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The Portal - Daily College Recruiting and NIL Podcast

Locked On Podcast Network, Brian Smith
NIL
Notre Dame
Transfer Portal
Ole Miss
College Football
Penn State
Georgia
Recruiting
Alabama
SEC
NCAA
College Football Recruiting
Miami
Florida Gators
Miami Hurricanes
Florida
Ohio State University
Texas A&M
Trinidad Chambliss
College Football Playoff

The Portal is hosted by Brian Smith as he takes you through the biggest college football stories, College football recruiting, transfer portal, and NIL. Tune in for daily insights that will have impact at the local and national level. Brian Smith, a life-long recruiting fanatic, will break down the latest college football recruiting rankings, intel, commitments, evaluations from 7-on-7 and camps, ... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes602Founded3 years ago
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Artwork for The Portal

Latest Episodes

The Wisconsin Badgers pivot from tradition, prioritizing dynamic playmakers in the 2027 recruiting class. Can versatile stars like Mekhi Williams, Royalton Allen, Kingston Allen, Steele Harris, and Jai Jones elevate Wisconsin from Big Ten contender t... more

Texas A&M and Notre Dame dominate college football recruiting headlines with top-to-bottom talent. Another headline stems from elite trench prospects flocking to just a handful of powerhouse programs, with linemen like Mark Matthews (A&M), Maxwell Hi... more

Notre Dame Football surges toward a potential No. 1 recruiting class, fueled by elite blue-chip commitments and transformative trench talent. Can the Fighting Irish topple Texas A&M’s juggernaut class and solidify their place atop the 2027 recruiting... more

The Oregon Ducks stun the recruiting world by landing elite cornerback prospects Tae Walden, Jr. and Hayden Stepp, outpacing Georgia and bolstering Dan Lanning’s defensive arsenal. Can the Ducks’ recruiting surge help have a top-five class? Meanwhile... more

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Recent Guests

Alvin Mosley
Four-star wide receiver recruit from Texas
Ole Miss commitment
Episode: ALVIN MOSLEY COMMITMENT: 4-Star WR Chooses Between Texas, Ole Miss, Houston & Arkansas
DJ Jacobs
Offensive lineman recruit discussed as a major target for Ohio State
Ohio State Buckeyes recruit
Episode: UNDERRATED: Ohio State's Class IS NOT Earning Enough Respect–DJ Jacobs & Jamier Brown Lead the Way
Jamir Brown
In-state five-star receiver mentioned as a key piece in OSU's class
Ohio State Buckeyes recruit
Episode: UNDERRATED: Ohio State's Class IS NOT Earning Enough Respect–DJ Jacobs & Jamier Brown Lead the Way
Matt Sheehan
Michigan State recruiter/analyst on Spartan football
Locked On Spartans / Michigan State
Episode: UPSWING: Jack Carlson Commitment SIGNALS Michigan State’s RECRUITING Revival and Big Ten Hopes
Craig Haubert
ESPN analyst who helped run the Under Armour Camp
ESPN
Episode: CHAOS: Brendan Sorsby's Bets Ignite NCAA INVESTIGATION Possibilities | Post-Spring Portal Rankings
Ryan Herrings
Host of Locked On Badgers, guest on crossover
Locked On Badgers
Episode: EXCLUSIVE: Inside Wisconsin Badgers' BOLD Portal Moves—Luke Fickell's Roster Decisions MUST Work
Darian Mensah
Miami quarterback discussed as top talent and Heisman odds contender
Miami Hurricanes
Episode: SURGING: Miami Hurricanes Roster Ranked Top 5—Darian Mensah and Damon Wilson Will DOMINATE
John Meredith III
Top cornerback prospect mentioned in discussions
High school football recruit
Episode: 5 STARS: John Meredith III, Hayden Stepp, Censere Gaylord, Xavier Hasan & Cornerback Rankings - II
Hayden Stepp
Prominent recruit mentioned in show notes
High school football recruit
Episode: 5 STARS: John Meredith III, Hayden Stepp, Censere Gaylord, Xavier Hasan & Cornerback Rankings - II

Hosts

Brian Smith
Host of The Portal, recruiting expert with a focus on college football recruiting, NIL, and portal dynamics.
Tyler Wojciak
Co-host with deep knowledge of recruiting and cross-show dynamics, often contributing cross-network insights.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 72 ratings
  • Brian knows his stuff

    I started tuning in after hearing Brian on the Locked on Canes and ACC podcasts. He knows what he’s talking about and I highly recommend his podcast if you want to know who is up and coming….

