Transfer Portal Window - Key Rules

Transfer Portal Window - Key Rules

Bret Culbertson // Kohl's National Coaching Staff

Quite a few athletes have been asking about the transfer portal, both about general rules, as well as how Kohl's can help coaches and athletes with the transfer market.

While many may be excited about potential new opportunities with transferring, please remember that nothing is guaranteed in the portal. It can be a great, life-changing decision for some, but at the same time, a dead-end for others. There is no overall blue-print, as every athlete's situation is different. Athletes need to take a deep dive into their motivations, current situation, and future goals before weighing the option of entering the transfer portal.

Below are some of the key transfer rules, important things to consider, and how the Kohl's staff can help with the process.

Transfer Portal Window - Key Rules

The NCAA has set aside 60 days out of the year that players can submit their names and officially enter the transfer portal. You may transfer schools at any time after that, but you must declare and enter the portal during these 60 days.

The first opportunity is a 45-day window that starts the day after College Football Championship Selections on December 4th, 2022. The second is a 15-day window during the month of May.

• First Window: December 5th-January 18th
• Second Window: May 1st-15th

Once you enter the portal you may transfer at any time.

Exceptions To Transfer Window

• Graduate transfers who have obtained their degree may enter the transfer portal at any time, as they've fulfilled undergraduate requirements the NCAA requires.
• If a head coach is fired during the season, athletes on that team immediately have a 30-day window to enter the transfer portal if they would like to communicate with other teams.

Notable Points

• By rule, you may not communicate with other teams unless you are in the portal.
• If you are currently on scholarship, once you enter the portal your current school has NO OBLIGATION to honor your scholarship and can pull it at any time
• If you pull out of the portal and decide to stay, they have no obligation to give you back your scholarship
• Midseason transfers are not eligible to play for a new team until the following season

Should you transfer?

This is a personal decision and can only be made by you alone, and should not be taken lightly. First, you need to figure out your life goals, academic goals, and then your football goals. Then, you need to consider every scenario that can happen if you enter the portal. Will transferring put you closer to those goals, or are you achieving a majority of your goals off the football field at the school you are currently at? Make a decision that will help you long-term, and know the risks.

Things To Consider

• Are you happy with your current football situation?
• Are you happy with your college academics and social situation? (Think of how this affects your degree and social life as well)
• Schools may not have scholarships available
• How do you seriously compare to other college kickers, punters, or long snappers? Be realistic with yourself.
• You might have an idea of schools in need from your research, but there are no promises on what spots are available or if you'll have a legitimate shot
• There is no half-in half-out, or "Just seeing what's out there". The portal means you are fully committed to the transfer process and are ready to gamble your current situation.

How Kohl's Can Help

Kohl's will provide coaches with our master list of available college transfers as we always have. We will continue to keep the conversation open with coaches on kickers, punters, and long snappers available in the transfer portal

For some of the top specialists with game stats and in-game results, it will be easier than others to find homes during the first 45-day transfer window.

For others, you may still need to prove yourself, or you may not have had ample opportunity to get game stats and game film. So, following the first transfer portal window, Kohl's Kicking will hold a transfer showcase event for those transfer and junior college athletes who may still need a way to showcase themselves. This will include charting, competitions, and an uncut video broadcast of event finals streamed to college coaches, much like we've done for our Transfer Challenge in the past.

If you are a transfer kicker, punter, or long snapper please send me an email so we can include you on our master list:

• Email: bret@kohlskicking.com

What we will NOT do:

• Our staff will not directly talk back-and-forth between a coach and a player to try to guarantee a transfer before an athlete enters the portal. This is called "tampering" and is against NCAA regulations. This puts your eligibility at risk. Anyone who says they will work a "back door" for you while not in the transfer portal puts your eligibility at risk. Please remember this.