Good read that really lays out the new landscape of scouting for the NFL draft. 8 minute read.
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/440 ... portal-nil
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NFL draft moving on from small schools
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appdaze
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AppStFan1
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Re: NFL draft moving on from small schools
It really started a little bit back in 2000s when all those teams moved up and less talent fell as more teams moved up. The portal and NIL really kicked it into high gear though and it seemed like the numbers just plummeted. Looking at that article they indeed have.appdaze wrote: ↑Tue Mar 04, 2025 10:23 amGood read that really lays out the new landscape of scouting for the NFL draft. 8 minute read.
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/440 ... portal-nil
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biggie
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Re: NFL draft moving on from small schools
With the transfer portal the way it is now, they assume that if you haven't made it to P4 team then you aren't worth looking at.
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AppStFan1
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Re: NFL draft moving on from small schools
I don’t think they assume that. They are out looking but most of the good ones just leave. There will always be some drafted and some make it but there are just going to be less. I’m sure the NFL knows that a few will turn down money to stay and P4 schools won’t target every one of them. They will always miss some just like they miss HS players.
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Pikapp79
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Re: NFL draft moving on from small schools
More and more of better players will depart for higher ranked programs which will leave less talented players filling smaller programs.
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AppStFan1
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Re: NFL draft moving on from small schools
Exactly what is happening. A ton of good freshmen in FCS due to less focus on HS by many D1 coaches but those players aren’t staying in FCS for 4 years anymore. Likely gonna be more transfer up players drafted than those who stayed in FCS.
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appdaze
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Re: NFL draft moving on from small schools
It's really shaping up to be a baseball style farm system. Might as well bring back AAA, AA, and A levels.
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Appst86
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Re: NFL draft moving on from small schools
The difference is the “major league” teams are not footing the bill for the farm system- we are.
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bcoach
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Re: NFL draft moving on from small schools
A friend of mine is a retired NFL scout who used to visit APP on his rounds. He stays in contact with the guys still working and they visit fewer schools than they ever did in the past.
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AppStFan1
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Re: NFL draft moving on from small schools
Definitely going to happen when players are entering the portal to move up. I hear there are cases where they even have a player on their list they get in the summer but by end of August that player is somewhere else and they can remove a school from their list to visit.
The one concern I do have is that there have been years where they would go to a small school to scout one player and another player would catch their eye but is harder now. The value of all-star games and pro days has become even more important now to make sure those players still have a chance to be seen.