Portal Season 2025-26

[Ram040506]

Shepherd getting hit again.

LB Devin Harper entered the portal. This will be his 4th stop in his transfer journey. Was a part time player for the Rams, 26 total tackles on the year. Graduated HS in 2020... so Lackawanna, Albany, Shepherd... hope he's got a degree.

RB Jordan Barnett mentioned already on this thread. Already holds D1 offers after a few days from UTEP, Tennessee Tech and Southeast Missouri State.

DB Damier Minkah with 2 years of eligibility left. He's got good size at 6'1" for a DB, so I'd imagine he may get some looks as well.

[iupgroundhog]

I don't see how it can be attributed to "luck." Hopefully, it continues. I think there is something more substantive than "luck" involved.

[TheBigCat2192]

Not a PSAC player but Kenneth Farrow, RB at Fairmont State who had a big year (1440 with double digit TDs on 8.1YPC) is in the portal. He’s a redshirt junior so I assume he’s looking to jump up a level or at least find a higher-tier D2 program to play out his last season. Might be someone to keep an eye on for our contenders who swim in the portal waters.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I don't fault Lutz for guys leaving last year. Every one of those players moved up to some level of D1. When you finish #3 in the nation, that added spotlight gets eyes on your better players and they come calling. I suspect Thompson if truly transferring is testing the D1 waters as well.

Tort's a fine coach with a very fine program and that helps - but an awful lot of him retaining so many players is luck. Was there anyone other than Nico who left?

Tort has a good culture. This is now years and years of next to no player departures. His program is also largely home-grown. They supplement with transfers but that's it.

A huge part of it is his recruiting network. A ton of IUP football alumni are now high school coaches in Pennsylvania. They are feeding him players every year. Players typically trust their high school coach. If he's sending them to IUP, it carries weight (and they stay).

Indiana is a very nice (and fun) college town. That helps, too.

[TheBigCat2192]

Tort has a good culture. This is now years and years of next to no player departures. His program is also largely home-grown. They supplement with transfers but that's it.

A huge part of it is his recruiting network. A ton of IUP football alumni are now high school coaches in Pennsylvania. They are feeding him players every year. Players typically trust their high school coach. If he's sending them to IUP, it carries weight (and they stay).

Indiana is a very nice (and fun) college town. That helps, too.

SRU’s also brought in big-time players through the portal as well. The off-season before they went to the national semi-finals they snagged an All-American RB from Notre Dame College when it closed, an all-MEC WR from WLU, a two-time all-MEC DL from WLU, and an all-NEC DL from Duquesne. Lutz has adapted to the transactional nature of CFB today and it’s paid dividends at times. Jordan, probably the best RB in the west this season, was a transfer from a D3 school who sat for a year because of the depth they already had.

[IUPFan69]

I don't fault Lutz for guys leaving last year. Every one of those players moved up to some level of D1. When you finish #3 in the nation, that added spotlight gets eyes on your better players and they come calling. I suspect Thompson if truly transferring is testing the D1 waters as well.

Tort's a fine coach with a very fine program and that helps - but an awful lot of him retaining so many players is luck. Was there anyone other than Nico who left?

I don’t really get the logic of upperclassmen leaving to go ride the bench at a Power 4 or Group of 5 school in their final year or two. Outside of the Wilson kid going to Youngstown State pretty much every SRU guy who moved up this cycle barely saw the field. Separate issue, but the constant turnover at SRU is starting to look like a pattern. Year after year the core guys hit the portal the second the season ends. At some point that stops being bad luck and starts looking like a retention problem.

And on the “luck” thing calling it luck when IUP retains basically its entire core group every single year is ridiculous. That’s not luck, that’s elite culture and stability. It seems like Tort builds a program where dudes want to stay, develop, and win championships instead of chasing the next shiny offer.

[Fightingscot82]

I don’t really get the logic of upperclassmen leaving to go ride the bench at a Power 4 or Group of 5 school in their final year or two. Outside of the Wilson kid going to Youngstown State pretty much every SRU guy who moved up this cycle barely saw the field. Separate issue, but the constant turnover at SRU is starting to look like a pattern. Year after year the core guys hit the portal the second the season ends. At some point that stops being bad luck and starts looking like a retention problem.

And on the “luck” thing calling it luck when IUP retains basically its entire core group every single year is ridiculous. That’s not luck, that’s elite culture and stability. It seems like Tort builds a program where dudes want to stay, develop, and win championships instead of chasing the next shiny offer.

Way more kids want to say they played D1 ball - on the field or just in practice. Rudy Ruettiger played exactly three snaps of D1 football and is a legend. There's a lot of delusion out there that because I was a star on a good high school football team means I'm in elite company. As if there aren't hundreds of kids just like that.

I agree that I probably overstated the luck factor with IUP - but I'm sure there were guys tempted to at least dip their toes in the water. Whatever Tort did to prevent even that much is beyond commendable, so I apologize to him for not giving him enough credit.

I do think most coaches are like Lutz and see the opportunity to play big time football and recognize what that means to a kid, especially if that kid comes from not much. Not sure if Lutz and Conrad playing at WVU is a factor in that, but I've been reading it more and more. When I was in school, a kid saying he wants to transfer would be like me telling my wife I want a divorce. You can't unspeak that. Now they're supportive of their promising player and leave the door cracked in case they decide they want to stay. Bagent did that. I believe a couple all-PSAC players from last year (maybe Boyd Jr and Craggette???) entered but returned. I'm okay with that. Its not like some coaches haven't kicked the tires on other jobs.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Way more kids want to say they played D1 ball - on the field or just in practice. Rudy Ruettiger played exactly three snaps of D1 football and is a legend. There's a lot of delusion out there that because I was a star on a good high school football team means I'm in elite company. As if there aren't hundreds of kids just like that.

