'25 (in-season) - '26 CFB Portal Thread

Jun 26, 2025
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LMAO that people keep referring to the NFL Minor-League Football Free Agency Market as the "Transfer Portal".... Let's call it what it is - the NFL Minor-League Free Agency Market. Why we still have nut-job trolls yabbering about how you can't build a Playoff Contender in the Free Agency Market, when 55% of the starting lineups of this year's Final Four in the Playoffs is made up of signed Free Agents, is rather amusing.
 

LMTLION

All-Conference
Mar 20, 2008
1,268
2,703
112
I have similar concerns. There was a massive void of players that Campbell had to account for and I hope that is why the influx of all ISU guys. I realize many of these guys will be valuable contributors next season. I also realize that Campbell has a reputation of being a good evaluator of talent and doing more with less. I just hope he realizes he doesn’t have to do more with less now. Getting a few quality players from other schools would be the cherry on top to what he and the staff have worked very hard to do in the past week. I hope they can grab the DE from NW. I thought he was a done deal this morning and I’m a little disappointed that wasn’t the case. I’d like to see a few game changing DTs also.
I think you’ll see a lot more movement by Thursday, Friday and the weekend. There are thousands of players in the portal, and many of them are taking visits this week. I really look forward to all the statistics coming out of this period when it closes on the 16th.
 
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doctornick

All-Conference
Sep 4, 2007
691
1,112
93
I'm pretty sure Campbell knows what he's doing. The list of non-ISU players is pretty impressive. Since most of them are taking multiple visits, it will take a little longer for them to commit anywhere. Pretty sure we're going to some of them. And I'm certain the visit list will continue to get longer, so, hang in there.
Oh I agree. I just will feel better once we see some bigger names being brought in and from different places - and I'm sure it will happen. The reality is that PSU has probably gotten a few of the most prominent committed transfers with the top 2-4 players from Iowa St so the pace is totally fine right now - I just would like to see the validation on knowing Campbell can bring in some names among kids he didn't already coach/sign.
 
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LB99

Heisman
Oct 27, 2021
9,530
13,484
113
it won’t completely end. The 16th is the deadline to declare free agency, but they have until spring enrollment to commit.
Spring enrollment probably varies greatly. PSU classes start Jan 12 for Spring 2026 semester.
 

Catch1lion

All-American
Oct 12, 2021
3,839
6,470
113
This is just a guess, but maybe the issue is that they are designating a certain amount of money total to the linebacker group and they know they need to pick up at least two or three and paying Campbell what he wants goes above that target amount. I think much of this is the new general manager trying to use a NFL type system of paying for positions based on average value
Here is the general overview of LB compensation. Campbell was probably pushing over our budget. Maybe he will get it. I wouldn't put him in the elite range.
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In last year’s cycle, linebackers were the most affordable position to obtain a starter in the portal, with the floor being around $150,000 and the ceiling usually falling just below $500,000.

Those rates have ticked up going into this year’s cycle. The floor is closer to $200,000 or $250,000. The ceiling varies. One Power 4 GM said a linebacker “has to be elite to get more than $500,000,” while another GM said some are going for as high as $700,000. Having a pair of starting linebackers between $300,000 and $500,000 isn’t unusual.
 

Schoolie

All-Conference
Oct 23, 2001
2,696
3,732
113
Oh I agree. I just will feel better once we see some bigger names being brought in and from different places - and I'm sure it will happen. The reality is that PSU has probably gotten a few of the most prominent committed transfers with the top 2-4 players from Iowa St so the pace is totally fine right now - I just would like to see the validation on knowing Campbell can bring in some names among kids he didn't already coach/sign.
I think we'll see some. I'd like to get Alexander McPherson, the 6-6 edge from Colorado, among others.
 
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CyphaPSU

All-Conference
Oct 25, 2021
1,271
2,236
113
I'm pretty sure Campbell knows what he's doing. The list of non-ISU players is pretty impressive. Since most of them are taking multiple visits, it will take a little longer for them to commit anywhere. Pretty sure we're going to some of them. And I'm certain the visit list will continue to get longer, so, hang in there.
Can’t see Kraft being content with Campbell continuing to primarily focus his evaluation process mainly on 3-star type players in the upcoming recruiting classes. He can now take that same process and aim its focus on 4-star types more than he’s ever been able to do before. Of course, they are still going to bring in a number of 3-star recruits and they are going to turn some into really good NFL talent. It’s what they do.

With that said, though, in terms of high school recruiting, I do think there is something to be said for maintaining a high blue-chip ratio. And, so I hope he and his staff can maintain a top-15 ratio at the very least. If they can take their eval process and their ways of developing, and marry that to the level of players PSU is capable of pulling in, then Campbell could end up as a very successful coach here.
 
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Schoolie

All-Conference
Oct 23, 2001
2,696
3,732
113
Can’t see Kraft being content with Campbell continuing to primarily focus his evaluation process mainly on 3-star type players in the upcoming recruiting classes. He can now take that same process and aim its focus on 4-star types more than he’s ever been able to do before. Of course, they are still going to bring in a number of 3-star recruits and they are going to turn some into really good NFL talent. It’s what they do.

