Penn State’s James Franklin Advocates for One Transfer Portal Window Per Year
The NCAA Transfer Portal reopened for college football Wednesday, and Penn State football coach James Franklin already seems weary of talking about it. At his weekly spring media availability Tuesdaynight in State College, Franklin fielded six portal-related questions before getting one about an offensive lineman. He smiled.
“Thank you,” Franklin told the reporter.
Until April 25, Franklin and the Penn State football program must deal with the possibility of players entering the portal during this 10-day spring window. It’s one most coaches want to close. That includes Franklin, who on Tuesday reiterated his position that college football should have one transfer window, even if that means eliminating spring practice altogether.
“I want to be careful not speaking for all coaches, but I think a good majority of them would like one window. We think that’s in everybody’s best interests,” Franklin said. “The players know who’s on the roster, the coaches know who’s on the roster. Even if you made it after spring ball … or even maybe got rid of spring football and went to summer OTAs and did it then, I think there needs to be one window.
“Right now, there’s no rules. You can have 50 guys go in the portal at this time of year, and it’s a problem. There’s also already protection for if there’s a coaching change, as we’ve seen. Right now, there’s just no rules, and I don’t think it’s anybody’s best interests.”
Franklin’s comments paralleled those he made in December, when the first portal window coincided with Penn State’s preparations for the College Football Playoff. After quarterback Beau Pribula announced his decision to transfer before the Nittany Lions’ first playoff game, Frankin said, “I’m concerned for college football right now.”
During the winter portal window, Penn State lost 11 players, including starting receiver Harrison Wallace III, and brought in six. Several days before the spring window opened, offensive tackle JB Nelson made public that he will enter the portal.
