The portal is how you win now, and ignoring it is how you get left behind. Austin Peay just landed a starting-caliber edge rusher from the portal who had 8.5 sacks last season. That immediate impact beats waiting three years for a three-star to develop. Your "brick by brick" approach sounds noble, but the data shows portal additions have a higher immediate success rate in production metrics. While you're hoping a kid develops, we're plugging in a proven player. The foundation is talent, and the portal is the fastest way to get it.