Football Ian Strong to the Transfer Portal

Floridahank

Sophomore
Jan 22, 2023
89
172
33
Exactly. Rutgers simply cannot compete in the big money ball game for the top flight players. Kid turned down $1M. System is out of control.
Have you all been watching our league partners in the playoffs? How in the **** are we ever getting to the level that you're seeing. The devide is increasing with each portal move. As usual, the landscape changes and it's impossible for us to keep up.
 
  • Like
Reactions: knightfan2000

bac2therac

Hall of Famer
Jul 30, 2001
250,885
179,822
113
It was only enjoyable if the player actually developed over those 3 or 4 years.

Nobody shed a tear when recruits Jalen Miller, Antonio Chol or Woolf were pushed out.
Upset we didn't have Wimsatt as a starter the last two years?

Can't have it both ways and only keep the good players for 3 or 4 years but not replace the bad players and recruiting misses.
Yeah keep running with this argument for 5 years
 
  • Like
Reactions: Knight Shift

Jerseylegends

All-Conference
Mar 15, 2023
1,677
1,761
113
I mean it sucks, but mo toure transferred and is playing in the playoffs right now. Thats a once in a lifetime experience, if you have the choice to go to a school that has a chance to compete or go to Rutgers with an unknown QB. Can't blame him, I would've thought he'd go to the league but why when you can get paid and possibly boost your stock. You have to support schiano this year because he's not going anywhere. Seems like the AD will try to get him some money along with rev share and see what he can do with it. Same with basketball, get them the resources everyone says they need and then it's no excuses, get them out of here if they can't produce. Enough is enough of sleeping giant chopping wood.
 
  • Like
Reactions: newell138

sct1111

All-American
Nov 30, 2014
6,119
8,409
113
He got offered like a highly valued #2 WR which he was. Duff clearly took over the #1 WR spot in that game Strong got hurt and never relinquished that position. Strong needs to go someplace he will be #1 WR to increase his draft stock, he wasn't going to get that here.
If he's going to a better team, he's probably not going to be a #1 receiver.
 

RUDivision

All-Conference
Jan 6, 2023
2,482
1,902
42
Losing Strong is less about money and more about our staff not having a QB ready for next year. Too many missed opportunities this year to get AJ some playing time.

Unproven QB on a losing program with no DC or staff and lame duck HC.

Decision was simple
 

Knight Shift

Heisman
May 19, 2011
90,042
87,971
113
It was only enjoyable if the player actually developed over those 3 or 4 years.

Nobody shed a tear when recruits Jalen Miller, Antonio Chol or Woolf were pushed out.
Upset we didn't have Wimsatt as a starter the last two years?

Can't have it both ways and only keep the good players for 3 or 4 years but not replace the bad players and recruiting misses.
C'mon man, that's weak sauce. Cream rises to the top. It's that way in middle school and high school athletics. Some kids spend more time on the bench. Cry me a river for the players that either did not work hard enough or just did not have it to make the two deep.
Two totally different things.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bac2therac and Kbe4

Ru-baby

All-Conference
Aug 11, 2001
6,689
3,083
66
THIS>

In the last few games against OSU and some other good competition, his productivity tailed off, and there previously had been speed questions. It's very possible he was counseled that the NFL would be a late draft pick and his BEST chance to make money was college.

The ide athat you cant get to the league from RU is farcical and should not longer be an issue. IF ANYTHING, the chance to showcase yourself on a lesser team INCREASES chances.

Like all who bleed scarlet, was hpong Duff Rayomond and Strong would see what they could do with a better D. (it can't NOT be better--my guess is GS will be more hands on and his fingerprints have always produced competitiveness---if he helmed the D and we win Minn and Iowa and are 7-4 going in to PSU think of the different storyine-AND those two games were winnable).

Yes its a new age. BUT it's always disappointing to see when RU student athletes dont bleed scarlet like those who went before.
 

iReC89

All-Conference
Jul 2, 2014
2,456
1,893
78
It seems out of control and out of character for college level "student athletes." It was much more enjoyable to watch a player come in and develop with 3 or 4 years on the same team. The constant drumbeat of give us more money that used to be for facilities and now for NIL while watching players NIL is paying for departing for another team is making the old "collegiate" sport lose its appeal.
Make all scholarships and NIL contingent on release, graduation, retirement or going pro, otherwise returned. Maybe it can get interesting again.
 
