Head coaches of college football have an especially busy month of December because it’s early signing period and transfer portal window time, and players are debating whether or not to declare for the NFL Draft. Coaches find it challenging to manage their squads because of this, and Josh Heupel, the head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers, talked about it this week.

Josh Heupel clarified during a recent press conference that it’s challenging for a coach to forecast how many roster sports they’ll have available given the current college football schedule.

Heupel stated, “I think the hardest thing in today’s landscape is the uncertainty of the numbers,” according to On3. “That can be with your entire roster.

It can be with position groups. Because of the portal, the recruitment of these guys, and I’m talking about, you know, the fact the kids will still be going into the portal here [at] end of January, you’re constantly evaluating your roster, where you’re at, what are the needs that you have? You’re looking for athletic traits. Sometimes you feel like you need experience. Other times you feel like, you know, those guys that are on campus that you need to develop and get them ready to play by the time you kick off next year.”