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TNET: Rare Air: Tigers retain 16 starters in wild world of NIL and transfer portal
Tiger Boards - Clemson Football
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TNET: Rare Air: Tigers retain 16 starters in wild world of NIL and transfer portal

17

Jan 5, 2025, 7:00 AM
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Rare Air: Tigers retain 16 starters in wild world of NIL and transfer portal

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Re: TNET: Rare Air: Tigers retain 16 starters in wild world of NIL and transfer portal

8

Jan 5, 2025, 7:07 AM
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Happy New Year indeed to Clemson Nation!

One starter for each win coming in the 2025 season.

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Re: TNET: Rare Air: Tigers retain 16 starters in wild world of NIL and transfer portal

5

Jan 5, 2025, 7:12 AM
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BTW, we get first round CFP bye after winning ACC Championship = 16 games.

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Re: TNET: Rare Air: Tigers retain 16 starters in wild world of NIL and transfer portal

16

Jan 5, 2025, 7:17 AM
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I agree with this quote,

"it appears that the culture continues to win out."

Clemson is doing something right in the current environment of NIL.

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Re: TNET: Rare Air: Tigers retain 16 starters in wild world of NIL and transfer portal

9

Jan 5, 2025, 7:55 AM
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^^^POTD^^^^

Nailed it!! Good stuff, Dabo and Co. playing chess and not checkers.

2025 white level member flag link military_tech thumb_downthumb_up

Let's not bury the lead here.....NEGOTIATIONS are complete......

5

Jan 5, 2025, 10:41 AM [ in reply to Re: TNET: Rare Air: Tigers retain 16 starters in wild world of NIL and transfer portal ]
Reply

for the most part. That's a large reason Clemson is retaining. A mix of CULTURE and $NIL$ negotiations is why we've retained. Many fans/people think NIL/wanting to GET PAID is a knock on one's character/culture. You can have it both ways, but let's not act like all these players stayed b/c Clemson is just "SPECIAL"...................they got PAID TOO!!


opening the pocketbook.......obtaining from the portal......using NIL to attract HS recruits........that's what's been lacking the last 4 years. It may or may not be a slow process, but I feel a lot more optimistic now that Dabo seems to be "playing the game" that we can return to ELITE.

I hate what NIL/portal has done to college football, but unfortunately it's a necessary evil to stay relevant and for us to get back to ELITE.

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Our pocketbook is open and theres almost no correlation between

1

Jan 5, 2025, 11:54 PM
Reply

funds and being elite. Only 3 of the top 10 in funding could be considered elite and only 2 of the playoff teams are in the top 10.

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Re: TNET: Rare Air: Tigers retain 16 starters in wild world of NIL and transfer portal

3

Jan 5, 2025, 11:23 AM [ in reply to Re: TNET: Rare Air: Tigers retain 16 starters in wild world of NIL and transfer portal ]
Reply

Clemson sports maybe doing something right, but college presidents and their board of trustees are doing everything totally for their institutions of higher learning.

College sports shouldn't be and should have never become a product of the stock market, and that is exactly what colleges sport is becoming on the grounds and same building of higher education on college campuses. It has to have a stopping point before the only place a high school student can go for a higher education is a private school without any sports activity that will slice through more than half of high school student that can afford a college education...

IMO, it's time for sports to be pushed out of college campuses!!!

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Re: TNET: Rare Air: Tigers retain 16 starters in wild world of NIL and transfer portal

2

Jan 5, 2025, 12:34 PM
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FWIW, Clemson University has embarked upon a major investment to elevate our research to top echelon stature. This initiative, along with other academically oriented investments, is being done with the objective being for Clemson to be 8n it Ed to become a member of the AAU (Association of American Universities). I’d like to believe that this academic stature goal is being pursued solely in its own merits. However, the B1G is not likely to accept any new members to their athletic conference if the new ‘applicant’ does not have AAU membership.

To that end, it sure looks l8ke athletics is helping out academics at Clemson.

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yes for those kids that aren't just chasing the most $ they can get***


Jan 5, 2025, 7:54 PM [ in reply to Re: TNET: Rare Air: Tigers retain 16 starters in wild world of NIL and transfer portal ]
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Re: TNET: Rare Air: Tigers retain 16 starters in wild world of NIL and transfer portal

11

Jan 5, 2025, 7:57 AM
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Good Sunday morning,

I do believe that the culture at CU is what separates Clemson from other Universities.Coaches make sure to make the players know that being at Clemson is more than playing football. When they meet with the players and their families, they promise to develop their sons on and off the field. Graduation, internships, giving back to the community, are also important.

I glad I’m a Tiger! Have a great Sunday.

