Great point. Our top 3 interior DL, who were also near the top in the Sun belt, combined for 18 tackles in 2024. They’ve now combined for nearly $1.5m in the portal.ASUTed wrote: ↑Wed Jan 21, 2026 11:01 amWe need bodies at this point, like guys to even line up at practice. If he has shown any ablity on film and is affordable, which he appears to be, he could be a fine rotational player. Saint Farrior, our DT who just landed at Auburn had this incredbile stat line at his previous stop: "Had five tackles in 11 games during the 2024 season after appearing in three games as a redshirting true freshman in 2023."
Portal time 25-26
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ASUFan4863
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Re: Portal time 25-26
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Saint3333
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Re: Portal time 25-26
No room for Barnes but sign James. Either Barnes was “too expensive” for the returns or sitting out the last three games showed some character flaws.
Last edited by Saint3333 on Wed Jan 21, 2026 1:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- biggie
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Re: Portal time 25-26
Different type of WR to me, so that may play a part as well. We had a couple smaller WRs already committed from portal.
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t4pizza
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Re: Portal time 25-26
While we will not really know how this portal class shapes up until we actually see them play, the DL is one glaring weakness thus far. We LOST 7 DL to the portal and yet we only GOT 3 back from the portal. With a 4 man front, we lost almost 2 complete units and we replaced it with less than 1 unit. We better just outscore everyone this year because it does not look like we will have squat for a defensive front. I know we recruited some freshman there, but expecting a freshman recruit to be a big time player year 1 is asking a lot and doesn't happen often at all. Without the pressure that a DL provide, QBs have time to pick apart the defense, WR have time to get open and RB have holes to run through. This is not a formula to on which to build a solid defense. Even if the handful of guys we have in that room are all amazing, it doesn't look like we have enough bodies to even provide substitutions, which are needed on the DL. Put me in the very concerned camp for our defense next year.
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ASUFan4863
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Re: Portal time 25-26
James is from NC, so that may change things from a PWO perspective (if that’s the case which I suspect it may be)
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ASUFan4863
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Re: Portal time 25-26
I know that if you aren’t on campus now, you can’t participate in spring ball.
I am posing a question of a potential work around. I had no clue what the rules are and the NCAA doesn’t either.
Could you sign a player next month for example and make them an employee of the school to participate in spring ball? Could you participate if you were enrolled for future semesters (similar to how incoming freshman can practice for bowl games).
I am posing a question of a potential work around. I had no clue what the rules are and the NCAA doesn’t either.
Could you sign a player next month for example and make them an employee of the school to participate in spring ball? Could you participate if you were enrolled for future semesters (similar to how incoming freshman can practice for bowl games).
- hapapp
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Re: Portal time 25-26
With no Spring portal, does that mean anyone who transfers in after the semester is over must sit a year? Could someone sign now and enroll in online classes that would allow them to catch up? If yes to first question and no to the second, we have we what we will have.ASUFan4863 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 21, 2026 12:37 pmI know that if you aren’t on campus now, you can’t participate in spring ball.
I am posing a question of a potential work around. I had no clue what the rules are and the NCAA doesn’t either.
Could you sign a player next month for example and make them an employee of the school to participate in spring ball? Could you participate if you were enrolled for future semesters (similar to how incoming freshman can practice for bowl games).
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ASUFan4863
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Re: Portal time 25-26
I don’t believe anyone has to sit a year with the current rules. I don’t know the answer to the second question and that is probably where the grey area lies where inevitably some school will try to do something to circumvent whatever guardrails there are, if any.hapapp wrote: ↑Wed Jan 21, 2026 12:43 pmWith no Spring portal, does that mean anyone who transfers in after the semester is over must sit a year? Could someone sign now and enroll in online classes that would allow them to catch up? If yes to first question and no to the second, we have we what we will have.ASUFan4863 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 21, 2026 12:37 pmI know that if you aren’t on campus now, you can’t participate in spring ball.
I am posing a question of a potential work around. I had no clue what the rules are and the NCAA doesn’t either.
Could you sign a player next month for example and make them an employee of the school to participate in spring ball? Could you participate if you were enrolled for future semesters (similar to how incoming freshman can practice for bowl games).
I could see a scenario (not at app) where there are new classes created just for the purpose of enrolling someone after the typical add/drop deadline but before spring practice.
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mtnjax
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Re: Portal time 25-26
My understanding is all players had to be IN the portal by EOD 1/16 and they can then pick a school all the way up until season starts, I would think. Obviously, everyone thinks of the push RIGHT NOW to sign and get them into school for the spring semester, but there will still be plenty of players availablehapapp wrote: ↑Wed Jan 21, 2026 12:43 pmWith no Spring portal, does that mean anyone who transfers in after the semester is over must sit a year? Could someone sign now and enroll in online classes that would allow them to catch up? If yes to first question and no to the second, we have we what we will have.ASUFan4863 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 21, 2026 12:37 pmI know that if you aren’t on campus now, you can’t participate in spring ball.
I am posing a question of a potential work around. I had no clue what the rules are and the NCAA doesn’t either.
Could you sign a player next month for example and make them an employee of the school to participate in spring ball? Could you participate if you were enrolled for future semesters (similar to how incoming freshman can practice for bowl games).
IMO, the portal shouldn't open until Spring
- NattyBumppo'sRevenge
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Re: Portal time 25-26
We need to create a new type of WR type for him, like Outside Linebacker Receiver.
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311neers
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Re: Portal time 25-26
Can he tackle?NattyBumppo'sRevenge wrote: ↑Wed Jan 21, 2026 1:37 pmWe need to create a new type of WR type for him, like Outside Linebacker Receiver.
Thank you Cal for adding what looks like 25 pounds to a young athletic specimen.