***Official portal tracker thread***

[Marcelason78]

Depends on how you define "forced out". Like the person you quoted said, if a player expects something and the coaches say no thanks, is that forced out? We like to look at it that way for kids that weren't going to play and will transfer down but don't look at it the same way for a starter who can go get more money on the open market. Both types of player are in the same boat, they don't see eye to eye with the staff and are moving on. Are they both forced out if they would have stayed under their conditions but not what the new staff has laid out for them?

Seems like this addresses 86’ points 2 and 3 which I would not consider being forced out.

 

[xr4ticlone]

Why would Rodgers be running good Big 12 players off like this?

They don’t fit the system he’s implementing…or they’re unreasonable with their NIL demands.

I’m guessing there was a group already assured of pedo state spots…they kicked off early.

I’m guessing there were some told they wouldn’t see the field here and should explore greener pastures.

I’m also guessing some gave unreasonable NIL demands thinking JR would overpay to retain current players.

The last group may see some return, but I’d imagine it would be only after no other suitable replacements could be found elsewhere.

Jimmy doesn’t seem like the kinda guy to go back for defectors.

 

[CYDJ]

Horses…the investment that makes giving millions to teen agers seem like a good investment. Lol

None of this is an investment. An investment requires some capability to estimate and mitigate risk and have a reasonable expectation of ROI. When the best you can do is give a kid money to 'consider" playing some games for your team with no assurance they simply don't leave whenever they feel like bolting, at best these are short term bribes.

Get these kids to sign on the dotted line, then I'll consider giving again. YES, I did contribute to We Will. Why? Because I trusted Blum and I liked the way they were doing it.

The way it is going now is even more wild west and more pro with LESS rules. It needs to get real before we can even compete, IF we even want to at some point.

 

[GP4ISU]

Why would Rodgers be running good Big 12 players off like this?

Answer is in the post:
1. Can’t afford them, or
2. They don’t fit in new schemes
3. Can afford, but can’t agree on value/cost

 

[xr4ticlone]

None of this is an investment. An investment requires some capability to estimate and mitigate risk and have a reasonable expectation of ROI. When the best you can do is give a kid money to 'consider" playing some games for your team with no assurance they simply don't leave whenever they feel like bolting, at best these are short term bribes.

Get these kids to sign on the dotted line, then I'll consider giving again. YES, I did contribute to We Will. Why? Because I trusted Blum and I liked the way they were doing it.

The way it is going now is even more wild west and more pro with LESS rules. It needs to get real before we can even compete, IF we even want to at some point.

I’ve said this myself.

When the Lakers go pay $80m for a guy…it’s to win games, sell tickets, and sell merch. They don’t put that $80m out there without it hopefully making a ROI.

When some donor drops $20m or even $100k…what is their ROI in college athletics?

Some PR?

It’s frankly one of the worst investments anyone can make.

 

[Stevetasker]

I have been watching the threads and people just losing it over players leaving. I see it this way:
1. those that are following CMC better hope they can beat out current PSU players as they will not be fan favorites.
2. those who have agents, family or friends who are telling them they can get more money somewhere else and are not now starters here may be in for a big shock
3. those who feel they did not get enough playing time here will have to go down a level to get playing time.
So anyone leaving unless told by the new staff their skills don't fit the new system good luck but the grass is NOT always greener somewhere else and you really weren't a true Cyclone.
For those staying you have shown us you care and here's to a great year in 2026 GO CYCLONES!!!

To #1-there’s 0% chance there is a qb competition with Rocco. Probably the same for about 5 others. He’s loyal to a fault. We all saw that during the 4 game skid.

 

[Dandy]

I saw a tweet that said something like this is a common occurrence:

Player thinks he is worth more and asks current school for a raise to $750,000
Current school counters with $300,000
Player throws a fit and hits the portal
New schools only offer $250,000
Player burned the bridge or is too cowardly to return to the old school
Player hit the portal but ends up with a worse situation

Bump.

I'm sure this is happening in Ames over the last couple weeks.

 

[CloneIce]

Answer is in the post:
1. Can’t afford them, or
2. They don’t fit in new schemes
3. Can afford, but can’t agree on value/cost

You guys actually think a player leaving for more money is being “run off by the coach?” No, he is transferring for more money.

I doubt there any successful Big 12 players that can’t fit into Rodgers scheme, especially given our bare bones roster.