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This all sounds great, but

2

Jan 5, 2025, 8:58 AM
Reply

Reality check:

Teams losing more numbers to the TP are competing for transfers with superior talent to replace those lost, and for the teams landing in the top 25-ish of the TP ratings, in general, they actually are accomplishing this, i.e. - strengthening their rosters.

So, if you do the math, we are still at a disadvantage to the teams significantly strengthening their rosters by replacing subtraction with better addition.

Of course, there are advantages to continuity that we will enjoy, but Ohio State, Notre Dame, Texas, and Penn State seemed to manage through the turnover just fine and are better than us.

And with the changes pending, keep in mind, at least according to this article, there is still 3rd party NIL outside the revenue sharing, so there will still be inequities going forward. Great job NCAA et. al. You really took care of the issues… not.

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Re: This all sounds great, but

8

Jan 5, 2025, 9:05 AM
Reply

Very few are upgrading talent through the portal, most are losing depth.

Dabo is identifying positions of need to bring in portal players.

Revenue sharing brings new rules to bring a fair market to NIL. We will see if it helps.

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null


Re: This all sounds great, but

2

Jan 5, 2025, 9:10 AM
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That’s just not true. Teams that rank higher in the transfer portal rankings than recruiting rankings, absolutely are strengthening their rosters.

If you think about it, every transfer, considering the replacement versus the loss, ends up with a winner and a loser or a better fit (which would be a tie and win for both). So, roughly half the teams probably do get better.


Message was edited by: greene®

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Re: This all sounds great, but

1

Jan 5, 2025, 9:23 AM
Reply

For some teams yes, but not for all teams.

2025 white level member flag link military_tech thumb_downthumb_up

"If a pig had a better personality, he would cease to be a filthy animal."


Re: This all sounds great, but

3

Jan 5, 2025, 9:28 AM [ in reply to Re: This all sounds great, but ]
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Okay maybe I should say great teams are not getting better players. Bad teams can increase talent quickly, but LSU losing 16 and bringing in 14 doesn’t mean they got better.

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null


Re: This all sounds great, but

9

Jan 5, 2025, 9:31 AM [ in reply to Re: This all sounds great, but ]
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The point is you're not losing the players other teams would have coveted. If you think Cade wouldn't have been the top player in the portal you're kidding yourself. Antonio would be another. Peter Woods and TJ Parker as well. The 2 young receivers. All these guys would have been at the top of any teams board so tell me how you get better losing those guys and bringing in someone else from the portal? Not only are you keeping guys that know your system but have made helped this team get back to the Playoff. I know some don't understand d but college football use to be a developmental game. Meaning guys tend to get better year to year. So the thinking is bringing your best players back another year means growing and getting better another year. Cade going into his 3rd year under Riley. He will know every miniscule detail of this offense to go along some of the best wide receivers in the country. A veteran offensive line that got better this year and may be one of the best in the country with another year under Luke's tutelage. Are there spots that could using up grading, sure I reckon but I believe guys get better and we'll see this fall. Collins is one of ND transfers but I'm sure you don't want him back and I don't think Lenord is a great QB I wouldn't take him over Cade. All of ND parts together have made them a really good team this year but in today's college football I would rather go to war with the guys I know then the guys I have no idea about. I'm sure Miami thought all their transfers would have at least gotten them to the ACC championship. Let's not even talking about FSU and their transfer situation. We have no idea what any of those teams you claim are better will be next season. This team has the making if a great team, in 2 years who knows what will happen.

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Re: This all sounds great, but

2

Jan 5, 2025, 3:06 PM
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Spot on points, brother. We will be more consistent than most programs for sure.

2025 orange level member flag link military_tech thumb_downthumb_up

You are missing a huge factor in your assessment of Clemson's situation.

9

Jan 5, 2025, 10:22 AM [ in reply to Re: This all sounds great, but ]
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You're ignoring that almost none of the portal players care about which school they play for or which set of team mates they end up with. Imo, very few care about those things. That disqualifies them to become Clemson players. I believe money is all they care about.

They are those who quit midgame, take postseason games off and announce they are entering the portal on day one simply because they've been offered more money to play elsewhere.

I think you're ignoring that Cade could probably pull in 5+ mil and has likely been offered that by more than one of those who tamper for a living. I believe others who start for us have been offered more also.

You're ignoring exactly what Dabo and almost all of our players are all about, character first and money somewhere down their priority list.

I think you devalue character. In this case it's character which binds our team.

I'll go a step further and say that I believe our guys are blooming where they are planted and thereby avoiding the godless void of the unknown.

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Re: You are missing a huge factor in your assessment of Clemson's situation.

