2025 Mountain West Transfer Team of the Year: Honorable Mentions, Overall Trends

At long last, we’ve reached the end of the regular season, and it’s time to recognize the most impactful transfers from across the conference. Over the next three days, you’ll read the journeys of 78 different

players that left their mark on the conference this year. Enjoy the ride, and let us know which transfers made you jump out of your seat the most this season!

If you missed the 1st team, 2nd team, or 3rd team, those links are right there for you to check out. To put a bow on the Team of the Year, we’ll go over the honorable mentions, and then we’ll dive into the numbers that this process revealed. Curious about what conference produced the best Mountain West players? Or which team’s were elite in their scouting and roster selection? Find out below!

Note: If players have been in the weekly spotlight, the full write-up on their journey will be linked if you are interested in more details on their career. Also, rankings in parentheses are the players’ Mountain West rank unless otherwise noted.

Honorable Mentions:

Note: Asterisk denotes a player that has announced their intention to enter the transfer portal.

Boise State (2)

• JR CB Jaden Mickey
  • Career timeline: Notre Dame (‘22-‘24) → Boise State (‘25)
    • Stat line: 33 tackles, 7 TFLs, sack, 5 PBUs, FR, 2 FFs (T-MW lead), PFF Grade of 64.7
• SO CB Sherrod Smith
  • Career timeline: College of San Mateo (JUCO) (‘24) → Boise State (‘25)
    • Stat line: 12 tackles, 0.5 TFL, INT, 5 PBUs, PFF Grade of 70.8

Colorado State (5)

• SR WR Tay Lanier
  • Career timeline: New Mexico (‘21-‘22) → Northern Arizona (FCS) (‘23-‘24) → Colorado State (‘25)
    • Stat line: 35 catches, 315 REC yards, 2 TDs; 9 yard pass completion
• JR LB Jeremy Naborne-Owens
  • Career timeline: Fullerton College (JUCO) (‘23-‘24) → Colorado State (‘25)
    • Stat line: 35 tackles, 4 TFLs, 2 sacks, PFF grade of 57.5
• GR ED Paul Tangelo
  • Career timeline: Lackawanna College (JUCO) (‘21-‘22) → St. Francis (PA) (FCS) (‘23-‘24) → Colorado State (‘25)
    • Stat line: 19 tackles, 3 TFLs, 2 sacks, PBU, Scoop N’ Score, PFF grade of 54.7
• GR CB Jahari Rogers
  • Career timeline: Florida (‘20) → SMU (‘21-‘24) → Colorado State (‘25)
    • Stat line: 32 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, 0.5 sack, INT, 8 PBUs, PFF grade of 62.5
• GR S Jake Jarmolowich
  • Career timeline: Holy Cross (FCS) (‘21-‘24) → Colorado State (‘25)
    • Stat line: 72 tackles, 5 TFLs, sack, PBU, forced fumble, PFF grade of 56.6

Fresno State (2)

• SO WR Ezekiel Avit
  • Career timeline: Maryland (‘23-‘24) → Fresno State (‘25)
    • Stat line: 25 catches, 226 REC yards; 10 yard rush
• SO DT Martin Owusu
  • Career timeline: Minnesota (‘23-‘24) → Fresno State (‘25)
    • Stat line: 22 tackles, TFL, 2 PBUs, PFF grade of 64.2

Hawaii (3)

• JR WR Brandon White
  • Career timeline: Kentucky (‘22-‘24) → Hawaii (‘25)
    • Stat line: 35 catches, 365 REC yards, TD; 4 carries, 36 rush yards
• GR LB Giovanni Iovino
  • Career timeline: Washington State (‘21) → San Diego (FCS) (‘23-‘24) → Hawaii (‘25)
    • Stat line: 31 tackles, 3 TFLs, sack, Pick Six, PFF grade of 51.6
• FR P Billy Gowers (ProKick Australia)
  • Stat line: 46 punts for 2,136 yards (average of 46.4), 20 downed inside the 20 yard line, 2 touchbacks, long of 67

Nevada (7)

• SO RB Herschel Turner Jr
  • Career timeline: Utah State (‘24) → Nevada (‘25)
    • Stat line: 69 carries, 353 rush yards; 3 catches, 6 REC yards
• SR WR Jordan Brown*
  • Career timeline: Kansas (‘20-‘21) → Texas Tech (‘22-‘24) → Nevada (‘25)
    • Stat line: 16 catches, 183 REC yards
• SR WR Dakota Thomas
  • Career timeline: Western Kentucky (‘20-‘22) → Copiah-Lincoln CC (JUCO) (‘23) → Southern Miss (‘24) → Nevada (‘25)
    • Stat line: 26 catches, 269 REC yards, TD
• SR TE Jett Carpenter*
  • Career timeline: Eastern Washington (FCS) (‘21-‘24) → Nevada (‘25)
    • Stat line: 35 catches, 374 REC yards, 2 TDs
• JR G Hadine Diaby
  • Career timeline: Tennessee State (FCS) (‘23-‘24) → Nevada (‘25)
    • Stat line: 141 snaps, PFF grades of 53.7 OVR, 44.8 PBLK, 53.5 RBLK
• SR CB AJ Odums
  • Career timeline: New Mexico (‘21-‘22) → UTEP (‘23-‘24) → Nevada (‘25)
    • Stat line: 50 tackles, TFL, 9 PBUs (T-3rd in MW), PFF grade of 80.8
• JR CB Ed Rhambo
  • Career timeline: Northern Arizona (FCS) (‘22-‘23) → Bowling Green (‘24) → Nevada (‘25)
    • Stat line: 35 tackles, 0.5 TFL, 9 PBUs (T-3rd in MW), PFF grade of 71.6

