With college athletes now earning money from their name, image and likeness, there is even more incentive to move to the bigger market schools for high-level athletes. While name, image and likeness is an absolute win for players, schools such as WSU are negatively impacted.

When a player shows promise and extreme talent, being a Coug will not maximize their earning potential for college. With such a low percentage of players in college going pro, it makes financial sense for players to go to a school that will maximize their earnings while it is available.

Even so, it is not the only reason that players enter the transfer portal. Whether it be a lack of playing time or disagreements with the coach, every player has their own unique reason to seek greener pastures.

WSU has gone through several head coaches and coordinators since the turn of the century, including three head coaches in the past four seasons alone. Next season, the team will be once again looking to hire another new defensive coordinator after the departure of Brian Ward to be the DC at Arizona State.

In 2022, the first year that the college football transfer portal is directly impacted by new NIL deals, there have been a record number of players entering the transfer portal, according to Outsider.

WSU is one of the schools most impacted by transfers. As of Thursday, 12 players have formally entered their names into the portal. Those players are running back Jouvensly Bazil, linebacker Travion Brown, quarterback Xavier Ward, wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling, wide receiver Donovan Ollie, safety Adrian Shepherd, offensive lineman Eric Wilder, edge rusher Justin Lohrenz, edge rusher Gabriel Lopez, linebacker Gavin Barthiel, linebacker Francisco Mauigoa and finally cornerback Justin Anderson.

Despite the laundry list of players that are already looking to move on from their time on the Palouse, there is still speculation that many more names will be joining them.

Every time players enter the portal, they usually take to social media to thank the fans and team for the opportunity. Oftentimes, these posts are very formulaic but serve to show that there is a sense of gratitude for their soon-to-be-former school.

“The Coug nation and Pullman will always have a special place in my heart,” Stribling said in his announcement on Instagram and Twitter.

Fans will always be grateful for the time that players spend at their school, but at the same time can feel slighted by the departure.

However, entering the transfer portal does not necessarily mean that it is a guaranteed fact that a player is leaving. If a player is unable to find the right opportunity, they can return to their original home.

As many players depart from Pullman, the team must fill those holes by recruiting players, using players already on the roster or even by using the portal themselves. WSU may find the next Joe Burrow, a backup at one school who is a standout player at another.

If Burrow is too far of a reach, looking internally, the Cougs can find the next Gardner Minshew. Lost in the mania, it is often forgotten the positive impact of transfer athletes on WSU history.

The conclusion to be made is that yes, players are leaving and it sucks to see great Cougs leave the program, but WSU will always find a way.