 

[Dandy]

I'm sure a lot of players are being forced out because:

1. Jimmy Rogers doesn't see their talents as a good fit for his offense & defense.
2. Rogers being unwilling to pay same House/NIL $ to players that Matt Campbell was paying guys.
3. A players agent could be telling them a Big12 starting CB should make $400k. Player approaches Rogers and says "My agent says you should pay me $450k, or I will enter portal". Coach Rogers says, "You probably need to hit the portal".

Until the NCAA creates structure, it's going to only get more chaotic each off-season.

This is one thing that must change.

IIRC "agents" for college kids can be a random friend or a father/brother or whoever. They don't even have to be certified/licensed.

3,300 players in the portal. That's probably well over 1,000 "agents" these Coaches and General Managers have to deal with.

Barf.

 

[Marcelason78]

You guys actually think a player leaving for more money is being “run off by the coach?” No, he is transferring for more money.

I doubt there any successful Big 12 players that can’t fit into Rodgers scheme, especially given our bare bones roster.

Agree the ‘scheme’ thing is a little overblown.

Not sure anybody is saying players are being run off if they can get more money elsewhere.

 

[CyLyte2]

You guys actually think a player leaving for more money is being “run off by the coach?” No, he is transferring for more money.

I doubt there any successful Big 12 players that can’t fit into Rodgers scheme, especially given our bare bones roster.

Our LBs are nothing like the LBs WSU has. Plodding turtles compared to those guys. Bobbit put his plodding turtles on the line so the LBs can be lighter and faster. And if you think Daniel Jackson, Carson Brown and Carson Van Dinter, to name a few, were going to be paid any kind of real money to stay then I don’t know what else to tell you.

 

[CyLyte2]

Agree the ‘scheme’ thing is a little overblown.

Not sure anybody is saying players are being run off if they can get more money elsewhere.

It’s not overblown.

 

[12191987]

Answer is in the post:
1. Can’t afford them, or
2. They don’t fit in new schemes
3. Can afford, but can’t agree on value/cost

4. No reason. He just likes doing things like that.

 

[BCClone]

The talk was always 5 star culture. Who created that culture? I believe David Montgomery deserves as much credit as Campbell. Remember the stories of him on Friday nights by himself in the practice facility and over time basically the whole team followed his lead? If DM wasn’t here, would that culture been as strong as it was?

 

[Clonefan32]

This is one thing that must change.

IIRC "agents" for college kids can be a random friend or a father/brother or whoever. They don't even have to be certified/licensed.

3,300 players in the portal. That's probably well over 1,000 "agents" these Coaches and General Managers have to deal with.

Barf.

I knew the system was pretty well cooked when you started seeing Tweets to the effect of "Jimmy Smith has hit the portal per his agency, John Doe Sports. Jimmy Smith had 9 catches for 182 yards and a touchdown last season". We've got dudes that I didn't even know were on the roster with representation.

 

[clone52]

Agree. Same as family of another player telling people that Matt asked Penn State to pay our 500k bowl fine.

It’s all PR to make it look like they’re not the bad guy.

If that's true about the fine, how is it a PR move if it wasn't made public?

 

[3TrueFans]

The talk was always 5 star culture. Who created that culture? I believe David Montgomery deserves as much credit as Campbell. Remember the stories of him on Friday nights by himself in the practice facility and over time basically the whole team followed his lead? If DM wasn’t here, would that culture been as strong as it was?

Very true, coaches can't create a culture without players to execute it and model it, but the coaches also get credit for bringing in those kinds of players.

 

[Marcelason78]

It’s not overblown.

Any other positions besides LB? That seems to be go to ‘scheme’ difference which may have merit.

 

[twincyties]

If that's true about the fine, how is it a PR move if it wasn't made public?

I’m using “PR” loosely. My point is that the people going to Happy Valley are exhibiting disingenuous behavior and revisionist history in their defense.

 

[xr4ticlone]

To #1-there’s 0% chance there is a qb competition with Rocco. Probably the same for about 5 others. He’s loyal to a fault. We all saw that during the 4 game skid.

Yep.

And that’s gonna create a rift with the pedo state kids and fans.

Especially when Matty boy overpays for them out of loyalty and makes them captains/team leaders.

We might see a pedo state TP flood once that gets realized…because we pretty much know that’s what is about to happen.