***Official portal tracker thread***

[isucy86]

What happened to Tyler Roehl being a factor in retaining some of the players from when he was a position coach, especially the RBs??

IMO it comes down to money. If the opportunity is there to make 2x what you make at Iowa State, tough to say no.

The CBS article on portal pay by position was eye opening. And even GM's quoted in the story were surprised how much valuations increased for 2026 vs. 2025.

Obviously if prices went up, schools like Iowa State are most impacted.

 

[Stormin]

Rogers told them they are not welcome back if they hit the portal

Not true. I am told that Rogers is talking with some that have entered the portal whom he wants to return but not at the money the kids agent thinks the kid should get. Rogers is playing money ball. He is investing in the lines. There is an abundance of cheaper talent available at other positions through the portal. Rogers knows what he is doing. And he has two great coordinators. Coach Jimmy Rogers is going to bring Dakota Football style to Ames. Dakota Boys are gonna build a Big 12 program.

 

[ISUCubswin]

I would bet my CF account that Rogers did not tell guys if they enter the portal they will not be welcome back.

I’ll also bet my account a few guys do come back.

 

[Cyched]

The God mention in all 50 player going away messages is just an agent template to make it so people can’t be upset. What are you going to do? God told him, so it’s all good.

That’s my rub with it - just feels inauthentic and trying to hide behind it.

Part of being an adult is having to make tough decisions. Just be direct and move on.

 

[Marcelason78]

Not true. I am told that Rogers is talking with some that have entered the portal whom he wants to return but not at the money the kids agent thinks the kid should get. Rogers is playing money ball. He is investing in the lines. There is an abundance of cheaper talent available at other positions through the portal. Rogers knows what he is doing. And he has two great coordinators. Coach Jimmy Rogers is going to bring Dakota Football style to Ames. Dakota Boys are gonna build a Big 12 program.

I wonder how much time CJR will give them after the portal opens to assess what they are really worth?

 

[BCClone]

I would bet my CF account that Rogers did not tell guys if they enter the portal they will not be welcome back.

I’ll also bet my account a few guys do come back.

If he did, he didn’t say it to all of them I know.

 

[Erik4Cy]

I would bet my CF account that Rogers did not tell guys if they enter the portal they will not be welcome back.

I’ll also bet my account a few guys do come back.

If this became more normal in the portal I'd be more okay with it.

- player tells new coach he wants to test the waters
- coach gives him a deadline or ultimatum
- before that date the player decides to come back as there wasn't the offer(s) they wanted

I'm sure things like this happen and I know some players ultimately do come back from the portal, but it doesn't seem like it happens enough. Seems that too often the player or the coach has their mind made up to move on.

 

[David Freshman1982]

TBH, in the end there’s only about 6 to 8 departing players we will genuinely wish had stayed. Mostly linemen and the TE room. I’m fine with a defense-first program, LFG.

 

[engineer_doug]

I wonder how much time CJR will give them after the portal opens to assess what they are really worth?

If CJR finds a suitable replacement at the right price, I would say time is up.

 

[goclones69]

Keep a receipt of this statement - zero players that are in the portal will return to ISU. I would bet everything I have

 

[BCClone]

@goclones69 i had a parent tell me Rogers is still talking to their kid and others. So you can disagree all you want, but he is talking to some.

 

[Cyched]

@goclones69 i had a parent tell me Rogers is still talking to their kid and others. So you can disagree all you want, but he is talking to some.

Sounds legit, but I need to hear this in email form from Pollard himself.

 

[BCClone]

Sounds legit, but I need to hear this in email form from Pollard himself.

I’ll see if he can give you one of those robot calls.

 

[isucy86]

I wonder how much time CJR will give them after the portal opens to assess what they are really worth?

I would think coming back is contingent on if there is still a spot open. If an outside portal player takes the offer first- SOL.

 

[jackrabbit]

I wonder how much time CJR will give them after the portal opens to assess what they are really worth?

I would tell the player we want you for '$X'. If you want more enter the portal. If you reconsider we will take you back unless we have have found someone else. If we find someone else then our offer is off the table. We will start filing spots as soon as the portal opens.

 

[Cy Hard]

Keep a receipt of this statement - zero players that are in the portal will return to ISU. I would bet everything I have

How much you got boy.

 

[qwerty]

Just asked Google Gemini for a list and here is what they provided. They state 48 players have entered the transfer portal but only list 43.

 

[ISUCubswin]

I’ll just use Zay Robinson as an example -

Dude had some really quality programs looking at him out of HS. He chose Iowa State over some really quality programs.

I don’t blame him at all if he wants to create a Time Machine and re-test those waters and see if Rogers can get the glass slipper to fit.

Now, for some of the upperclassmen, I’m less empathetic here. If you poured blood, sweat, and tears into this university for 3 years and want to test waters instead of build off the foundation you helped create, go ahead and walk. Be proud of what you accomplished here, but you chose to not see the work come to completion

 

[CloneIce]

Jefferson NEVER entered the transfer portal to leave ISU

He had an offer from LSU, but he was NEVER in the portal.

His people secured a financial offer from LSU and he was leaving to play for them unless ISU could pony up the dough and match it. You believe a player negotiating a financial offer with another team and threatening to leave if his team doesn’t match or exceed it is fundamentally different than testing the waters in the portal?

I don’t actually believe the poster who said Rogers will not take any player back who enters the portal. I heard posters say similar statements that sound tough about so many past coaches. They all took key players back who considered transferring or decomitting. It’s just part of the game. I am sure the coaches say it to some players. I’m sure it’s even true for some.

 

[cyatheart]

What happened to Tyler Roehl being a factor in retaining some of the players from when he was a position coach, especially the RBs??

I just think they have set numbers for certain guys, and if they don't like it...well that's too bad. Jr clearly isn't going to overpay what he thinks is the right number.