BUILDING A ROSTER

Early signing period, transfer portal have changed how coaches assemble their teams

Wednesday’s initial signing day is the first step in what is now a constant process of roster churn for college football coaches, augmented not only by the addition of the additional December signing day but the unending through the NCAA’s transfer portal.

The 12 Texas schools in the Football Bowl Subdivision averaged 28 transfer athletes on their 2021 roster, ranging from single-digit numbers at Texas and Texas A&M to more than 40 at Texas Tech, Texas State and UTEP.

A few will sign Wednesday or during the February signing period, but the vast majority of transfer movement will take place in the spring and summer during what some coaches refer to as the “free agency” period of college recruiting.

The number of transfer students on Texas FBS rosters has almost doubled since 2018, the first full season after the transfer portal came into being. The 2018 average was 15 athletes per school and has increased steadily in each of the last four seasons.

This year’s transfer population includes 2021 all-conference standouts in Marcus Jones, Gervarrius Owens, Kody Russey and Nathaniel Dell at Houston, Tanner Mordecai and receiver Danny Gray at SMU, defensive lineman Siaki Ika at Baylor, linebacker Clarence Hicks at UTSA and running back DeAndre Torrey at North Texas.

Of players who started at least five games for their respective schools this season, almost a third were transfer students, divided almost equally between players from junior colleges and those who came from four-year schools.

As is the case with so many things in this era, the data is clear: Of the players who sign with the 12 Texas schools this week, up to a quarter or a third will either have given up the sport or will be playing elsewhere by the time their final year of eligibility rolls around.

The big day

The NCAA added a second signing date beginning in December 2017 and in October 2018 added a transfer portal for athletes wishing to change schools.

Here is how the 12 FBS schools in Texas have assembled their signing classes each of the last four seasons.

Richard Rodriguez / Getty Images North Texas’ DeAndre Torrey, another junior college transfer, has 248 catches for 1,215 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns for the Mean Green.

Rod Aydelotte / Associated Press Baylor transfer defensive tackle Siaki Ika (62) earned all-conference honors this season. He had four sacks and helped the Bears win the Big 12 title.

Julio Cortez / Associated Press SMU quarterback Tanner Mordecai transferred from Oklahoma and got the chance to start at quarterback, leading an electric Mustangs offense.

Kin Man Hui / Staff photographer UTSA transfer linebacker Clarence Hicks (9) sacks Western Kentucky’s Bailey Zappe, himself a Houston Baptist transfer, in the Conference USA title game.

Karen Warren / Staff photographer UH wide receiver Nathaniel Dell is one of several transfers who have made an impact for the Cougars.

Godofredo A. Vásquez / Staff photographer University of Houston cornerback Marcus Jones has developed into a versatile weapon for the Cougars.

Michael Wyke / Contributor UH’s Gervarrius Owens, back, previously played at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, a junior college.