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PJ Fleck talks about opt-outs across college football, how transfer portal has made for ‘different time’ in sport
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
PJ Fleck has had to deal with his share of bowl opt-outs within the Minnesota football program, just like almost every other coach in college football.
What’s made things interesting is the nature of the opt-outs in this day and age, and that’s thanks to the transfer portal. Seven players in all announced their intentions to transfer following the season: defensive tackle Gage Keys and edge rusher Austin Booker, who both committed to Kansas; linebacker Braelen Oliver (Georgia Tech); defensive backs Jalen Glaze (Florida A&M), Michael Dixon (Rutgers), and Steven Ortiz (UMass) and offensive lineman Cameron James (undecided).
These days, as Fleck noted in his Pinstripe Bowl press conference on Wednesday, an opt-out doesn’t automatically equate to entering the NFL Draft.
You’re seeing a lot of things in college football right now, right? You’re not just seeing opt-outs for the National Football League. You’re seeing opt-outs to not play. You’re seeing opt-outs to transfer. You have people in the portal that are playing for their team still. It’s unique. It’s definitely a different time. I think full transparency and communication is critical. I think we talk to our players.
We’ll see how the Golden Gophers fare at Yankee Stadium against Syracuse, a 2 p.m. ET Thursday kickoff on ESPN.
(h/t ASAP Sports)