Mark Stoops addresses how he balances the threat of the transfer portal in-season

The transfer portal is a concern for college coaches all season long. If a player doesn’t feel as if they’re getting their due, this new era of transferring makes it very easy for them to consider other options. For Mark Stoops, it’s something Kentucky is mindful of as a program that places a ton of value on development.

Stoops talked about the effect of the portal during his press conference on Monday. He says winning is the most important thing but, because of the investment they’ve put into recruiting their players, they do owe it to them to a degree to give them all the tools they need to be successful from within their program.

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“Sometimes we spend years, years, and years recruiting these guys. They’re really good players. You also have really take time with the players and help them understand that a lot of these guys are going to be very successful. If they’re not successful right now, then let’s talk about it, address it, see where they need to improve, and really help them improve,” said Stoops. “You get caught up as coordinators and position coaches with a game pan and winning, which is ultimately most important. But we can’t forget about development and bringing those guys along.”

Kentucky has already seen two players transfer since the start of fall camp. QB Beau Allen, a native of Lexington, saw the writing on the wall for this season and potentially the future. That led to his transfer to Tarleton State where he’s currently their starting quarterback. CB Joel Williams later stated his intent to enter the portal after originally transferring from LSU to UK. He has since announced his transfer to Memphis.

Mark Stoops can’t feel personally responsible for these decisions as his focus is on the team’s success as a whole. All he can do is give players a way to see the field and the opportunity to earn their snaps. From there, Stoops has his eyes on who is doing the little things and who affects the way the game is being played.

“It’s just a matter of when and continuing to stay positive and work extremely hard,” Stoops said. “So, when they get that opportunity, how are they going to play? It’s not just a matter of how they play. How do we function as an offense, a defense, or special teams when they’re in the game as well? Are they doing the little things?”

The transfer portal simply existing means players will continue to transfer within the rules until they find a situation that fits them best. That’s great for players, but it is something teams have to keep an eye on. These aren’t the first players to leave Lexington through the portal and won’t be the last. It’s just on coaches like Mark Stoops to deal with it the best they can and put the puzzle together with the pieces they have.