2

Jan 5, 2025, 4:35 PM
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You're ignoring that almost none of the portal players care about which school they play for or which set of team mates they end up with. Imo, very few care about those things. That disqualifies them to become Clemson players. I believe money is all they care about.

They are those who quit midgame, take postseason games off and announce they are entering the portal on day one simply because they've been offered more money to play elsewhere.

I think you're ignoring that Cade could probably pull in 5+ mil and has likely been offered that by more than one of those who tamper for a living. I believe others who start for us have been offered more also.

You're ignoring exactly what Dabo and almost all of our players are all about, character first and money somewhere down their priority list.

I think you devalue character. In this case it's character which binds our team.

I'll go a step further and say that I believe our guys are blooming where they are planted and thereby avoiding the godless void of the unknown.


You nailed it !!!!!!!

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I wonder what FSU's budget is gonna be in 2025

3

Jan 5, 2025, 4:52 PM [ in reply to Re: This all sounds great, but ]
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after they spent 12 million to go 2-10.

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Re: I wonder what FSU's budget is gonna be in 2025


Jan 5, 2025, 10:43 PM
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I'm sure they have the full budget available now.

The reputation of a program makes a big difference. That's how FSU got those guys last year. But I think the word on the street soured so bad that no one wanted to go there this year. Clemson doesn't want that mistake. But take a look at CFP teams like Arizona St, Texas, OSU, Oregon, SMU, etc... which used the portal heavily to have remarkable seasons

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Prove it.***


Jan 5, 2025, 8:55 PM [ in reply to Re: This all sounds great, but ]
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Re: This all sounds great, but

3

Jan 5, 2025, 9:12 AM [ in reply to Re: This all sounds great, but ]
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“The final part is NIL payments, which, if paid by third-party companies and booster collectives, do not count as part of the 22%.”

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Re: This all sounds great, but

1

Jan 5, 2025, 9:24 AM
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Correct

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Re: This all sounds great, but

3

Jan 5, 2025, 9:21 AM [ in reply to This all sounds great, but ]
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That is true for some teams but certainly not all teams. We have a great group coming back, and the couple of guys we got from the portal will make them even better.
Go Tigers!!!

2025 white level member flag link military_tech thumb_downthumb_up

"If a pig had a better personality, he would cease to be a filthy animal."


Re: This all sounds great, but

2

Jan 5, 2025, 10:11 AM [ in reply to This all sounds great, but ]
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Yawn👈literally your reply

Rinse, Repeat, Regurgitate 🙄

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Re: This all sounds great, but

1

Jan 5, 2025, 11:05 AM [ in reply to This all sounds great, but ]
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Not sure that makes sense. If you are retaining players you are paying them to retain. If you lose a player that money you were gonna pay to retain them you can use on a TP player.

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Re: This all sounds great, but


Jan 5, 2025, 10:38 PM
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Right. This is how the NFL, MLB, NBA, etc all work with their salary caps. They have money to spend so if a kid leaves, they can use that money to go get a replacement. It's common business sense and most CFP programs are learning that they need to operate this way.

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Re: This all sounds great, but

1

Jan 5, 2025, 11:27 AM [ in reply to This all sounds great, but ]
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If every school believed what you're saying, recruits coming out of HS would soon be cut in half bc there wouldn't be scholarships for them bc they are being given to portal players that had scholarship but gave them back and trying for another!!!

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Big assumption that every other team's loss

2

Jan 5, 2025, 4:53 PM [ in reply to This all sounds great, but ]
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is replaced by someone better.

Matter of fact, that's a HUGE assumption.

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Exactly. Thats a baseless claim and a common misnomer from the portal


Jan 5, 2025, 8:59 PM
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jockeys.. i.e., signing guys from the portal (usually guys who weren’t playing at their previous school) doesn’t ensure you’re better.

Its a common fallacy from the portal pumpers.

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Further proof....


Jan 6, 2025, 4:14 PM
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This is what the portal looks like for some schools so far into 2025.


https://x.com/LarryWilliamsTI/status/1876263520108720526

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Re: This all sounds great, but


Jan 6, 2025, 3:40 PM [ in reply to This all sounds great, but ]
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I still think college football has been severely damaged by the NIL and Transfer Portal.

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Job well done Coach Swinney!

7

Jan 5, 2025, 9:05 AM
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The Clemson players want to be paid their due in this new NIL ecosystem. That said, the team's leaders, top players & the rest seem to appreciate there is still "something special" in these foothills which so many of us learned in our time on campus and appreciate to this day. Swinney has created & sustained an environment that his players want to stay in. "Rare air" is well stated.

