January 7th - 9th, 2026
2026 National Scouting Combine Transfer Portal Showcase
Our goal is to ensure full privacy for all participating athletes. No personal or performance information will be made public unless the athlete chooses to enter the transfer portal. This confidential environment allows athletes to evaluate their readiness and make a truly informed, career-defining decision.
- Arrival - Check in - Measurements - Head Shots - Interviews
- Warm Up
- Combine Testing
- Position Drills
- Dinner
- Educational Resources/Speakers
- Warm Ups
- Position Drills
- 1v1 Competitions
- 7v7 Competitions
- Event Complete @ 3pm
Big numbers & growth
The NCAA reports that only about 54 % of FBS football players who entered the portal in the 2020-21 period ended up enrolling at another school.
The number of entries is climbing rapidly. For example: about 1,561 FBS players entered the portal in 2018-19; by more recent cycles the number is above ~2,700 for 2023-24.
Breakdown by position in one dataset: in the 2024 “mass migration” numbers: WR ~650+, DB ~600+, OL ~450+, QB ~125+, RB ~300+ entries.
Also: teams are losing significant numbers of players to the portal; e.g., in 2024 one source shows conference-by-conference losses: Big 12 ~650+ players, SEC ~550+, ACC ~500+ in one year.
Risk factors & success rates
While entries are high, success is not guaranteed. Many players do not end up with an improved situation. Article: “Numbers show transfer portal is (very) risky for college football players.”
For FCS transfers (and lower levels) the “landing a new school” rate is lower: only ~36 % of FCS entrants enrolled at a new school in the two-year period referenced.
Timing matters: Now the only time to enter (providing your school did not lose its head coach) is January 2nd – January 16th.
Implications for coaches & programs
With large numbers of players entering the portal, coaches are increasingly using it as a recruiting tool — but also facing challenges of roster churn, culture, and continuity.
Some programs are aggressively leveraging the portal to remake rosters quickly (e.g., adding many transfers in one cycle).
At the same time, schools that retain players and minimize losses can have a competitive advantage.
What Coaches Look For in Transfer Football Players
When a coach is scouring the portal for transfers, especially in college football (FBS level), here are key factors they evaluate:
Fit & Immediate Impact
Position need: Coaches want to fill holes quickly. A transfer who plays in a position where the team is thin and can contribute soon is more attractive.
Experience: Starting experience, game reps, and proven performance matter. A player who has played meaningful snaps (not just “on the scout team”) often stands out.
Eligibility / remaining years: Coaches will check how many seasons the player has left, academic eligibility, and whether the player can play immediately (or soon).
System/role fit: If you transfer to a program where your style, scheme, or role aligns with what they run, you’re more likely to be chosen. E.g., if a team runs heavy power-run and you’re a zone-scheme OL, might be a lesser fit.
Measurable Performance & Potential
Production metrics: Games played, starts, sacks allowed (for OL), tackles, interceptions, pass breakups (for DBs), catches, yards, TDs (for WRs) — coaches look for quantifiable output.
Physical traits / measurables: Size, speed, strength, durability. If you’re a DL transfer and you’ve shown you can handle FBS OL, that matters.
Film & consistency: Coaches will review your film: do you perform against good competition? Are you consistently effective, or one-off flashes?
Development trajectory: A transfer who has improved year-by-year signals to the coach that you have growth potential, not just past performance.
Character, Academics & Risk Mitigation
Academic eligibility: Coaches must ensure you satisfy transfer academic rules, credits, GPA, progress-toward-degree. A non-eligible transfer is a liability.
Character / culture fit: Coaches ask: Will this player integrate into our locker room? Will they contribute positively? Transfers carry some risk (new environment, mindset).
Injury history / off-field issues: These raise red flags. Coaches have many options: choosing someone less risky can be preferable.
Immediate enrollment & readiness: A transfer who can move quickly, enroll, and get into spring/summer conditioning stands out.
Strategic Value
“Win now” vs “build for future”: Many programs use portal to get immediate contributors, especially if they’re in win-or-else mode.
Roster management: With incoming freshman recruiting, graduations, and scholarship limits (for some schools), coaches also evaluate how a transfer fits financially and logistically (scholarship, roster number).
Conference / exposure: For a coach, bringing in a transfer from a stronger conference or with good reputation may have more impact (experience, recruiting boost) than someone from lower level.
How Players Can Benefit — And What to Do (Football Edition)
If you’re a college football player considering the portal (or already in it), here are tailored tips to maximize your chances and gain from the move:
Potential Benefits
Better fit / more playing time: If you’re not getting reps at your current school, transferring can give you a fresh opportunity.
Immediate eligibility advantage: With recent rule changes (e.g., broader immediate eligibility) your transfer may be able to play right away, which increases your value.
Move to higher-profile program: If you’ve shown ability, you may transfer to a program with better exposure (conference, media, NFL pipelines) which boosts your future prospects.
Better scheme or culture fit: If your current system doesn’t showcase your strengths, a move can allow you to align with a system that does.
What to Be Aware Of / Avoid
No guarantee of success: Entering the portal is not a guarantee you’ll land somewhere equally good — or that you’ll see better playing time. The data show many transfers don’t land in an ideal spot.
Downward moves are common: Some transfers end up at lower division levels, or with fewer opportunities than hoped. Choosing a school just to “get out” may lead to less exposure.