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MiamiPiper
    United Statesa month ago
  • Best college football coverage anywhere

    Balanced, thorough, and unbiased coverage. I’ve listened to Barrett for decades. He’s continuing to get better and knows ball

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    pscrilla
    United States2 years ago
  • Bottom of the Barrel Show

    Brought to you by a bottom of the barrel person.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    mqzpwsd
    United States2 years ago
  • So glad it’s back!

    So glad Barrett is back, and it’s even more fun now that CFB season is rolling along. It’s a must listen. Came here just review bc of his Mea Culpas. Much respect for owning your wrongs for predictions. Most journalists cower.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Wi-fyemebro
    United States2 years ago
  • Best College Football Podcast!

    Barrett is the most knowledgeable college football analyst out there. The podcast is always informative and entertaining!!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Edgatorbait
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some feedback notes high-energy debates and educational breakdowns that help sponsors understand the audience.
Guests and guests' insights are frequently highlighted as valuable and engaging for staying ahead in recruiting trends.
Fans appreciate candid takes on NIL and portal impacts on class building.
Listeners praise the show for thorough, data-backed recruiting analysis and insider knowledge.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#206
Finland/Sports/Football

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

STAR POWER: Texas Adds 5-Star John Meredith & Tyler Alexander, SEC Recruiting Rankings
Q: Brian, where can listeners find your recruiting insights and shows?
Brian promotes his Portal Podcast with nightly live shows Sunday through Thursday at 9 p.m. Eastern and encourages listeners to follow The Portal for daily commitments, NIL updates, and transfers.
UPSWING: Jack Carlson Commitment SIGNALS Michigan State’s RECRUITING Revival and Big Ten Hopes
Q: The first year that you think Michigan State will have quote unquote, upper echelon quarterback play in East Lansing is what year?
Best case scenario is Alessio Milovojevic or another quarterback in the 2027–2028 window gradually developing into upper echelon play, with the expectation that by 2028 or 2029 the system and depth around him strengthen enough to reach that level.
FIREPOWER: Ole Miss Commits REVEAL New Era—With A Recent SURPRISE Commitment Included
Q: What was Stephen's first reaction to the Brendan Sorsby scenario?
Stephen and the hosts reacted with surprise and skepticism about the timing and handling of the deal, highlighting concerns about transparency and the potential fallout for both schools involved.
TIDE CLASH: Alabama's Keelon Russell and Austin Mack FIGHT for QB1—Bama's Roster IMPROVES
Q: Where do you think the Alabama quarterback situation is as we sit right here, just after spring?
The hosts lean toward Keelan Russell taking the job, citing intangibles and an offseason lead, while Austin Mack is a strong contender and would not be a shock starter if circumstances dictate.
BATTLE: Florida's QB Competition Creates QUESTIONS | Gators Land ELITE Recruit
Q: Which quarterback is better for the long term, Aaron Philo or Tramell Jones Jr and why?
Tramell Jones is favored long-term due to eligibility and potential continuity through the next couple of seasons, even if Philo has the early mental leg up and familiarity with the offense.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Portal

What is The Portal about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A daily deep-dive into college football recruiting, the transfer portal, and NIL dynamics. Expect data-driven takes, target breakdowns, and straight-ahead analysis of top targets, commitment timelines, and regional recruiting footprints. Across episodes, the show blends scouting intuition with practical insights for program strategy, money in recruiting, and how coaching staff moves shape class rankings. Notable strengths include a clear focus on trenches, NIL funding context, and a willingness to critique coaching strategies with bold, informed takes that appeal to listeners who want actionable implications for programs, PR, or sponsorships.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Portal?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Portal. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Portal and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Portal get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Portal?

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How many subscribers and views does The Portal have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Portal has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Portal?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Portal:

1. Locked On SEC – Daily College Football & Basketball Podcast
2. Locked On College Football
3. Josh Pate's College Football Show
4. Andy & Ari On3
5. The Hard Count with J.D. PicKell

How many episodes of The Portal are there?

The Portal launched 3 years ago and published 602 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Portal?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Portal?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Portal from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on The Portal?

Recent guests on The Portal include:

1. Alvin Mosley
2. DJ Jacobs
3. Jamir Brown
4. Matt Sheehan
5. Craig Haubert
6. Ryan Herrings
7. Darian Mensah
8. John Meredith III

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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