Rocket Sanders told On3 during suppertime Tuesday that he intended to leave Arkansas via the transfer portal. A preseason All-American hitting collegiate free agency, so to speak, is massive.
It is, in fact, collegiate free agency. It should be, too. The players deserve everything they’re getting. This author only wishes the dollar figure was more and that more athletes received such money and benefits.
Some players will leave their schools because unfair or unfit NIL programs. He, and we’re talking football specifically here, may think he can make more elsewhere.
Some players will leave their schools because of a bad fit, program-wise. A disasterous season before or a new coach going forward is often the impetus for exit. Always has been.
And that last line is the kicker. The phenomenon of players leaving their schools is not a new one. Quantity has increased, but why do so many Joes and Janes treat the increased number as a negative? Think about how many people you have heard say “The portal is ruining college football.” Like it wasn’t already a shambles. Remember this? Or this? You can pick your employer. Players should be able to, too.
Besides, you know as well as I do that if Joe Jr. were playing college football, your encouragement as a parent would be to maximize your worth (in addition, hopefully, to choosing a quality education) because football isn’t going to last forever.
Look in the room around you right now, find an adult, ask him or her whether they think the economy is in good shape. It’s irrelevant whether it actually is or not, if you’re reading this in Arkansas or most SEC country, there’s a good 75% chance that adult is going to say yes. If grown people are supposedly having a hard time finding a job – employers have cut back on hiring to save costs – and we know that most college football players aren’t going to go pro, begrudging them the opportunity to maximize exposure and, in turn, their net-worth is selfish.
Usually it’s done out of some misplaced loyalty to a school that fan didn’t even attend. But’s a whole ‘nother story.
So when Sanders – or AJ Green or Devon Manuel or Chris Paul or whoever – announce their destination, don’t hassle them. You’d do the same thing if you thought it would help.