Academic/eligibility risk: Make sure credits transfer, you meet GPA & progress requirements, and you understand the transfer windows and rules.
Delayed impact: If you transfer late, you may miss spring practices, struggle to learn the system, or fall behind.
Roster & scholarship things: Make sure the destination has the scholarship availability, your position is needed, and that you are being brought in for a defined role — not just “we may see what you can do”.
Tactical Steps to Position Yourself for Success
Audit yourself & highlight your value: Before entering the portal, honestly assess your strengths (stats, film, experience), your goal (playing time? exposure? system fit?), and your “angle” (why a program would want you).
Develop an updated highlight/recruitment package: For football, include game film showing meaningful snaps, big-plays, consistency, physical traits. Have a one-page résumé of your stats, position, size, academic info.
Target programs strategically: Look for schools with a need at your position, where your skills match their scheme. Prioritize programs where you can contribute soon, rather than just “dream schools” without opportunity.
Initiate outreach: Don’t just rely on coaches finding you. Be proactive: send film links, reach out to position coaches, express how you fit their program.
Timing & plan ahead: Know the portal window for football (winter/spring). Entering early and enrolling by spring (if possible) gives you more time to acclimate and compete.
Understand your situation & goals: Are you transferring to play, to graduate, to reposition for pro? Have clarity.
Keep academics and off-field status solid: Maintain eligibility, progress toward degree, and ensure your behavior and reputation are clean. These matter.
Be realistic about level and role: If you’re from a smaller program or haven’t played much, going straight to a top-10 school may be unlikely; consider smart lateral or step-up moves where you can shine.
Avoid making it a reactive move: Don’t enter the portal simply because you’re unhappy without any plan. The more proactive and prepared you are, the better your outcome.
The Benefits of Attending a National Scouting Combine Transfer Portal Showcase
The National Scouting Combine Transfer Portal Showcase provides collegiate and JUCO athletes with a unique, data-driven opportunity to stand out in one of the most competitive recruiting environments in college football. Unlike typical combines or pro days, this event integrates objective performance analytics, verified testing data, and a proprietary athlete grading algorithm that brings measurable credibility and visibility to every participant.
Data-Driven Exposure Through the Athletic Performance Report
Every athlete who participates receives a comprehensive Athletic Performance Report (APR) — a professional evaluation that measures athletic ability with the same precision and standards used by professional scouting organizations.
The APR includes:
Verified Combine Metrics – 40-yard dash, pro agility, vertical jump, broad jump, bench press, and position-specific drills recorded under consistent conditions.
Biomechanical Analysis – Body composition, movement efficiency, explosiveness, and agility tracked with precision equipment.
Comparative Data – Your numbers are benchmarked against position-specific averages across collegiate and professional levels, helping athletes see exactly where they stand.
Scouting Summary & Notes – A performance summary written by verified evaluators that highlights strengths, areas of improvement, and next-step recommendations.
🔹 Why it matters:
Most athletes in the transfer portal rely on highlight film and statistics that don’t reflect raw athletic potential. The APR gives quantified, third-party validation that separates you from thousands of unverified athletes — coaches know your results are real.
🔹 For Athletes:
The proprietary grade helps you stand out in a crowded transfer market. Even if you didn’t get significant playing time at your previous school, verified testing and a high Athletic Talent Score prove your potential — putting you back on recruiting boards.
🔹 For Coaches:
This system gives recruiters a true athletic baseline to compare players, regardless of school or conference level. Instead of sifting through film and guessing athletic potential, coaches can instantly filter and identify top athletes using algorithmic grades that quantify explosiveness, mobility, and athletic upside.
Bridging the Gap Between Raw Talent and Opportunity
Thousands of athletes enter the transfer portal every year — but without verified data, many go unnoticed. The National Scouting Combine’s platform bridges that gap by giving athletes exposure backed by hard data.
Key Benefits:
Visibility: Your verified results and grade are added to a national database used by collegiate and professional scouts.
Coach-Friendly Evaluation: Coaches can filter athletes by position, score range, and performance categories — instantly identifying who fits their program’s athletic profile.
Transfer-Ready Profiling: Your APR and Athletic Grade are structured like professional scouting reports — making it easy for coaches to trust your results and project your potential.
Development Insight: You receive a performance breakdown with actionable feedback to improve your athletic profile for the next level.
Recruiting Credibility: Verified results protect your reputation and eliminate doubt — something highlight film alone can’t do.
Why the Combine’s Technology Matters
Traditional combines measure athletes — but the National Scouting Combine quantifies and ranks them through advanced analytics. The proprietary system isn’t just a stopwatch and clipboard; it’s built around scouting intelligence technology that mirrors what professional teams use to evaluate NFL prospects.
By integrating performance analytics + verified testing + algorithmic grading, the showcase:
Creates a digital athletic résumé that lives beyond the event.
Helps athletes be discovered through objective data, not hype.
Provides coaches and scouts with a reliable, searchable database of top transfer prospects.
Real-World Impact
For athletes: A strong APR and high Athletic Talent Score can revive recruiting momentum — even if you’ve been overlooked or underutilized. It gives you something tangible and credible to show to programs looking for transfers who can perform immediately.
For coaches: The grading system helps programs reduce recruiting risk and identify value — athletes who may not have had big stats but display elite athletic potential and readiness to compete.
For both: The showcase streamlines evaluation and communication, making it easier for the right players to be matched with the right programs.