UNLV football ready to face the changes in annual portal frenzy

By Mike Grimala (contact)

Thursday, April 11, 2024 | 2 a.m.

The on-field action has wound down for UNLV football, with the team concluding spring practice Saturday at an open scrimmage at Allegiant Stadium. But while practice fields will be empty for a while, the action inside the Fertitta Football Complex is about to get intense.

The NCAA transfer portal is set to open Tuesday, kicking off an annual player-transaction frenzy as programs toss cash at available difference-makers while at the same time scrambling to retain their own players.

UNLV coach Barry Odom knows his program will be in the fray once the gates open.

“The portal window opens up April 16, and that’s something we’ve got to be aware of,” Odom said, going on to detail the rest of the roster-building elements of the offseason. “The months of April and May, how important they are to the development and the moving forward of our program. Our coaches will be on the road recruiting a lot during that time for the ‘25 class, and then before we know it, it will be June and we’ll have summer camps and evaluation opportunities there.”

But before any of that other stuff can happen, the portal reigns supreme.

UNLV has already felt the impact, with one serious defection from starting guard Alani Makihele, who announced his intention to leave the team on March 27. As a grad transfer, Makihele was allowed to enter the portal at any time; underclassmen, however, have to wait until it’s officially open for business on Tuesday.

The portal will remain open for two weeks, and any player who wants to be recruited as a transfer will have to enter by the end of the day April 30.

Odom, like every other Division I coach, knows full well what’s waiting. He knows that UNLV is going to see some players explore their opportunities in the portal, just as some players from other programs are going to be interested in joining the Scarlet and Gray.

Odom cautioned fans against overreacting to the roster arithmetic that is bound to happen over the next two weeks.

“Anytime you lose a player — and I don’t want to lose anybody — but you lose a player and the sky is falling,” Odom said. “But we gain players as well, and everybody is happy about that. So there’s a balance there.”

UNLV finds itself in great shape coming out of spring practice. Following up last year’s 9-5 campaign and bowl appearance, the Scarlet and Gray appear stacked on offense, especially at the skill positions.

While losing Makihele was a blow, the program’s other spring exit was probably a good sign. Senior receiver Zyell Griffin announced his intention to enter the portal on March 27, just days after true freshman Damien McDaniel arrived on campus and began showing out during practice. With All-Americans Ricky White and Jacob De Jesus returning, sophomore Corey Thompson and McDaniel poised for breakouts and incoming transfer Casey Cain (Texas) serving as a playmaker, the receiving corps is so loaded that players lower on the depth chart see the writing on the wall.

Odom said the team’s depth is one of the most obvious differences between last year and this spring.

“Last year, we didn’t have enough bodies to go three groups,” Odom said. “Most of the practices this year we were able to go four groups.”

Odom also pointed to the team’s stable of running backs as a sign of depth, noting that there are five players at the position who could see significant carries during the season.

When the portal closes and the calendar turns to May, the depth chart could look different. But even if UNLV does see some talent walk out the door, Odom is confident he and his staff can work the phones and make sure the traffic flows in both directions.

“I think if we can keep this group together and continue to develop this group, we’ve got the makings of a really good football team,” he said. “What that looks like in two weeks from now? It’s an unproven science to try to roster manage in some of those ways because there’s always surprises. If we lose a player or multiple players, we’ll be very active in replacing those and upgrading if we can in every situation.”

In other words, buckle up.

“I hope we don’t lose anybody,” Odom said, “but in the world of college football right now, that would be very abnormal if that happens.”

Mike Grimala can be reached at 702-948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Mike on Twitter at twitter.com/mikegrimala.