Welcome to the Transfer Portal Team of the Week! This is an ongoing series where each week Jack makes the best possible lineup using the Mountain West’s many incoming transfers based on a specific theme. Some weeks will be more serious than others, but every edition will get you more familiar with the conference’s fresh faces.
Last time around, we built the three best offenses possible with the Mountain West’s incoming transfers (link is here). We’re turning to the defensive side of the ball this
week, highlighting the 36 most impactful transfers that will be snagging interceptions, terrorizing quarterbacks, and making game-changing plays throughout 2025. This list has it all, from former five star recruits, to coach’s sons, and a player named Donut. Enjoy!
1st team:
DE1: Keyshawn James-Newby, Idaho to New Mexico, Senior
DE2: JaQues “Donut” Evans, Baylor to Colorado State, Graduate
DT1: Naki Fahina, New Mexico State to Utah State, Graduate
DT2: Jalen Lee, LSU to UNLV, Graduate
LB1: Jaxton Eck, Idaho to New Mexico, Junior
LB2: Justin Flowe, Arizona to UNLV, Junior
LB3: Jacob Ellis, Iowa State to Colorado State, Senior
CB1: Noah Avinger, New Mexico to Utah State, Graduate
CB2: Laterrance Welch, Arizona State to UNLV, Senior
SAF1: Jaheem Joseph, West Virginia to UNLV, Graduate
SAF2: Murvin Kenion III, Sacramento State to Nevada, Graduate
2nd team
DE1: Chief Borders, Pitt to UNLV, Junior
DE2: Moso Tuitele, New Mexico to Colorado State, Junior
DT1: Brian Booker, Texas Southern to New Mexico, Junior
DT2: Keanu Mailoto, Arizona to Boise State, Junior
LB1: Mister Williams, Incarnate Word to San Diego State, Graduate
LB2: Enock Sibomana, North Dakota State to Wyoming, Senior
LB3: Jadon Pearson, Utah State to Fresno State, Graduate
CB1: Dainsus Miller, Mercer to Wyoming, Senior
CB2: Denver Harris, UTSA to UNLV, Senior
SAF1: Austin Brawley, Ohio to New Mexico, Senior
SAF2: Josiah Cox, New Mexico State to San Diego State, Junior
3rd team
DE1: Sterling Lane II, Arizona to Boise State, Junior
DE2: Finn Claypool, Drake to Fresno State, Graduate
DT1: Malachi Finau, Hawaii to San Diego State, Junior
DT2: De’Jon Benton, New Mexico to Hawaii, Graduate
LB1: Nahji Logan, Indiana to Nevada, Graduate
LB2: Ky’won McCray, Jacksonville State to New Mexico, Graduate
LB3: K’Vion Thunderbird, Arizona State to Fresno State, Sophomore
CB1: Lemondre Joe, Missouri State to Colorado State, Senior
CB2: Frankie Edwards III, Weber State to New Mexico, Sophomore
SAF1: Jake Pope, Georgia to UNLV, Junior
SAF2: Derek Ganter Jr, Eastern Washington to Boise State, Junior
Team Tally:
- UNLV (7)
- New Mexico (6)
- Colorado State (4)
- Boise State, Fresno State, San Diego State (3)
- Nevada, Utah State, Wyoming (2)
- Hawaii (1)
The lone team to not have a transfer make the list (besides Air Force) was San Jose State. After losing a conference-low eight transfers in total throughout both cycles, the Spartans didn’t have a ton of needs to address. They did add big-time former corner recruits in Caleb Presley from Washington and Maliki Crawford from USC, but neither had enough of a track record to make this list.
