Transfer portal: Former Nole Travis Johnson dishes on benefits of loyalty

NIL and the transfer portal have changed college football as we know it over the past couple of years.

Players have had the freedom to move from program to program and now receive money for their name, image, and likeness.

I’m a supporter of players having both options, but there’s also a point where guardrails need to be put in place to regulate things a bit.

I know some folks point to coaches having the freedom to leave, but it’s not like coaches generally change jobs every year either. We’ve all heard about the Jordan Addison situation, with the best wide receiver in college football entering the portal at the last minute.

We’ve also heard of another very good wide receiver, Boston College’s Zay Flowers, who decided to stay loyal to Boston College after receiving multiple six-figure deals to enter the portal.

Former FSU football player Travis Johnson appeared on the Roll Up Network with some solid points regarding why players should stay loyal to programs.

I agree with Johnson wholeheartedly here. In a situation like Addison or Jones, I think it would be in the best interest of the player to finish out their career where they began. They are proven and will likely be a high draft pick wherever they play their final season. However, the loyalty aspect is something I hadn’t given much thought to from his perspective.

After thinking about it, I think of how FSU football fans rejoice when players that could enter the NFL Draft decide to come back for another year. I think of the situations where FSU football fans come to the aid of football players when they need it. The situations like Janarius Robinson’s family losing their home to a hurricane.

Jammie Robinson’s home getting destroyed by a fire. Fabien Lovett’s infant son with medical issues, and people helping with those types of things. Dillan Gibbons raising money for his friend Timothy is another great example.

I don’t believe the players owe fans anything because of those situations, but I’m pointing out the relationship built over time.

Those relationships can and often last for years after football is over. However, would those relationships be there if a player leaves in his final year because the grass may appear greener on the other side? Probably not, but I can understand a player like Jermaine Johnson that isn’t getting to play in his current situation transferring from Georgia to FSU.

Again, it’s good these players have those options but like Travis Johnson opines, there’s a lot of value in the loyalty aspect of things.