We are now in an era in college football where if a player wants to transfer to a new team each season, he could. Because of this, we are seeing more and more players transfer out when they don’t see the playing time they want. This means we don’t witness a lot of players stay loyal to their teams and develop in the same program for their college career.
Just because you can transfer doesn’t always mean you should, though. There are plenty of examples of players who turned patience into NFL money.
Arvell Reese, Joe Burrow can serve as examples to future NFL prospects
Take Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese
for example. Reese was a four-star recruit from Cleveland who didn’t start right away at Ohio State. He spent time rotating and learning multiple spots instead of just transferring for instant snaps. Eventually, though, Reese finally got his chance and almost instantly became one of the best linebackers in the country. Now, he is projected as a top-five pick in the NFL Draft and could be the first defensive player taken off the board.
Staying put allows players to master their school’s system and playbook, which sets them up to get picked by the right team in the NFL. This also builds a sense that NFL coaches can trust them to be loyal. It gives players who still need to develop the opportunity to get better on a good team, as well.
Sometimes, though, staying isn’t always what is best. Look at Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, for instance. He stayed at Ohio State behind J.T. Barrett, then transferred to LSU, where he reinvented himself under a new system. Burrow exploded in 2019 and went No. 1 overall in the NFL Draft. His case shows that even a player who waited his turn and eventually transferred can still land at the top of the draft.
Staying loyal in the right system will benefit players more than hopping from team to team hoping for the right system to eventually find you. Staying helps players obtain better development in one system, stronger relationships with coaches and a clearer role when they finally get their chance. It may not work for every player, but in the right situation, it can turn a backup into a first-round pick.
