The NCAA transfer portal has become a vital tool for college athletes seeking to switch programs in hopes of advancing their careers. Xavier Carr, a football player, found the decision to transfer challenging but necessary.

“I transferred schools to better my athletic career, and it was a really hard decision to make,” Carr said.

The transfer portal, a centralized database managed by the NCAA, allows athletes to enter their names and explore opportunities at other colleges. Though streamlined, the process presents tough decisions regarding eligibility, academics, and team fit.

Carr found the portal both exciting and stressful.

“It was exciting but also terrifying because it’s such a short time to try to find the right place,” Carr said. Much of his recruitment occurred via social media. “Most of my recruitment happened on X (Twitter), and it was mostly me reaching out to coaches by sending them my film.”

Borna Kisasondi, a swimmer, also entered the portal in search of better opportunities.

“I wanted to transfer my sophomore year too; I even entered the transfer portal but way too late. Advice for everybody who wants to transfer check the date for your sport because the dates for D1 and D2 might be different. This happened to me, and because of it, I waited until March,” Kisasondi said. “My main focus was to find a place with better facilities and swimming programs; there were some problems limiting my performance.”

Kisasondi reflected on the emotional aspect of transferring.

“For me, it wasn’t a hard choice, but looking back at all of the memories as the end of the semester approaches, it is becoming harder,” he said.

Both Carr and Kisasondi had similar experiences with recruitment.

“It was the same as the recruiting process, coaches reach out to you by email or some other kind of contact,” Kisasondi said. “It was a bit more stressful because everybody wants to move up when they enter the portal and not go down to a school that’s academically or athletically worse. I also realized how many coaches see the portal as a bit of a taboo topic, most expect a negative reason behind you leaving and that wasn’t the case for me.”

The support from teammates and coaches was vital for both athletes.

“The support was great from both my coach and teammates. Coach understood my reasons for leaving and didn’t question my choice,” Kisasondi said.

Adjusting to their new environments proved challenging for both athletes.

“On the field, it’s definitely practices moving up to D1, the intensity of swimming practices skyrockets. Off the field, it must be all of the credits transferring and not having any problems with that,” Kisasondi said.

Kisasondi offered advice for athletes entering the portal.

“Most importantly, communicate with your coach. Once you enter, for the first day or two, you will see many schools reaching out, but after those first few days, it drops to maybe an email a day. Don’t let that bring you down keep searching and sending emails,” Kisasondi said.

Carr and Kisasondi both advise patience and careful planning.

“Don’t put yourself in a position where you need to leave just because you entered the portal. I entered my sophomore year and decided to come back for my junior year. Sometimes it’s better to come back, get stronger, and then have more options,” Kisasondi said.

The transfer portal has changed how athletes navigate college sports. Coaches now monitor the portal closely to recruit athletes who fit their needs.

While the portal opens new doors, it also presents challenges. Athletes must ensure academic credits transfer, meet NCAA regulations, and handle the emotional toll of leaving familiar surroundings.