that are unlikely to keep the superstar freshman/sophomore. Heck, even Alabama has lost 5-star talent to Ohio State. But then, Alabama has seen the level playing field diminish its standing a little as a Big Dog.

So who seem to be those few programs that can sign the 5-stars and keep them whole supporting the roster with experienced talent from the portal? Is Penn State among them?

Ohio State has kept Smith, and Texas has kept Manning. I don't stay up-to-date well enough to know who else has superstars it has recruited still on the roster. I guess Indiana will now be able to keep them. But the number is probably fewer now than it has been for years.

Penn State did keep Allar and Dennis-Sutton, so it has some cache there in being able to keep a recruited 5-star player.

Overall, the prevailing opinion in favor of focusing more on portal stars over HS stars seems sound, but a handful of programs are still likely better suited to get both types of high level talent.
 
I'm not so sure I agree that the recruitment of 5-star players out of HS is a waste of resources. I think the issue is which program is signing such players.

That WR at OSU (Smith) hasn't left the Buckeyes for "greener pastures." Arch Manning hasn't left Texas, nor has the freshman QB left Michigan.
My point is that the Big Dog programs with (a) loads of cash, (b) excellent coaching and (c) tradition of CFP appearances can recruit and KEEP the 5-star talents.

It is the "lesser" (for want of a better word) programs that are unlikely to keep the superstar freshman/sophomore. Heck, even Alabama has lost 5-star talent to Ohio State. But then, Alabama has seen the level playing field diminish its standing a little as a Big Dog.

So who seem to be those few programs that can sign the 5-stars and keep them whole supporting the roster with experienced talent from the portal? Is Penn State among them?

Ohio State has kept Smith, and Texas has kept Manning. I don't stay up-to-date well enough to know who else has superstars it has recruited still on the roster. I guess Indiana will now be able to keep them. But the number is probably fewer now than it has been for years.

Penn State did keep Allar and Dennis-Sutton, so it has some cache there in being able to keep a recruited 5-star player.

Overall, the prevailing opinion in favor of focusing more on portal stars over HS stars seems sound, but a handful of programs are still likely better suited to get both types of high level talent.
tOSU did lose Quincy Porter and Mylan Graham. Both were five star WRs. It is a matter of resources. Taking all that time to recruit HS kids, several years on one kid, is just not efficient. They need to redirect those resources to having a book on every player who plays in any league and the all stars of ones below that.

I think kids like Allar and DDS are in the past.
 
I'm not so sure I agree that the recruitment of 5-star players out of HS is a waste of resources. I think the issue is which program is signing such players.

That WR at OSU (Smith) hasn't left the Buckeyes for "greener pastures." Arch Manning hasn't left Texas, nor has the freshman QB left Michigan.
My point is that the Big Dog programs with (a) loads of cash, (b) excellent coaching and (c) tradition of CFP appearances can recruit and KEEP the 5-star talents.

It is the "lesser" (for want of a better word) programs that are unlikely to keep the superstar freshman/sophomore. Heck, even Alabama has lost 5-star talent to Ohio State. But then, Alabama has seen the level playing field diminish its standing a little as a Big Dog.

So who seem to be those few programs that can sign the 5-stars and keep them whole supporting the roster with experienced talent from the portal? Is Penn State among them?

Ohio State has kept Smith, and Texas has kept Manning. I don't stay up-to-date well enough to know who else has superstars it has recruited still on the roster. I guess Indiana will now be able to keep them. But the number is probably fewer now than it has been for years.

Penn State did keep Allar and Dennis-Sutton, so it has some cache there in being able to keep a recruited 5-star player.

Overall, the prevailing opinion in favor of focusing more on portal stars over HS stars seems sound, but a handful of programs are still likely better suited to get both types of high level talent.

Respectfully, I think youre missing the point.

Is it worth it to OSU to pay Smith as a FR, and each year thereafter to keep him, or is it better to save that cash and buy a free agent who has actually caught a pass and proven their capability? Respectfully, TX kept Manning, but for the $$ invested, his place as a starter was continually questioned.

Allar was a 4th year player in 2025. Allar committed before NIL got insane. I think the landscape has drastically changed in the last 4 years. As has been noted, every Natty in the last few years has been with a transfer QB under center. Miami knew they had a good team and paid for Carson Beck from UGA. Indiana felt that they had a good team and Mark Cuban wrote some 7-figure checks to get Mendoza. The model we knew is gone. It's evolving quickly. I don't think we know what it will look like in 4 more years. The thousands of kids jumping in the portal and many not finding homes is a wake up call. The lack of structure has created chaos that currently swinging wildly back and forth. Absent institutional structure, it will take a few years for the market to stabilize itself and figure out what works.
 
Respectfully, I think youre missing the point.

Is it worth it to OSU to pay Smith as a FR, and each year thereafter to keep him, or is it better to save that cash and buy a free agent who has actually caught a pass and proven their capability? Respectfully, TX kept Manning, but for the $$ invested, his place as a starter was continually questioned.

Allar was a 4th year player in 2025. Allar committed before NIL got insane. I think the landscape has drastically changed in the last 4 years. As has been noted, every Natty in the last few years has been with a transfer QB under center. Miami knew they had a good team and paid for Carson Beck from UGA. Indiana felt that they had a good team and Mark Cuban wrote some 7-figure checks to get Mendoza. The model we knew is gone. It's evolving quickly. I don't think we know what it will look like in 4 more years. The thousands of kids jumping in the portal and many not finding homes is a wake up call. The lack of structure has created chaos that currently swinging wildly back and forth. Absent institutional structure, it will take a few years for the market to stabilize itself and figure out what works.
You make some good points there. However, IMHO, the 5-star HS athlete will still command top dollars paid by the top-level programs. They will worry about keeping him if and when he shows he's worth that original investment.

Transfer QBs are still risky, HC's like Cignetti who seem to have exceptional evaluation skills will still bring in solid transfers. But there will be transfers who don't pan out just like there will be HS "stars" who don't pan out. Colorado's transfer record is certainly not on par with Indiana's, for example. Talent evaluation, whether of HS seniors or college juniors, will determine success.

But I do agree with you that the landscape has changed and the move to older, experienced players currently holds sway. We'll see whether that lasts over the long term.
 
Pay Spell if the due diligence says that he's this year's generational player. Make reasonable offers to other HSers, but stipulate that pay will be adjusted based on effort and improvement. Expect some rejections. So, each year maybe pull in 8-10 players from high schools, most being developmental, and get another 12-15 from the portal. And there will always be an across the board attrition rate to consider.
 
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