Last edited:

Ru-baby

All-Conference
Aug 11, 2001
6,689
3,083
66
Predict we will see some limitations (one time transfer, sitting out a year for more than 1 transfer, only revenue share and no outside money (SEC rises again with brown bags)) shortly as the groundswell is building.
 

Bueller

Junior
Nov 28, 2025
481
386
63
Losing Strong is less about money and more about our staff not having a QB ready for next year. Too many missed opportunities this year to get AJ some playing time.

Unproven QB on a losing program with no DC or staff and lame duck HC.

Decision was simple

If AK was coming back the situation would look different. Strong has practiced with the QBs still on the team so he knows what's on deck. RU starting a new QB is a not what a NFL level WR wants in his blooming years. GS teams have sucked at developing homegrown QBs. AK played a lot at Minn his first 2 years
 

RU#1fan

Heisman
Mar 7, 2003
23,829
12,490
113
The guy is gonna get some big payday.
Hopefully RU can keep Duff, Raymond, and Asamoah.
BTW, I'm beginning to think that maybe RU isn't cut out for the wonderful new world of big time college football and basketball. How can we compete with the rich schools if they can just buy up our best players every year ?
Spot on. We might need to reevaluate ourselves and our future in big time athletics if we can’t compete.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Kbe4

Knight Shift

Heisman
May 19, 2011
90,042
87,971
113

RUAldo

All-Conference
Sep 11, 2008
5,179
3,676
113
College football programs everywhere are dying a slow death. Every CFP game is highlighting impact players that were pulled from the portal. If there are P4 teams that have their players poached imagine what’s happening to the irrelevant conferences. And It won’t be long before the bowl games disappear. Nobody cares about them anymore because of the CFP and attendance is a joke. The sponsors will bail. Schools don’t even want to go. Bowl games used to mean something. Now they are just a sign of failure and pointless.
 

Jtung230

Heisman
Jun 30, 2005
19,319
12,449
82
The info is out there that Strong was offered $1M by Rutgers. Is that true? Maybe we will find out.
If true, can you pay Duff the same? What’s left for D? My common sense tells me no way we can afford 1mm WR. Save it for a QB.
 

Knight Shift

Heisman
May 19, 2011
90,042
87,971
113
If true, can you pay Duff the same? What’s left for D? My common sense tells me no way we can afford 1mm WR. Save it for a QB.
Unofficial word was RU had somewhere around at least $8-10 M last year. Unofficial word is Keli has sifnidi improved that amount. Strong was woth that amount, but we will likely see him leave where his talents will be on display on a bigger stage with an experienced QB.
 

Jtung230

Heisman
Jun 30, 2005
19,319
12,449
82
Unofficial word was RU had somewhere around at least $8-10 M last year. Unofficial word is Keli has sifnidi improved that amount. Strong was woth that amount, but we will likely see him leave where his talents will be on display on a bigger stage with an experienced QB.
It’s all unofficial I guess. What’s official is that we don’t bring in anyone that’s an impact player. It doesn’t feel like we are coming out ahead in the portal. Feels like we are losing more than gaining from the portal.
 

Knight Shift

Heisman
May 19, 2011
90,042
87,971
113
It’s all unofficial I guess. What’s official is that we don’t bring in anyone that’s an impact player. It doesn’t feel like we are coming out ahead in the portal. Feels like we are losing more than gaining from the portal.
Are we talking about last season?
I think we did well with the offense. The defense needed better players, and the ones they brought in did not work out.
Hopefully they learned a lesson going forward and into this year. Hope springs eternal, and we can hope they bring in better defensive talent next year. Greg has said he will take a transfer QB if the right one comes availalble.
 

Knight Shift

Heisman
May 19, 2011
90,042
87,971
113
It’s all unofficial I guess. What’s official is that we don’t bring in anyone that’s an impact player. It doesn’t feel like we are coming out ahead in the portal. Feels like we are losing more than gaining from the portal.
BTW, there is a live podcast right now. The $1M figure is being tossed around for Strong.

