Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell has revealed a key reason why some college football players are immediately removed from the team’s draft board.

Since Campbell became head coach, the Lions have operated under a clear standard of toughness and relentless competitiveness.

Campbell consistently seeks out players who are gritty and driven to succeed at the highest level of competition.

Given those expectations, it’s no shock that he avoids certain college athletes based on specific behavior patterns.

In a recent appearance on the LiucciCast, Campbell said players who transfer repeatedly during college are a major red flag for the Lions.

“If things aren’t going their way—maybe they’re not starting—and they jump ship, then do it again at the next school, that’s a problem,” Campbell said. “We’re talking about players who transfer two or three times. To me, that says you’re afraid of competition. So, we take them off our board. It’s not worth it.”

Only three of the Lions’ 2025 draft picks had transferred during their college careers, with two doing so to face tougher competition.

Isaac TeSlaa transferred from a Division II program to Arkansas, while Miles Frazier left FIU to play at LSU over his final three years.

The other was seventh-round pick Dominic Lovett, who made a move within the same conference by transferring from Missouri to Georgia.

With the NCAA transfer portal becoming more prominent, it remains to be seen whether Detroit will continue with this firm stance.

For now, though, college players hoping to wear Honolulu blue should think carefully before entering the portal.