How will new transfer rules impact BC?

A major rule quietly changed the landscape of college football this week. Starting October 15, football players are allowed to transfer without a release from their current school. That player can still play for his current team and still be in the National Transfer database, so that the whole college football world knows who is available and a coach can recruit a player during the season. For example, if say Hamp Cheevers wanted to put his name out there, Alabama could contact him tomorrow and he could still play for BC next week. Because the rule is brand new and transfers are still risky and political, there wasn't a flood of database listings this week (see screenshot below). However, that will probably change. But how will this impact BC?

A look at the new NCAA Transfer Portal, where coaches can track free agents, I mean, transfers pic.twitter.com/rz2CA5DRr3

— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) October 16, 2018

In Addizio's first four years, he had multiple grad transfers and they were helpful to the transition and rebuilding. Now that the roster is his, there are no significant transfers playing for BC. But I think something like this and the updated database might be a good tool for Addazio. As much as the Alabamas of the world will try to grab other team's players, Addazio proved pretty adapt at finding guys buried on the depth chart at other places who could play at BC. The more access and information to that talent, the better for BC. I also think BC sells well to transfers. If they've already been to a football factory, they've seen all the fancy facilities. A more mature recruit would see what BC is selling and find that more appealing.

The database is not open to the public, but I imagine that it is being monitored closely and any BC-related news will be now as soon as it happens.

First 5th Year is a kicker/punter

Former Old Dominion kicker/punter Satchel Ziffer announced his commitment to Boston College Monday night. I am encouraged that we are adding an experienced 5th year talent. I just wasn't expecting it to be a Special Teams guy.

Ziffer is certainly welcome, as BC will need a punter next year and he has the potential to kick as well.

News on other 5th years should be rolling in shortly. Presumably the guys want to join the team in January, so they would have to commit now. Also, many are wrapping up their bachelors degree this semester. Once completed they can play immediately.

There has been plenty of gossip about 5th year OLinemen and WRs coming in, but no real leads on any potential QBs.

Nosovitch's family confirms transfer UPDATED

[UPDATED: According to Justin Rowland, he will be an H-back. That adds some nice depth.]

After a day of speculation, the family of former South Carolina QB and TE Brendan Nosovitch confirmed to their local paper that he is transferring to BC. Nosovitch is a slightly unusual case in that he's a graduate transfer but still has two years of eligibility remaining. What position he will play in his final two years remains the unanswered question.

Nosovitch was considered enough of a prospect to get multiple QB offers out of high school. He never cracked the top level of the QB depth chart at South Carolina, so he moved to a TE/H-Back role for a season and then back to QB for another. The talk out of South Carolina is that he left specifically to play QB somewhere else.

BC looked at many potential QB transfers this offseason but never engaged with one who was worth blowing up the homegrown depth. For example, if Braxton Miller wanted to play, you take him even at the risk of alienating Wade or Flutie. But as we know, Miller didn't leave Ohio State. Is Nosovitch -- who is as unproven at this stage as Wade -- worth the risk?

Then there is the timing. By coming in now, he is well behind the other QBs in getting ready for the season. Does that exclude him from playing? No. But if a QB who couldn't crack the South Carolina depth chart walks into a starting position with us, then things were in worse shape than any of us thought. Or, he is going to be a TE/H-back with BC too. This seems more logical, but doesn't explain the comments coming out of South Carolina.

We will soon know about Nosovitch officially. My hope is that he is coming in as an athlete and that we are in good hands with Wade.

Report: ND blocking Golson from BC, other schools

Despite some early speculation, Everett Golson is definitely not transferring to BC. According to multiple reports, the Irish blocked their former QB from playing any team on their 2015 schedule. Because he graduated this weekend, Golson is eligible immediately.

I know a few BC fans hoped to see Golson in maroon and gold, but I always suspected the scheduling conflict would be an issue. While it might not seem fair, blocking a few transfer destinations is common place. BC has -- and probably would do -- the same thing.

At this point BC is all in with Wade (and Flutie). The extra Ohio State QBs are all staying in Columbus and no one else out their is worth disrupting the plan for our young QBs. We will see some growing pains in 2015, but the hope is that it pays off in the following seasons.

Dragicevich transfers to BC officially

When we last blogged about Alex Dragicevich he was denying reports that he had committed to Boston College. Now his transfer is public and official. All my original comments on his transfer still hold. It's a good sign to get a transfer from Notre Dame and he has the type of game to thrive under Donahue. The bad news is that he cannot play next year and makes our class of 2015 very, very crowded. If Donahue doesn't get some scholarship balance, he will have a huge rebuilding project in three years.

Bad blood with UConn spills over into basketball transfers

Eric Hoffes is reporting that UConn will not allow Alex Oriakhi to transfer to BC. Unfortunately there is little BC or Oriakhi can do about it. I've been told the interest was mutual, and Oriakhi liked the idea of playing close to home in the ACC and on a team that needed a big man. Unless public pressure forces UConn to change its stance, he will move on to some other opportunity. What's curious about the whole thing is that he is still available to major programs like North Carolina and Kentucky. UConn doesn't seem bothered by the rich getting richer. But a school like BC -- which just finished last in the ACC -- is not allowed.

We know the history, but clearly the UConn leadership doesn't believe in bridge building or looking out for a player's best interest. The only reason Oriakhi is immediately available is because of UConn's violations. They flaunted the rules. But they are taking the players down with them by limiting his choices.

For any wondering, this is not about Steve Donahue. For all I know he has a good working relationship with Jim Calhoun. This is more about the BC-UConn pissing match.

The mistake UConn leaders are making is that this sort of move won't be forgotten. When Gene is retired and an expanded ACC comes up for proposal, do they think we will be supporting them or Rutgers? This will not end well but UConn has never been one to see the big picture.

The truth about transfers

Some fans get on Al for his seemingly high rate of transfers. They shouldn't. As David Glenn lays out, transfers are now a very common part of college basketball.