Four-star WR Gatlin Bair could take recruitment to February signing day
Four-star WR Gatlin Bair could take recruitment to February signing day
Even while most people in the area have committed, there are still a sizable minority who have not.
The top two defensive prospects in Northern California are also undecided, two of the top four prospects in Idaho opened their recruitments following coaching changes and are in the market, a top ten prospect in Washington opened his recruitment, and two more recruits in Oregon are considering their options after receiving Pac-12 offers.
With the early signing period a week away, 247Sports takes a closer look at those prospects from the Northwest and Northern California still considering all of their options.
Former Mississippi State star quarterback Will Rogers set to transfer to Washington
Washington now has its replacement at quarterback for Heisman finalist Michael Penix.
The Heisman finalist Michael Penix will now have a replacement at quarterback for Washington in Will Rogers, a former standout quarterback from Mississippi State who is expected to transfer to the Huskies, sources tell 247Sports. Rogers, a native of Mississippi and a former class of 2020 three-star recruit, was the starting quarterback for the Bulldogs for each of the last four seasons, finishing his time in Starkville with 12,315 career passing yards, which ranks second-most in SEC history, and 94 career passing touchdowns, which ranks fourth-most in conference history. Rogers also finished his time in Starkville with 19 career 300-yard passing games for Mississippi State.
Prior to a difficult season this year under head coach Zach Arnett, who was fired, Rogers passed for a total of 8,713 yards and 71 touchdowns in Mike Leach’s final two seasons as Mississippi State’s head coach in 2021 and 2022. Rogers also missed four games because of an upper-body ailment. His 4,739 passing yards in 2021 placed him second among Power Five quarterbacks, only surpassed by Alabama’s Heisman Trophy winner, Bryce Young. The previous season, Rogers led the Bulldogs to a 9-4 record while amassing 3,974 yards and 36 touchdowns.
In eight games this season, Rogers totaled 1,626 passing yards, 12 passing touchdowns, and four interceptions.
One of his top performances of the season came when he threw for a career-high 487 yards during a 37-30 loss to South Carolina Sept. 23.
What is the NCAA transfer portal?
The portal is an online database that players will enter their name into if they decide to pursue a transfer. Players notify their current school’s compliance office that they wish to put their name into the portal — typically, players’ names show up within 48 hours. Coaches have access to the database and can contact any player who has entered.
When will the transfer portal open?
Technically, players can enter the portal at any time. But unless they do so within their sport’s official “windows,” they will have to sit out one season. College football has two windows: one following the regular season and one following spring practice. The fall portal window opens Dec. 3, one day after conference championship games. It will remain open for 30 days, closing at the end of the day on Jan. 2, 2024. Players who compete in a postseason contest (the CFB Playoff or a bowl game) will be given an additional five-day window to transfer after their final contest.
Prior to this school year, players had 45 days to enter their name in the portal following the end of the regular season. The NCAA amended that rule this fall, cutting down the window to 30 days.
Is a player forced to leave his school after entering the portal?
No. In fact, players sometimes withdraw their names from the portal and end up staying with their respective programs.
Oftentimes, however, the decision to enter the portal comes with some amount of displeasure on either the player’s side or the program’s side. Most players who enter the portal do not return to their previous school, and they’re often removed from the team immediately upon entering.