Pittman wanting tighter window

DESTIN, Fla. — Arkansas football Coach Sam Pittman spoke openly at SEC Spring Meetings about his want for the NCAA transfer portal window to tighten in the future.

The NCAA put in place transfer portal windows for 2022-23 to try to regulate when players were allowed to enter. There was a 45day window from Dec. 5 to Jan. 18, and another 15-day window from April 15-30.

“Here is what I believe: if you’re going to go in the portal, I believe you know it a little while before,” Pittman said. “It’s like selling a house. Like I said before, house coming soon for sale, and that’s kind of what the kids are doing now. If they know they’re going in the portal, they’ll say on portal day I’m going to go in. I don’t think it would be unjust for the kid to cut it down.”

Pittman said quality of life in May for coaches across the board is “not very good right now.” And he is hopeful that a two-week window will replace the 45-day window during the winter.

“You’re out on the road trying to recruit high school kids, but yet you have some portal guys on campus, so you have to bring the position coach back,” Pittman said. “Well, do you bring the coordinator back? Well, if you don’t, you’re probably not going to get him.

“I think the window is too long. I don’t think [shortening it is] being unfair to the kids.”

Asked about roster turnover with the Razorbacks since the end of the 2022 season, Pittman said there were two or three players who went into the transfer portal that he was “very disappointed” about. Overall, though, he was not surprised by the number of players who exited the program.

“I’ve turned that all around and I’m telling them I don’t want anybody going in the portal,” Pittman said. “At least they’ll know we’re not trying to kick any of you off the team or invite you to leave. There was a lot, but if you add in the walk-ons that went in there, too, all those numbers are added together.

“[It was] probably about what I expected, to be honest with you.”