Tennessee football: Should players get one free transfer pass?

The NCAA is wrong with how they handle the transfer portal. Is it as simple as giving players one free pass?

Jeremy Pruitt and the Tennessee football team are still waiting on the NCAA to make a decision on two players. It’s a fairly big decision for the Vols. By granting Deangelo Gibbs and Aubrey Solomon waivers, Tennessee would gain much-needed depth on the defensive line and in the secondary.

However, both players are listed on 247Sports.com with “pending appeal” beside their names under the eligible tab, and it’s been that way for quite some time.

On December 21, 2018, Solomon transferred to Tennessee and still hasn’t been cleared to play by the NCAA. Solomon was a five-star prospect from Leesburg, GA when he committed to Michigan in 2017. 247Sports lists him as a four-star now, but either way, Solomon would be a huge addition to the team.

Gibbs came to Tennessee from the Georgia Bulldogs. The 6-foot-1 safety was a four-star and would find playing time for the Vols if granted a waiver.

Should the NCAA take this long to makes decisions? Would you be in favor of a one free transfer rule?

At SEC Media Days, Pruitt touched on the topic after being asked about his thoughts on the transfer portal. Pruitt said, “Well, I have a unique view because I was a transfer myself.”

Pruitt went on to say, “You know, these guys have tough decisions in making decisions where they are going to go to college, and sometimes they may not get it right. And, to me, it’s about the mental wellness of the student-athlete.”

I think Pruitt is being honest here.

I don’t believe he will be the coach that hates the transfer portal in a few years if a bunch of Vols decide to leave the program. However, there are some coaches, Nick Saban, that think the NCAA is getting too “liberal” with the waivers.

At SEC Media Days, Saban said, “I think the spirit of the transfer portal in and of itself is a positive thing for players. The issue with the transfer portal is we’ve gotten very liberal in giving people waivers, so, when we do that, it becomes free agency, which I don’t think is good for college football. I don’t think it’s good for fans.”

What? Liberal?

Tell Pruitt that. The Vols have been waiting to hear word on Aubrey Solomon since December.

Let me take being a Tennessee fan out of the equation for a second. No kid, I mean absolutely no kid should have to wait half a year on word if they get to play football or any other sport.

That’s utterly ridiculous.

Secondly, it could be so simple. If a player wants a transfer, give them one for free. If they want to transfer again, make them sit out unless they are a graduate transfer. It could be and should be that simple.

What do you think? Should the one free pass be an acceptable way to conduct the transfer portal? If so, Soloman and Gibbs would be on the field ready to take on Georgia State next month.