AP: New redshirt policy makes it more tempting to transfer

per the AP:

A new NCAA policy that makes it easier to redshirt football players comes with an unintended consequence: Players can now choose to save their eligibility by leaving teams after participating in four games, with plans to transfer and use the saved year at a new school.

Several upperclassmen who would have been out of eligibility had they kept playing this season have already taken this route, including Oklahoma State receiver Jalen McCleskey, a senior with 167 career catches.

The new rule took effect this year and was universally praised by coaches. In the past, playing just one game could cost a player a full year of eligibility. Football players have five years to play four seasons and take one redshirt year.

Minnesota's P.J. Fleck called the change the "greatest rule the NCAA has ever put in in the last 20 years."

It is proving popular with players, who get more opportunities to play — and, as it turns out, a little more autonomy.

"I just hadn't really thought (about) that being a possibility until it happened," Baylor coach Matt Rhule said of the midseason departures.

McCleskey is the most prominent player to take advantage of the newly created opportunity. He had 15 catches for 155 yards and two touchdowns through Oklahoma State's first four games after having 73 receptions in 2016 and 50 in 2017.

"You lose a good player. But we live in a world where things like that happen now," Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy said. "Transfer's becoming very popular, and what would keep a young man from doing that across the country at any given time? But if they come to you and say, 'I'm not getting the ball enough and I feel like I need to be somewhere that allows that to happen,' then you have to give them that opportunity."

If McCleskey graduates before next season, he would be immediately eligible at his new school.

https://tucson.com/sports/new-redsh...cle_cf4a6f93-9719-5b7c-8d3b-be3351a9940e.html

Go Gophers!!

I'm all for transfers.

Although I'm not really sure if it will help or hurt us.

between this wrinkle, and the grad transfers, you really will need a scorecard to figure out who's on your team.

Not to mention what it does as far as scholarship management. you might think you're in good shape, then lose a kid mid-season and suddenly you've got openings to fill.

short ornery norwegian said:

between this wrinkle, and the grad transfers, you really will need a scorecard to figure out who's on your team.

Not to mention what it does as far as scholarship management. you might think you're in good shape, then lose a kid mid-season and suddenly you've got openings to fill.

Click to expand...

If you lose a mid-season transfer, I would reward a senior walk-on for the rest of the year. You still have that scholarship for the next season that way.

The need to recruit your current players year round is a problem. The rule and grad transfer are good for the player. That doesn't mean they are good for the game.

It should have been one regular season game only, plus a bowl game, if available. Easy transferring is not good for the game and will lead to chaos.

Won't be long before we see a player refuse to enter a game, because he's played sparingly in 4 games and wants to transfer at end of season but keep his year of eligibility.

If a player is attending a school with the intention (hope) of playing professional football and can't get noticed on his current team, he will find a fit that might showcase his talents. If a player is attending a school with "one" of the reasons being football that player will be less inclined (I believe) to transfer. Building a cultural that like minded football players buy into is very important. There is a brave new world out there for college football players. I agree with Slab, I'm for transfers also with one caveat, not from the Gophers

Kelly Bryant Clemson QB transfering after playing 4 games and demoted.