It seems to me that there's four types of players who enter the portal (NIL money has a lot to do with this):
1. Players from P4 or other higher end schools who leave their schools relatively early (within the first 2 years). These are players who are most likely just players who weren't as good as their high school ranking indicated and less likely players who are good but just don't get a chance because of a crowded position room. To me, these are the most risky transfers because there's likely not a lot of film on them having meaningful playing time. It's more of a bet on their potential out of high school, albeit not a good start.
2. Players who play at lower end FBS or all FCS schools who have played a lot and proven their ability to be productive players despite them not being ranked very high out of high school. Players from the Dakota and Montana teams are perfect examples.
3. Players who are good P4 players and just need a change of scenery or seek more NIL money.
4. Grad transfers who are good P4 players and want to go to another school to enhance their NFL chances or get an advanced degree from somewhere else.
Players from categories 1 and 2 are the majority of the players with the first category being far more risky than the second. Categories 3 and 4 seem to be cases where a team needs a particular player for 1 year (i.e. Will Howard, Russell Wilson, etc.).
IMO, Nebraska's portal strategy should look to all categories based on need, but focus the most on Category 2 with strategic picks from the other categories. It seems that a really good and proven P4 player wanting to transfer is rare, where it would seem that almost all of the NFL level players playing for the the lower end of FBS or from the FCS would desire transfer to a P4 program where they can make better money and get more exposure for the NFL.
1. Players from P4 or other higher end schools who leave their schools relatively early (within the first 2 years). These are players who are most likely just players who weren't as good as their high school ranking indicated and less likely players who are good but just don't get a chance because of a crowded position room. To me, these are the most risky transfers because there's likely not a lot of film on them having meaningful playing time. It's more of a bet on their potential out of high school, albeit not a good start.
2. Players who play at lower end FBS or all FCS schools who have played a lot and proven their ability to be productive players despite them not being ranked very high out of high school. Players from the Dakota and Montana teams are perfect examples.
3. Players who are good P4 players and just need a change of scenery or seek more NIL money.
4. Grad transfers who are good P4 players and want to go to another school to enhance their NFL chances or get an advanced degree from somewhere else.
Players from categories 1 and 2 are the majority of the players with the first category being far more risky than the second. Categories 3 and 4 seem to be cases where a team needs a particular player for 1 year (i.e. Will Howard, Russell Wilson, etc.).
IMO, Nebraska's portal strategy should look to all categories based on need, but focus the most on Category 2 with strategic picks from the other categories. It seems that a really good and proven P4 player wanting to transfer is rare, where it would seem that almost all of the NFL level players playing for the the lower end of FBS or from the FCS would desire transfer to a P4 program where they can make better money and get more exposure for the NFL.
