Less high school kids more transfers

[GopherTheJugular]

I remember hearing the most about teams fighting over and getting into bidding wars over QBs in the 2023 high school recruiting class. Every year since, we've heard less and less about that and more about teams fighting over PROVEN QBs in the portal. I've heard almost nothing about the 2026 top high school QBs above

I gotta agree. From 2025 and 2026 on the list you have, I only recognized one name, and that's because the guy went to Michigan and people kept mentioning his $12M or whatever.

I used to follow high school recruiting way more and I knew the top players at almost all positions. Your post made me realize how that changed without me realizing it lol.

 

[MNVCGUY]

I assume most players with multiple offers will be able to command some type of NIL leverage.

I'm sure there are bidding wars and recruits playing schools against each other but I would also think that once you get beyond the top rated recruits their leverage drops really quickly.

Coaches aren't going to rush to throw a bunch of money at a high school prospect that might not pan out or might transfer when they can just as easily go out and get a transfer to fill that spot or even a comparable high school player.

Transfers with multiple offers will have way more leverage to negotiate for a larger payday.

 

[btowngopher]

I'm sure there are bidding wars and recruits playing schools against each other but I would also think that once you get beyond the top rated recruits their leverage drops really quickly.

Coaches aren't going to rush to throw a bunch of money at a high school prospect that might not pan out or might transfer when they can just as easily go out and get a transfer to fill that spot or even a comparable high school player.

Transfers with multiple offers will have way more leverage to negotiate for a larger payday.

Sure the amount will vary, but it all adds up. If they aren’t paying the high school kids much, that’s great, that would fall somewhat in line with what I would suggest doing. I think a budget of something like 15% for high school kids and save the rest for retention and portal.

 

[WHB Brewer]

The bad 22 year old is gone faster, the 18 year old has to be convinced to leave if you want him gone.

what did the 22yo transfer cost you in NIL $$ to get him to commit? We had multi ple transfers who didn't play a down. that is money flushed also

 

[btowngopher]

what did the 22yo transfer cost you in NIL $$ to get him to commit? We had multi ple transfers who didn't play a down. that is money flushed also.

Depends on the caliber of the transfer, many just want a chance to play I would suspect. Hell some have to be desperate just to get a scholarship.

 

[The Deliberate Stranger]

Isn't it still policy in the B1G that when you recruit/offer a HS kid its a 4 year offer? I'm not making an argument on if it's right or wrong at this point but are we cutting or shoving out underachieving scholarship players?

A guy can be cut from the team and still have a scholarship to the school and not have it count towards the roster limit. Think the Hill Murray kid who went to Stanford is just a student there now

 

[UpAndUnder43]

Too many posts to respond to all but why not just sign guys off NFL practice squads like college basketball teams are doing?

 

[BigGopher69]

Did Indiana not have a bunch of transfers?

Yes, but many had already played for Cig. It was not a roster of transfers from all over the country unfamiliar with his program’s culture. You still need a core of guys plus talented transfers.

 

[Some guy]

Too many posts to respond to all but why not just sign guys off NFL practice squads like college basketball teams are doing?

Because unlike basketball most of those guys (not all) have exhausted their eligibility

 

[Gophers1992]

Fewer

 

[UpAndUnder43]

Because unlike basketball most of those guys (not all) have exhausted their eligibility

Sue. Eligibility doesn’t matter. It’s a new era.

 

[Some guy]

Sue. Eligibility doesn’t matter. It’s a new era.

Eligibility matters a great deal

If they are eligible you can’t play them.

Currently no lawsuits have overturned eligibility limits.

Once a lawsuit is won, they’ll change their behavior. They won’t change their behavior assuming a lawsuit will be won.

 

[Lifeleadership]

I agree with what Fleck is doing right now. You grab a boat load of HS kids with potential and kids who fit your Culture. Find out who can develop and who are not capable. Then you sprinkle in guys from the portal to fill your needs and add competitive depth. I truly believe that is what you need to do at Minnesota. Like it or not, it's a numbers game. We do not have the funds like Indiana, Oregon, Ohio State, USC, Penn State and Michigan. Based on the financial support that Fleck gets from the University, he is doing a heck of a good job maintaining our top players. It's obvious that guys love the Culture at Minnesota, value the life program and really want to be here. It's fun to cheer for the guys on the roster. Go Gophers!

 

[UpAndUnder43]

Eligibility matters a great deal

If they are eligible you can’t play them.

Currently no lawsuits have overturned eligibility limits.

Once a lawsuit is won, they’ll change their behavior. They won’t change their behavior assuming a lawsuit will be won.

You take things very seriously.

 

[Some guy]

You take things very seriously.

Sorry

 

[TwistingMyMelon]

I see 22 for 2026. Those numbers are not that much different. 2020 class had 20, 2019 class had 23.

Yes, but more existing players leave now because they don't have to sit out (which improves their transfer opportunities). That's how you can take significantly more transfers while keeping freshman recruiting pretty steady.

 

[Hates Monikers]

I agree with what Fleck is doing right now. You grab a boat load of HS kids with potential and kids who fit your Culture. Find out who can develop and who are not capable. Then you sprinkle in guys from the portal to fill your needs and add competitive depth. I truly believe that is what you need to do at Minnesota. Like it or not, it's a numbers game. We do not have the funds like Indiana, Oregon, Ohio State, USC, Penn State and Michigan. Based on the financial support that Fleck gets from the University, he is doing a heck of a good job maintaining our top players. It's obvious that guys love the Culture at Minnesota, value the life program and really want to be here. It's fun to cheer for the guys on the roster. Go Gophers!

Agree with this. It seems to me you buy transfers out of the portal to come in and start or have significant roles immediately. Sure, you could bring a transfer in as deep depth, if you can convince him to take that role. The nucleus and depth need to come through high school recruiting; it's unrealistic and expensive to bring in 30 transfers a year to be your team on the field and hit on all of them every year.

Bring in a bunch of high school recruits, put them through your program, throw them against the wall and see who sticks. Unfortunately, those who don't will be cut loose quickly. This is what the players asked for.

 

[MNVCGUY]

Been interesting hearing more former and current players talking about the crop of players coming out of college in this transfer portal era. Most of what they have to say does not reflect well on the current generation of players.

Brady/Manning were on a podcast and they talked about how development is being lost because guys bounce around so much and play for so many different teams and coordinators. Both of them credit stability as being a huge part of why they became the players they did.

 

[btowngopher]

Agree with this. It seems to me you buy transfers out of the portal to come in and start or have significant roles immediately. Sure, you could bring a transfer in as deep depth, if you can convince him to take that role. The nucleus and depth need to come through high school recruiting; it's unrealistic and expensive to bring in 30 transfers a year to be your team on the field and hit on all of them every year.

Bring in a bunch of high school recruits, put them through your program, throw them against the wall and see who sticks. Unfortunately, those who don't will be cut loose quickly. This is what the players asked for.

Why would you need to hit on 30 transfers a year? You can still get a good foundation off of 15-20 high school kids per year.