Transfer Portal Shows the Latest Revolving Door in College Football

Asked an innocuous question about the benefits of having quarterbacks in the system as opposed to shopping in the transfer portal, Saban said the most important assessment is who can play winning football.

“I think that’s the better answer to the question: Who can do that the best?” said Saban, who noted that while Alabama has taken few transfers, it has brought in some high-impact ones. He added: “If we see an opportunity to do that, we’re always looking for a way to make our team better.”

Shopping will soon begin to heat up. The 15-day spring window closes Sunday (except for graduate transfers who can enter the transfer portal at any time), giving players — and coaches — a chance to assess where they stand after spring practices have concluded. But with more than 1,200 players reportedly in the portal, it is a buyer’s market.

At many schools, that means hunting for a position of need or upgrading depth. Perhaps there is a slot cornerback or versatile offensive lineman on the market. At Colorado, there will be wholesale shopping with 21 scholarships available.

Many Colorado players who are leaving appear to have been forced out — including Jordyn Tyson, a promising sophomore who was leading the Buffaloes in receiving when he was injured in November. Lemonious-Craig, who had 23 catches for 359 yards and three touchdowns — including the overtime game-winner against California-Berkeley — said it was his decision not to return.

He said he told his receivers coach, Brett Bartolone, on Sunday that he would be leaving but declined to elaborate on their conversation. He said he had not spoken to Sanders.

Within hours of entering the transfer portal, Lemonious-Craig posted on Twitter that he had received scholarship offers from a growing list of schools, including Penn State, Auburn, Brigham Young, Mississippi State, Oregon State, Arizona, Washington State and West Virginia.