I agree that I probably overstated the luck factor with IUP - but I'm sure there were guys tempted to at least dip their toes in the water. Whatever Tort did to prevent even that much is beyond commendable, so I apologize to him for not giving him enough credit.

I do think most coaches are like Lutz and see the opportunity to play big time football and recognize what that means to a kid, especially if that kid comes from not much. Not sure if Lutz and Conrad playing at WVU is a factor in that, but I've been reading it more and more. When I was in school, a kid saying he wants to transfer would be like me telling my wife I want a divorce. You can't unspeak that. Now they're supportive of their promising player and leave the door cracked in case they decide they want to stay. Bagent did that. I believe a couple all-PSAC players from last year (maybe Boyd Jr and Craggette???) entered but returned. I'm okay with that. Its not like some coaches haven't kicked the tires on other jobs.

Tort has made it abundantly clear -- publicly -- that if you request to enter the portal, you are no longer welcome. You're free to go - but you aren't coming back. That's part of the "All In" mantra.

[TheBigCat2192]

Tort has made it abundantly clear -- publicly -- that if you request to enter the portal, you are no longer welcome. You're free to go - but you aren't coming back. That's part of the "All In" mantra.

Has any player good enough to matter tested that yet?

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Has any player good enough to matter tested that yet?

No

[TheROCK]

I don’t really get the logic of upperclassmen leaving to go ride the bench at a Power 4 or Group of 5 school in their final year or two. Outside of the Wilson kid going to Youngstown State pretty much every SRU guy who moved up this cycle barely saw the field. Separate issue, but the constant turnover at SRU is starting to look like a pattern. Year after year the core guys hit the portal the second the season ends. At some point that stops being bad luck and starts looking like a retention problem..

Not sure where you get that (Highlighted statement). Yes, THE ROCK lost three players last years. All 3 went up to D1 (Ramper to WVU and Soloman to join Wilson at Youngstown). Both Ramper and Soloman left after the spring game not right after the season ended. In years past THE ROCK has benefited by picking up players that fit but rarely lost anyone. THE ROCK culture appears to me to by aimed at education and a degree that means something. Maybe I'm looking at things with rose colored glasses.

[WarriorVoice]

Tahir Mills ran 149 times for 855 yards for ESU in 2024 and sought greener pastures at Youngstown State. He appeared in 3 games for The Penguins running 12 times for 46 yards and 1 TD, and catching 8 passes for 26 yards. Justin Cook was a solid receiver/returner who earned All-PSAC 2nd team honors for ESU in 2024. He had 1 catch for 5 yards this year at U Pitt. He played in 1 game. Many athletes looking to transfer should be careful for what they wish for.

[Fightingscot82]

Rocks Kanye Thompson is the subject of a viral social post about him being the fastest guy in the portal at any level. Says he holds 9 D1 offers including Syracuse, Pitt, Kansas, and Tulsa. He's a track star as well. Would love to see him stay but happy for a kid doing what he can to escape a tough hometown.

[Ram040506]

Tahir Mills ran 149 times for 855 yards for ESU in 2024 and sought greener pastures at Youngstown State. He appeared in 3 games for The Penguins running 12 times for 46 yards and 1 TD, and catching 8 passes for 26 yards. Justin Cook was a solid receiver/returner who earned All-PSAC 2nd team honors for ESU in 2024. He had 1 catch for 5 yards this year at U Pitt. He played in 1 game. Many athletes looking to transfer should be careful for what they wish for.

Yep, Shepherd has had a few of those too. Although, a lot of last year's group that transferred seem to have found some great situations at D1 as well.

Chandler Brown OT started fresh/soph years at Shepherd, transferred to Colorado State for the last 2 years and only plays on PAT/Field goal.
Cameron Dorner WR transferred to North Texas for his senior season. 2nd on the team in receiving with 38 catches 617 yds and 5 tds so far.
Miles Greer DB transferred to Buffalo, starting at safety. 3rd on team in tackles with 67, also has 2.5 sacks. 1 year of eligibility left
Brodie Carroll LB transferred to Elon and is the starting MLB there. Leads team in tackles with 93, 9TFL's and 3 sacks. 2 years of eligibility left
Donte Harrison DB transferred to Northern Illinois, starting at CB for the Huskies. 28 tackles with 1 interception on the year. Senior season
Harold O'Neal LB transferred to Hampton, starting MLB there. Leads team with 107 tackles, 7 TFL's. Senior Season.
JT Koumae-Yao LB transferred to JMU, doesn't play at all for his senior season.
Brett Kwoka DT transferred to Slippery Rock. Starter on the DL for Rock. 1 more year remaining.

Brown and JT were all conference players, I do wonder if they'd take a redo on their decisions. The rest, I can't be mad at how it turned out for them, other than Kwoka who made somewhat of a lateral move from Shep to Rock.

[RocknTheSnackBar]

Tahir Mills ran 149 times for 855 yards for ESU in 2024 and sought greener pastures at Youngstown State. He appeared in 3 games for The Penguins running 12 times for 46 yards and 1 TD, and catching 8 passes for 26 yards. Justin Cook was a solid receiver/returner who earned All-PSAC 2nd team honors for ESU in 2024. He had 1 catch for 5 yards this year at U Pitt. He played in 1 game. Many athletes looking to transfer should be careful for what they wish for.

The lure of the tunnel