Former five-star running back plans to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal

The TCU Horned Frogs are planning to announce their new head coach on Tuesday but they’re suffering a big loss first. Running back Zach Evans is planning to enter the NCAA transfer portal after two seasons in Fort Worth. Rivals’ Woody Wommack first reported the sophomore running back’s intentions.

Evans is a former five-star prospect from Houston, Texas. He initially signed his letter of intent with the University of Georgia but eventually enrolled at TCU instead. During his recruitment, Evans also visited Alabama, LSU, Texas A&M, Ole Miss and Tennessee. He was going to visit Florida but the COVID-19 pandemic shut down in-person recruiting.

This year for the Horned Frogs, the 5-foot-11, 212-pound back has 648 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns, along with 130 receiving yards and another score.

As a freshman, Evans rushed for 415 yards on 54 carries with four scores. He tacked on 76 receiving yards.

During his career at North Shore (TX) High School, Zach Evans finished with nearly 5,000 rushing yards and 76 touchdowns. That dynamic skill has been on full display this season.

Since his decision to transfer is his first, Evans should be immediately eligible at the school of his choosing next season.

Sonny Dykes, to be announced as the new head coach on Tuesday, will have a lot of work to do to keep the running back at TCU. Evans is the team leader in rushing yards, although Kendre Miller is right behind him with two additional rushing touchdowns as well.

NCAA transfer portal booming

Zach Evans is one of many entering the transfer portal after the end of the regular season.

The NCAA Transfer Portal, which covers every NCAA sport at the Division I, II and III levels, is a private database with names of student-athletes who wish to transfer. It is not accessible to the public.

The process of entering the portal is done through a school’s compliance office. Once a player provides written notification of an intent to transfer, the office enters the player’s name in the database and everything is off and running. The compliance office has 48 hours to comply with the player’s request.

Once a player’s name shows up in the portal, other schools can contact the player. Players can change their minds at any point and withdraw from the portal. However, once a player enters the portal, the current scholarship is no longer a guarantee. In other words, if a player enters the portal but decides to stay, the school can choose not to offer a scholarship.

During the 2020-21 cycle, 2,626 FBS football players entered the transfer portal (including walk-ons). That comes after 1,681 entered during the 2019-20 cycle and 1,709 during the abbreviated 2018-19 cycle.