 

Jtung230

Heisman
Jun 30, 2005
19,319
12,449
82
Are we talking about last season?
I think we did well with the offense. The defense needed better players, and the ones they brought in did not work out.
Hopefully they learned a lesson going forward and into this year. Hope springs eternal, and we can hope they bring in better defensive talent next year. Greg has said he will take a transfer QB if the right one comes availalble.
DT was good. The RB and the tackle both got hurt early. Who else contributed on O? D was a disaster. I’ll wait and see if we bring in enough guys that matches the 8-10m payroll
 

Knight Shift

Heisman
May 19, 2011
90,042
87,971
113
If the 1mm is true, I see why Duff posted what he posted. Get that shopping list ready.
The chatter (and it is chatter) is that players wanting to go to a winning program and the players are tired of losing. Money matters. Maximizing your value in view of what other teams can provide for your position. Some of these kids may not get a great shot or any shot at the NFL. It's about (1) maximizing earning potential while in college; (2) optimizing your draft stock being at a winner and at a place where you will get the best opportunity to showcase your talents.

This is not a direct knock on Schiano or Rutgers. Flip back to Mendoza and the reasons @rutgersguy2 quoted from Mendoza himself why he chose Indiana.

EDIT- Eli Holstein at Pitt just entered the portal from Pitt, a pretty decent school for QBs. Guessing for similar reasons to Mendoza.

 

-RUFAN4LIFE-

Heisman
Feb 28, 2015
33,905
52,614
113
Listed as 3rd round pick in a few mock drafts

so now it’s better to get 2 million from Ohio st then to enter the draft ???

this was not the purpose of NIL
This is completely stupid
That's not the feedback he received from the NFL, it was Day 3.
 

-RUFAN4LIFE-

Heisman
Feb 28, 2015
33,905
52,614
113
The 2 must important players to retain are Duff and Raymond

Ian Strong as WR 2 can be replaced.

I expected Strong to leave

The football program is not going to hell because of Ian Strong departing !
Not really, it's cost/benefit. Due to the lower amount of funds that RU has, every player has a fair market value to the program. Once their premium gets to far beyond that number, need to let them move on so they can fill all their needs. That's still the case even this year with the extra funds that Zinn raised because they have so many needs to fill.
 

-RUFAN4LIFE-

Heisman
Feb 28, 2015
33,905
52,614
113
  • Like
Reactions: tru2ru1

Jtung230

Heisman
Jun 30, 2005
19,319
12,449
82
The RU offer that Strong turned down was larger than the top of the WR range in that link.
I’m not sure how a day 3 WR is worth 1mm. The fact he turned it down is even more stunning. If he can get that money from a CFP contender, good for him.
 
  • Like
Reactions: LOU-RU85

-RUFAN4LIFE-

Heisman
Feb 28, 2015
33,905
52,614
113
I’m not sure how a day 3 WR is worth 1mm. The fact he turned it down is even more stunning. If he can get that money from a CFP contender, good for him.
Remember with revenue share, the amounts these guys are getting offered has increased substantially. He's getting offered a bit more than the RU offer but a lot of this move is all about draft stock positioning.
 

yesrutgers01

Heisman
Nov 9, 2008
122,686
38,449
113
Remember with revenue share, the amounts these guys are getting offered has increased substantially. He's getting offered a bit more than the RU offer but a lot of this move is all about draft stock positioning.
There is so much money available now that last year’s prices in the article posted are not even close to what players are going to get this year. And it also seems like Rutgers should have money to spend as well. As we hear somewhere in the $8-9 mil already raised plus almost $12-15 M from revenue sharing.
And it shows as we did offer $1 for Strong.
It seems he just decided, “how the F do I improve my stock here with an unproven QB, and I’m tired of being happy with 6 wins”
As for his skills. When you watch film, he already does what the NFL looks for. He runs good routes, catches everything, gets at the ball and catches with his hands. He may not have breakaway speed but he doesn’t embarrass himself there either. And he has NFL size.
Out of Rutgers, there is a chance he is a day 3. If he goes to one of the elites, his exposure goes up significantly. And he is at least a round 3.
and he gets to have much more fun.
 
Last edited:
The Knight Report

Latest

  1. 01 The Knight Report Chin, Walker named to Comeback Player of the Year Watch List
  2. 02 The Knight Report Rutgers Football Fall Camp: Get 75% off The Knight Report - Final Day!
  3. 03 The Knight Report Rutgers announces new traffic, parking changes for football game days
  4. 04 The Knight Report 2026 Rutgers Football Mobile Wallpaper
  5. 05 The Knight Report 2028 Illinois EDGE Kristian Chadick adds Rutgers Football Offer