A former BYU player, Ben Hall (father of former BYU quarterback Jaren Hall), has expressed strong criticism of the NCAA’s current landscape, particularly its impact on high school athletes.
His main concerns include:
* Reduction of Roster Spots: Hall decries the changes to scholarship caps and the reduction of overall roster spots, which he says are robbing high school players of opportunities to play and prove themselves. He specifically mentions how “preferred walk-on” programs are being dismissed, leaving fewer chances for young athletes to develop over time.
* Emphasis on Transfers over High School Recruits: With the advent of the transfer portal and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals, college coaches are under immense pressure to win immediately. This incentivizes them to prioritize experienced transfers from the portal over developing high school players, who require a longer investment. Hall states that coaches are in a “hopeless position” where they have to choose between a proven transfer and a high schooler they can develop.
* “Shame on the NCAA”: Hall places blame directly on the NCAA and athletic directors for the financial decisions that have led to these changes, which he views as a “travesty” for high school and junior college recruiting.
Essentially, Hall believes that the current climate in college sports, driven by NIL and the transfer portal, has created an environment where high school athletes are being disadvantaged and losing out on valuable opportunities to pursue their dreams of playing college sports.
