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The Transfer Portal Reality: Tiered Target Boards, NIL Bands, and Risk Models defined; reshaping and reloading college football overnight

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  Photo Courtesy of USC Athletics By Nate McCray The Transfer Portal has become college football’s most disruptive and indispensable mechanism for roster construction, forcing Division I programs, whether Power Five, Group of Five, or FCS, to operate with professional-level precision. Successful programs no longer “dabble” in the portal; they run full-scale personnel departments with infrastructure mirroring NFL free-agency models. At the core of this evolution is the Transfer Portal Targets Board, a living, data-driven command center that organizes talent acquisition in real time. Built for speed, accuracy, and compliance, it allows staff to manage hundreds of available players while maintaining discipline around NIL budgets, evaluation rubrics, and risk assessments. For programs at all levels, the portal is no longer simply a place to find immediate contributors, it is a competitive battleground where preparation, process, and alignment dictate success. A modern Targets Board b...
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Beyond the Depth Chart: My 36-month approach to Re-Engineering a Championship Roster for Clemson University in the Transfer Portal Era

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  Photo Courtesy of Clemson University Athletics By Nate McCray — Player Personnel Strategist & Football Operations Architect If I were the Director of Player Personnel for the Clemson Tigers, my first priority would be redefining what roster sustainability truly looks like in today’s game. We’re living in an era where championship teams aren’t built solely on tradition, they’re built on adaptability, structure, and execution. My 36-month plan wouldn’t be a guessing game. It would be a strategic roster overhaul rooted in analytics, cultural fit, and forward-looking evaluation models, all tailored to keep Clemson elite in the NIL and Transfer Portal age without compromising the program’s championship DNA.   Here’s what I would implement to engineer long-term success in Tiger Town. “Every roster reset starts with an honest audit.”   My first move would be a top-down roster evaluation: Who is contributing? Who is close to graduating or transferring? Who ...
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Rebuilding the Swamp: My Strategic Approach to Restoring Florida Football to Glory

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  Photo Courtesy of the University of Florida Athletics By Nate McCray If I Were the Incoming Head Coach at Florida If I were the newly hired head coach of the University of Florida football program, my first priority would be to rebuild the foundation of what has made Gator football one of the most iconic brands in college sports history. Florida has every ingredient, elite resources, passionate fan support, and access to world-class talent, yet the program’s recent inconsistency shows the need for a stronger internal structure. My approach would be grounded in a 36-month strategic plan designed to stabilize, rebuild, and ultimately sustain championship-level success. This plan wouldn’t just focus on wins; it would focus on systems, recruiting, roster management, NIL integration, player development, and cultural alignment.  The goal would be to restore The Swamp to what it once was, a place defined by speed, toughness, and relentless competitive pride. Year One: Stabili...
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The RB1- Blueprint: Helping Running Backs See the Game Differently

  By Nate McCray I recently went back to revisiting the film from my days as the Running Backs Coach at Carthage College in 2022.  I approached it with the eye of both a teacher and a strategist, searching for more than just the highlight runs or the box score production.   I wanted to study the nuances, the footwork at the mesh point, the patience behind double teams, the discipline in pressing the line of scrimmage before making a cut, and the resilience in finishing runs with forward lean.  I also wanted to know where  were areas of improvement to focus on. That season was more than a collection of carries; it was a lesson in how to build a room of backs who embodied toughness, vision, and reliability.   By breaking down each snap, I was able to measure how consistently we turned contact into hidden yardage, how our backs adapted to protection responsibilities, and how they developed over the course of the year into multi-dimensional players.   Wa...
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Coach McCray's Play-Calling Strategy vs. The U: From the booth; my inside approach to calling USF Bulls offense against the Miami Hurricanes

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  Photo Courtesy of University of South Florida Athletics By Nate McCray If I were the offensive play-caller for the University of South Florida Bulls, my strategy for the matchup against the Miami Hurricanes would be to built around balance, adaptability, and efficiency. To maximize our chances of victory, we must dictate the tempo, sustain drives, and force Miami’s defense to defend every blade of grass . Establishing the Offensive Identity The foundation of our approach would be to establish the run early through inside zone and power concepts, compelling Miami’s linebackers to respect the ground game and setting up explosive play-action and read-option opportunities. Protecting the quarterback will be a top priority, as Miami’s pass rush is one of their greatest strengths; we would utilize heavy 12-personnel packages, max protection looks, rollouts, and quick-hitting passes to neutralize their edge threats. Pre-snap motion, misdirection, and varied formations will be used con...
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Coach McCray’s College Football Week 1 Predictions

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  Photo Courtesy of Ohio State University Athletics By Nate McCray My Predicted score for the Ohio State – Texas Matchup:  Ohio State 28 – Texas 20 This game is poised to be a tight, low-scoring thriller driven by red-zone execution, turnover avoidance, and quarterback poise under pressure. Key Areas to Watch Julian Sayin (Ohio State) : A newcomer stepping into the spotlight. Texas will test his readiness via heavy pass rush pressure. Offensive Line Battle : Texas has revamped its O-line, replacing four starters. Ohio State’s offensive front, led by new transfers, must step up to protect Sayin while opening lanes. Jeremiah Smith (OSU WR) : A top offensive weapon—Texas’ secondary under pressure to contain him, especially since past defenders who limited him are now in the NFL. My Predicted score for the Florida St – Alabama Matchup:  Alabama 24 – Florida State 17 This game tilts in favor of Alabama, especially given talent and depth advantages. Still, the wea...
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Caleb Williams shows early comfort in Bears’ offense against Bills

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  Photo Courtesy of the Chicago Bears By Nate McCray In his preseason debut against the Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams wasted no time showcasing poise and precision in Head Coach Ben Johnson’s offense. The Bears opened the game aggressively, scripting a series that highlighted both timing and versatility in Williams’ passing game. The first play from scrimmage was a crisp play-action pass to tight end Colston Loveland on a flat route, setting the tone for rhythm-based execution. Williams followed that with a sharp three-step drop back, firing a strike to tight end Cole Kmet on a timing route. After a short curl completion of five yards, the Bears shifted to shotgun, where Williams continued to look natural, finding Colston Loveland once again to open the field. Four-for-four and 60 yards deep into the first quarter (11:29), the Bears QB1 looked as though the game was slowing down for him. Buffalo dialed up pressure on 2nd-and-5, forcing Williams to roll...
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