Since the inception of the NCAA’s transfer portal, they have made some very confusing decisions as to who becomes eligible immediately and who does not. They allowed current Miami and former Ohio State QB Tate Martell to become eligible right away due to Urban Meyer retiring, but current Illinois TE Luke Ford, transferred from Georgia to be closer to his dying grandfather and Virginia Tech lineman Brock Hoffman moved on from Coastal Carolina to be closer to his mother who was recovering from brain tumor surgery both were denied.
My Grandpa just passed on to a better place in heaven. Love you Papa! I’m sorry you didn’t get to see me play in person, my heart is devastated… Rest in Paradise 🌴❤️
— L U K E F O R D🇺🇸 (@lukeredx97) February 19, 2020
Ford’s story stings as just yesterday his grandfather, who never saw him play in person, passed away. The NCAA transfer portal never really had any clear guidelines as to who would be eligible immediately and who would have to wait a season, taking each transfer as a case by case basis.
An absolutely terrible way of going about transfers, the NCAA has been proposed by the Transfer Waiver Working Group to have all athletes become eligible immediately in their first transfer. There are four of guidelines to be eligible for the one-time transfer exception:
1) The player needs to have an official release from the school
2) The student-athlete must leave academically eligible
3) Their academic standing at the new school must be maintained
4) If they opt to transfer due to a disciplinary suspension, they would not qualify
Coaches seem to no like this idea but take a look at what happened at Michigan State. Mark Dantonio retired the day before the final signing period began, putting the players who already signed and players to sign committed to a coach they hardly know. If coaches are allowed to up and leave whenever they please, why shouldn’t a player have the same option?
The NCAA clearly has a conundrum with the transfer portal and making changes will happen, the only question is what changes will actually occur. The NCAA needs to be more player friendly and making a move for a one-time transfer with immediate eligibility is a step in the right direction.