With that said, though, in terms of high school recruiting, I do think there is something to be said for maintaining a high blue-chip ratio. And, so I hope he and his staff can maintain a top-15 ratio at the very least. If they can take their eval process and their ways of developing, and marry that to the level of players PSU is capable of pulling in, then Campbell could end up as a very successful coach here.
Don't forget Terry Smith is still on staff. He's a damn good recruiter and already has recruited many of the guys we were looking at for 2027. We'll be okay. Too much shock and disbelief going on here.
 

LionsAndBears

All-Conference
Dec 7, 2009
2,073
3,691
113
James Peoples is the OSU RB on the front page. The TX 4* RB was expected to be RB1 at OSU next year but he entered the Portal and he's visiting PSU.

 

TheWizardofCamelot

All-Conference
Oct 12, 2015
1,060
1,500
113
Any idea how visits went today? Was away most of the day and catching up. I think I read NW DE, UCLA DT, COL DE, and OSU RB were all visiting today/tomorrow?
 

Ludd

All-Conference
Oct 12, 2021
3,788
4,125
113
PSU is in rebuilding mode between the loss of the 2026 recruiting class, the number of seniors/core players graduating and a significant amount of players portaling out. The first thing is we need to grab starters and depth for 2026 and I do think it has been effective in using both ISU transfers and ISU recruits to fill those holes.

That being said, I agree that we cannot rely entirely on Iowa St players - that would result in a comparatively low talent level for the Big Ten. I'm hoping that we'll start to see us grabbing some higher caliber players from the portal from places besides ISU. With supposedly a significant amount of NIL to offer, we should be able to bring in some game changers to fill holes that we might have.
I’m confused, I’ve read on here forever that Franklin was an average recruiter and only beat teams that had less talent than he did and won 10+ games in multiple seasons because the schedules were so easy. Now I’m reading that Campbell can’t compete bringing in ISU guys. If the schedule is so easy and the Big 10 is so bad, why can’t Campbell win if these players are coached properly?
 
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Ludd

All-Conference
Oct 12, 2021
3,788
4,125
113
I'm not saying elite teams were chasing him or throwing money at him but he'd be better off going anywhere that will adapt their offense to fit him
Do you think him running zone read is a good idea?
If he was going to go somewhere and sit a year, he might as well have stayed at PSU.
 

Ludd

All-Conference
Oct 12, 2021
3,788
4,125
113
I haven’t seen that.
You can see it in this thread…we’re doomed because Campbell is bringing in too many ISU guys. I’ve seen posts in other threads that he’s dropped the ball on coaching hires. You must not be paying too close attention.
 
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KingLando

All-Conference
Nov 29, 2021
5,351
3,133
113
If he was going to go somewhere and sit a year, he might as well have stayed at PSU.
Who said he had to sit to do that? There's tons of offenses that run schemes better suited for him or are willing to adapt
But, no, Campbell brought in his future starter as well as his starter for 2026. Grunk understood that.
 

KingLando

All-Conference
Nov 29, 2021
5,351
3,133
113
Marc Cuban bankrolls his alma mater Indiana and now heavily supports the football program. He is the new Phil Knight of college football. Get used to Indiana being relevant.
It's funny how many refuse to believe Cuban is the reason for their success
 
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LB99

Heisman
Oct 27, 2021
9,530
13,484
113
Marc Cuban bankrolls his alma mater Indiana and now heavily supports the football program. He is the new Phil Knight of college football. Get used to Indiana being relevant.
Too bad he didn’t buy the Pirates when he wanted to.
 
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Nits74

All-Conference
May 14, 2010
1,211
1,931
113
Agreed--I'm not being critical of Campbell at all. His job is to build the roster he thinks is best for his success.
Just like I don't blame Grunk but the moment Becht portaled we all knew this was likely. Becht in--Grunk out.
Gotta wonder why Grunk's years of eligibility were apparently not considered. On the surface this looks like a bad move.
 

Omar81

Senior
Nov 12, 2014
296
668
93
I’m confused, I’ve read on here forever that Franklin was an average recruiter and only beat teams that had less talent than he did and won 10+ games in multiple seasons because the schedules were so easy. Now I’m reading that Campbell can’t compete bringing in ISU guys. If the schedule is so easy and the Big 10 is so bad, why can’t Campbell win if these players are coached properly?
You really need to get over yourself with these incessant, convoluted juxtapositions of (a) people’s well founded opinions of Franklin’s shortcomings with (b) the short term reality that Campbell was left a depleted roster and likely won’t win a national title in 2026.
 
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KingLando

All-Conference
Nov 29, 2021
5,351
3,133
113
Gotta wonder why Grunk's years of eligibility were apparently not considered. On the surface this looks like a bad move.
Just my opinion--Campbell wanted Manske and wasn't overly impressed with Grunk. He wants a Brock Purdy type which isn't Grunk.
To clarify--I'm sold on Grunk--I think he's making an awful decision to follow BGJ but I was higher on his potential than most here. Keeping him last year was huge at the time.
 

Dbsteel

Junior
Jan 15, 2014
166
231
43
Just my opinion--Campbell wanted Manske and wasn't overly impressed with Grunk. He wants a Brock Purdy type which isn't Grunk.
To clarify--I'm sold on Grunk--I think he's making an awful decision to follow BGJ but I was higher on his potential than most here. Keeping him last year was huge at the time.
I thought Grunk was as accurate of a thrower I'd seen here. Wish they'd have kept him.