NCAA tightening transfer eligibility guidelines hurts N.C. State the most

NCAA expected to tighten guidelines on transfer’s immediate eligibility

According to Dan Wolken of USA Today, the NCAA approved a package of updated guidelines that would make it difficult for more college athletes, particularly in basketball and football, to receive immediate eligibility following transferring to another school.

The news comes on the heels of the NCAA relaxing the transfer rules for athletes in special circumstances just two months ago.

Schools who garner some of their biggest players through the transfer portal, more than likely, will be the ones affected the most by this change.

N.C. State will be the most affected

The Wolfpack over the years has gotten a few quality players through the transfer portal system, one of the most notable transfers was Ryan Finley, former quarterback for the Wolfpack who transferred following his completion at Boise State University.

Being in an area that has the University of North Carolina and Duke University doesn’t particularly help the Wolfpack in terms of recruiting, as both UNC and Duke have a certain mystique around and multiple national championships and most younger recruits aren’t even old enough to remember the “Survive and Advance” Wolfpack team from 1983.

The transfer portal really helps the Wolfpack get some level of competitive advantage with the other two schools, but with the limits being placed on immediate eligibility, it will more than likely make N.C. State a less envious destination for potential transfers.

The NCAA is trying to prevent players from just leaving a bad situation for a better one

Based on some of the language in the new ruling, which the NCAA is regarding as “minor clarifications”, it seems they are trying to prevent players from leaving situations that they are unhappy with to go to a better situation, i.e. Jalen Hurts and Alabama.

As you can see in the quote below, which was obtained through USA Today the newer guidelines are much less broad and leave little for interpretation.

"“documented extenuating, extraordinary and mitigating circumstances outside of the student-athlete’s control that directly impacts the health, safety or well-being of the student-athlete.”"

This offseason saw a large number of high profile players, particularly quarterbacks transferring to new schools and gaining immediate eligibility, including Justin Fields (Georgia to Ohio State), Tate Martell (Ohio State to Miami) and Shae Patterson who transferred from Ole Miss to the University of Michigan just one year ago.

With the new language in place, most players that aren’t graduate transfers like Finley will have a very difficult time gaining immediate eligibility. That is unless they can provide documentation of there circumstances, which is said to be an extensive process.

The Wolfpack will have to find another way to keep up with the other two schools

Ultimately, The Wolfpack will more than likely still use the transfer portal system to garner some of its bigger names but barring extenuating circumstances, it will be harder for them to get them on the field quickly.

If the Wolfpack have no desire to wait an extra year for a high caliber player to be eligible to play, they will just have to improve it’s recruiting within the state and in surrounding states, but with a few SEC schools surrounding the state, it will be easier said than done.