How portal has impacted Arizona’s seniors
Scottsdale Chaparral quarterback Brayten Silbor is just one of numerous high school seniors on the outside looking in with the 72-hour, early signing period about to start Wednesday for NCAA Division I.
He won’t be signing Wednesday when his Chaparral teammate Anthony Lucas, a five-star defensive lineman, one of the nation’s top college football prospects, will make his college announcement and do his signing live during an ESPN broadcast.
Much of the blame can be placed on the college footbal transfer portal.
Just this season, five former Arizona high school quarterbacks entered the portal — Spencer Rattler, Chubba Purdy, Kedon Slovis, Jack Plummer and Jack Miller. By transfering to new schools, it limits opportunities for quarterbacks coming out of high school that migh otherwise be a priority recruit.
Last week, former Pinnacle quarterback J.D. Johnson announced that he is coming out of medical retirement and is seeking a college playing opportunity after spending the last two seasons at Michigan, where he was on scholarship but ruled medically unfit to play because of a heart issue. Johnson sought what he described as a world-renowned cardiologist during the summer and said he was cleared to play.
Silbor, who decommitted from New Mexico after the Lobos made a coaching change and committed to the option, running quarterback system, has nothing on the table after completing an incredible high school career. He set season and career passing records at Chaparral, one of the richest football schools in Arizona.
He’s got the size — a legit 6-foot-3, 205 pounds — but he doesn’t have a Power 5 offer.
Silbor is hoping to have something by Feb. 2, when the regular Division I and II football signing period begins.
“The transfer portal has definitely made things more difficult for the high school guys,” Chaparral coach Brent Barnes said. “I still think colleges would be crazy to not take a QB in every class, even if they are taking a transfer.
“Seems as if you would want to develop guys in your system along with finding any immediate needs you might have.”
Barnes uses New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones as an example, developing in Alabama’s system, waiting his turn behind Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa, before breaking out in 2020 as a junior, his first season as the starter from the beginning of the season.
“QBs were always gonna be on the move at that level, but now all the other positions are doing that and it’s really hurting the high school guys at other positions, as well,” Barnes said.
Even though COVID-19 last year gave college football players an extra year to compete, the transfer portal has been the current high school seniors’ biggest obstacle.
It’s limited the scholarships, so some
will accept the preferrred walk-on just to get the shot when in most cases they’d be given scholarships.
Arizona is taking preferred walk-ons from Peoria Sunrise Mountain tight end John Hart, Scottsdale Notre Dame Athlete Gavin Smith and Phoenix Sandra Day O’Connor linebacker Brandon Craddock.
Gilbert Higley has only one player signing early on Wednesday — tight end Merhauti Xepera with Fresno State.
“The portal is another pool of talent that the seniors are going up against,” Higley coach Eddy Zubey said. “It is no longer just their graduating senior classmates and some JUCO kids.
“You now have thousands of other kids who have already played college football that you are competing against. This is also new for the college coaches. They are unsure of which way to look, as well. Do you take a kid that will need to develop for a year or two? Or do you take a kid that could potentially be in your two-deep immediately?
“If you go with a developmental kid, you then have to worry about that kid going into the portal because they are unhappy with their playing time. It is a big mess and I am not sure what the right answer is.”
Arizona still is a state rich in high school football talent.
Among those signing Wednesday are Chandler Hamilton quarterback Nicco Marchiol (West Virginia), Chandler wide receiver Kyion Grayes II (Ohio State), Scottsdale Saguaro defensive end Tristan Monday (Wisconsin) and offensive lineman Parker Brailsford (Washington), and Phoenix Brophy Prep defensive end Zac Swanson (Texas) and cornerback Ben Morrison (Notre Dame).
Phoenix Mountain Pointe Athlete Amire Boyd-Mathews recently committed to Nevada, but coach Eric Lauer said he Boyd-Matthews will not sign during this early window.
“Teams will take a JC kid or college transfer, because they can get a readynow player,” Lauer said. “These things are not really COVID-induced. You have college staff now that have redirected some of their efforts to constantly check the portal to see if anything looks good, or a need can be filled.
“Right now it’s the portal that is changing the landscape for our outgoing seniors, not COVID. Everyone is saving scholarships for transfer students.”
There is a domino effect, Casa Grande coach Jake Barro believes.
Quarterback Angel Flores, who last Friday led Casa Grande to 4A championship win over Poston Butte and the school’s first 13-0 season, will be signing with Northern Arizona on Wednesday.
“The recruiting process has been tough this year,” Barro said. “Due to current NCAA players receiving an extra year due to COVID and the transfer portal being so active, it has made opportunities for high school seniors scarce.
“You are seeing the Power 5 player signing with FCS schools, and smaller D I athletes going D II and D III. Absolutely nothing wrong with that. Signing a scholarship is a major achievement no matter the level, but its just the reality of our situation currently.”