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2026 Transfer Portal

E

EagSpectator

Active member
I haven’t seen any Eastern Washington players announce they’re entering the transfer portal yet, but figured I’d get the thread started. If you see any players hinting they’re going to hit the portal, drop it here.

I also came across a CBS Sports article back in September talking about portal changes. Haven’t seen any discussion about it here, so here’s a quick rundown of the key changes:
  • Spring transfer window is gone — no more post-spring transfer movement.
  • The old two-window model, winter and spring, is now one winter window only, currently Jan 2–16.
  • Players must enter the portal during that window, but can commit anytime afterward.
  • Players on postseason teams get an extra five days after their season ends to enter.
  • Graduate transfers no longer have an Oct. 1 early entry period, they now enter during the same winter window.
  • Coaching change exception: A head coaching change triggers a 15 day transfer window that starts 5 days after the new head coach is hired or announced.
I see this as a plus for schools. Teams no longer have to defend their roster twice a year, and there’s no longer a spring escape hatch for players unhappy with their after spring ball. FCS programs should benefit by avoiding late raids from Power Four teams looking for depth after they're raided by the Group of Six. New head coaches get time to settle in, build a staff, and look at roster needs before the window opens. JUCO players graduating in May become the only group available in the spring.

There will always be loopholes and downsides for the players, just read this ESPN article. But for schools like EWU, this year, I think the single window is a positive step. Just feels cleaner, more stability, and fewer late surprises. When the AFL first came to Spokane, it was fun to watch, but each year I lost interest because the rosters changed over each year, just ONCE. I get why, but as a fan, it makes it less enjoyable. Add this and 4 years of losing seasons, I see why EWU fan support is dwindling.
 
Haven't seen any, either. There's still plenty of time, though. Honestly, I wouldn't expect to see a ton of departures off of this year's squad. I think next year's team has the potential to be very good.
 
Any word of possible EwU ins or outs in the transfer portal. The portal opens on the 2nd of January and there have been a number of announcements from players on other teams.
 
The only people who I think built up enough of a resume to not just die in the portal would be on defense. Mainly, Jaylon Jenkins, Isaiah Perez, Drew Carter and maybe a few other starters.

Maybe Nate Bell on offense but no team would use him as starting QB, probably RB or WR like Mike Wortham. He's not as good as Wortham though. Maybe Miles Williams but he has only 524 yards, which isn't his fault with Nate Bell at QB half the season.

Anyone else I'm not sure I'd give a shit. Bell going might be a good thing just so Best doesn't try to start him over Schakel.
 
Schakel is the one I worry about leaving. His game against Montana was outstanding and followed up with very good game with Northern Colorado before getting injured.
 
Zornes65 said:
Schakel is the one I worry about leaving. His game against Montana was outstanding and followed up with very good game with Northern Colorado before getting injured.
Click to expand...
I don't think that is enough of a resume to go anywhere better. I think the only way Schakel wants to leave is he's pissed he wasn't starter game 1 this season being put behind two RBs who throw occasionally and he thinks Best is dumb enough to start Bell next season, which he probably is.

Look at these stats man. https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/stats/_/id/331
Best is a utter moron for not starting him day one. One more 8 yard pass Schakel would have beat Bell for most pass yards despite less than a fraction of playtime.
 
There have been a couple of guys post in social media their intent to enter the portal, however, they're not guys I've heard of. Both were Freshman, IIRC. You're always going to get a few of these in this day and age - no program is immune. Agreed on Schakel, but as I've posted before, from what I have gathered he is pretty committed to the program and so is his family.

Also, this seems like it should go without saying - but if you have a scholarship at a Division I school, entering the portal is risky unless you're essentially guaranteed a spot somewhere else. Visperas and Wortham entered the portal for different reasons. Wortham, essentially because he was granted an (unexpected) additional year due to a new NCAA rule, and he probably wanted to go compete on a team he felt had a legitimate shot at a championship. I don't like the decision, but it's understandable.

Visperas, on the other hand, probably wanted to be "the guy" without having to share time with other QB's, which is also understandable. You can talk about NIL all you want, but I don't think it played a significant aspect in either of those situations. It may have helped them along, but in my opinion, if either of those guys was QB1 they wouldn't have transferred.

Schakel, on the other hand, has a legitimate shot of being QB1 at Eastern Washington. Say what you will about the offenses the past few years, but it's not like we didn't have quality players at the skill positions. We just didn't have an elite QB to get them the ball. Schakel has the skill to be an elite FBS QB in a system that has, historically, been elite. I don't know why he'd transfer right now...it just doesn't make a ton of sense.
 
If there were any big ones, you'd think we'd hear about it by now. I think Jake S. has a bad taste in his mouth from the Montana game and wants a shot at beating them 3 more times. That's what I'm telling myself, anyway.
 
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