The 2025 team could be special particularly if o-linemen and d-linemen get stronger in both upper & lower bodies and more mobile to push opponents around and get more mobile. In terms of the portal, a safety and a starter level o-lineman to rotate with Parks would not hurt if additional scholarships open up. The new defensive scheme(s) and starters will have to mesh before LSU opener. Yes, 2025 can be special!

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IPTAY

2

Jan 5, 2025, 9:08 AM
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have they combined forces with the 110 Society? If not, it seems only logical.

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At what point is it OK to say that a "student athlete" had a fkn terrible game

2

Jan 5, 2025, 9:10 AM
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$100k, $500k, $1M?

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$1***

1

Jan 5, 2025, 3:40 PM
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Re: TNET: Rare Air: Tigers retain 16 starters in wild world of NIL and transfer portal

8

Jan 5, 2025, 9:17 AM
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I wonder how many teams have 16 starters coming back in this new no rules environment? I doubt many…
Go Tigers!!!

2025 white level member flag link military_tech thumb_downthumb_up

"If a pig had a better personality, he would cease to be a filthy animal."


Re: TNET: Rare Air: Tigers retain 16 starters in wild world of NIL and transfer portal

2

Jan 5, 2025, 9:20 AM
Reply

This is great news indeed for next season. 2026 however is shaping up to be an issue as we will lose a ton on both sides of the ball and may struggle to keep our young WRs once Cade leaves. Hope they are already devising a plan for 2026.

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Re: TNET: Rare Air: Tigers retain 16 starters in wild world of NIL and transfer portal


Jan 5, 2025, 10:31 PM
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I don't know what we have in the QB room for post-Cade. It seems to me like there may not be a top tier guy there

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Still waiting on Our Man, DEMONTE CAPEHART #19...

1

Jan 5, 2025, 9:35 AM
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Haven't seen anything from him yet, have you?
I guess he's still deciding on NFL or coming back for TIGERS '25 run.
Even if NFL, our DT room still loaded for '25 - but I'd love that Dog in there too.
https://x.com/CapehartDemonte

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Re: TNET: Rare Air: Tigers retain 16 starters in wild world of NIL and transfer portal

2

Jan 5, 2025, 10:08 AM
Reply

Great job. We live in a capitalistic society, one that our nation has been founded on and that most of us support through our vote. Players getting paid is a product of that very system. Imagine how much money that was being denied over the decades. Clemson and Dabo are doing a great job balancing being a student-athletes and a student of this new system. Go Tigers!

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That will be ingored by those who throw money at every problem and being that...

2

Jan 5, 2025, 10:25 AM
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it's not their money they think we should have a whole new set of players next season because this set failed to beat USCe and win a national championship.

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Re: TNET: Rare Air: Tigers retain 16 starters in wild world of NIL and transfer portal

2

Jan 5, 2025, 11:14 AM
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What a mess.

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Re: TNET: Rare Air: Tigers retain 16 starters in wild world of NIL and transfer portal

4

Jan 5, 2025, 11:26 AM
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A mess that our Coach with our established culture is able to wade through and retain CLEMSON MEN. Clemson culture is a culture like no other.

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Totally Agree!!!

1

Jan 5, 2025, 12:19 PM
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Go Tigers!!

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Re: TNET: Rare Air: Tigers retain 16 starters in wild world of NIL and transfer portal

1

Jan 5, 2025, 1:10 PM
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This will get no national attention.

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Re: TNET: Rare Air: Tigers retain 16 starters in wild world of NIL and transfer portal

2

Jan 5, 2025, 4:51 PM
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I disagree sir. Attention is given where attention is due. Once the season begins, the talking heads that will surely inundate us with the "greatness" of the SEC during the preseason, will be forced to show a little respect.

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Re: TNET: Rare Air: Tigers retain 16 starters in wild world of NIL and transfer portal


Jan 5, 2025, 10:30 PM [ in reply to Re: TNET: Rare Air: Tigers retain 16 starters in wild world of NIL and transfer portal ]
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Because it's not that big of a deal. We are celebrating how many kids we lose as if that makes it OK to not replenish?

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Re: TNET: Rare Air: Tigers retain 16 starters in wild world of NIL and transfer portal


Jan 5, 2025, 10:29 PM
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I'm counting more departures than arrivals. Factor in the poor recruiting class and it doesn't look like they are replenishing the roster.

I would be much more interested if they would bring in bodies for depth. Not everyone needs to be Trevor Lawrence. But we do need depth at linebacker, and O&D lineman. The trenches are so critical and you only need to look at the championship teams to see the studs that were lining up at the line of scrimmage

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We have lost one starter since the portal got wide open


Jan 5, 2025, 10:33 PM
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What departures are you talking about?

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