New Mexico (6)

• (RET) SO RB DJ McKinney
  • Career timeline: Sam Houston State (‘23-‘24) → New Mexico (‘25)
    • Stat line: 4 punt returns for 71 yards, TD; 3 kick returns for 46 yards
• JR RB Scottre Humphrey
  • Career timeline: Montana State (FCS) (‘23-‘24) → New Mexico (‘25)
    • Stat line: 77 carries, 349 rush yards, 5 TDs; 3 catches, 22 REC yards, TD
• GR LB Ky’won McCray
  • Career timeline: Independence CC (‘21) → Jacksonville State (‘22-‘24) → New Mexico (‘25)
    • Stat line: 37 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, sack, 2 PBUs, fumble recovery, forced fumble, PFF grade of  71.5
• SO CB Frankie Edwards III
  • Career timeline: Weber State (FCS) (‘24) → New Mexico (‘25)
    • Stat line: 47 tackles, 0.5 TFL, PFF grade of 71.5
• SR S Caleb Coleman
  • Career timeline: Hutchinson CC (‘20) → West Virginia (‘21-‘22) → Texas State (‘23-‘24) → New Mexico (‘25)
    • Stat line: 32 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, sack, INT, 2 PBUs, PFF grade of 63.4
• GR CB/RET Abraham Williams
  • Career timeline: Weber State (FCS) (‘21-‘23) → Idaho (FCS) (‘24) → New Mexico (‘25)
    • Stat line: 22 tackles, 3 PBUs, PFF grade of 67.5; 6 kick returns for 96 yards

San Diego State (5)

• JR QB Jayden Denegal
  • Career timeline: Michigan (‘22-‘24) → San Diego State (‘25)
    • Stat line: 58.8%, 1,807 pass yards, 9 TDs, 8 INTs; 99 rush yards, 4 TDs
• SR RB Byron Cardwell Jr
  • Career timeline: Oregon (‘21-‘22) → Cal (‘23-‘24) → San Diego State (‘25)
    • Stat line: 47 carries, 261 rush yards, TD; 5 catches, 108 REC yards, TD
• JR RB Christian Washington
  • Career timeline: New Mexico (‘22-‘23) → Coastal Carolina (‘24) → San Diego State (‘25)
    • Stat line: 88 carries, 486 rush yards, 3 TDs; 3 catches, 18 REC yards, TD
• SR LB Mister Williams
  • Career timeline: Colorado (‘20-‘22) → Incarnate Word (FCS) (‘23-‘24) → San Diego State (‘25)
    • Stat line: 54 tackles, 3 TFLs, 2 PBUs, PFF grade of 71.8
• (RET) JR WR Donovan Brown
  • Career timeline: Syracuse (‘22-‘23) → Monroe University (JUCO) (‘24) → San Diego State (‘25)
    • Stat line: 3 kick returns for 68 yards

San Jose State (2)

• Career timeline: Washington (‘23-‘24) → San Jose State (‘25)
  • Stat line: 22 tackles, TFL, 2 PBUs, PFF grade of 68.9
• JR DT Solomone Langi
  • Career timeline: Snow College (JUCO) (‘23-‘24) → San Jose State (‘25)
    • Stat line: 19 tackles, 1.5 TFLs, 0.5 sack, PFF grade of 73.4

UNLV (11)

• JR RB/RET Jaylon Glover
  • Career timeline: Utah (‘22-‘24) → UNLV (‘25)
    • Stat line: 62 carries, 379 rush yards, TD; 6 catches, 51 REC yards; 16 kick returns (2nd in MW) for 312 yards (5th in MW)
• GR RB Keyvone Lee
  • Career timeline: Penn State (‘20-‘22) → Mississippi State (‘23-‘24) → UNLV (‘25)
    • Stat line: 96 carries, 433 rush yards, 6 TDs; 18 catches, 152 REC yards
• SR WR Troy Omeire
  • Career timeline: Texas (‘20-‘22) → Arizona State (‘23-‘24) → UNLV (‘25)
    • Stat line: 30 catches, 505 REC yards, 5 TDs (T-7th in MW)
• JR TE Var’Keyes Gumms
  • Career timeline: North Texas (‘21-‘22) → Arkansas (‘23-‘24) → UNLV (‘25)
    • Stat line: 11 catches, 168 REC yards, 3 TDs
• SR DE Tunmise Adeleye
  • Career timeline: Texas A&M (‘21-‘22) → Michigan State (‘23) → Texas State (‘24) → UNLV (‘25)
    • Stat line: 44 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, 6 sacks (T-10th in MW), 3 PBUs, PFF grade of 70.5
• JR DE Chief Borders
  • Career timeline: Florida (‘21-‘22) → Nebraska (‘23) → Pitt (‘24) → UNLV (‘25)
    • Stat line: 26 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, fumble recovery, forced fumble, PFF grade of 71.9
• GR DT Jalen Lee
  • Career timeline: Florida (‘20-‘22) → LSU (‘23-‘24) → UNLV (‘25)
    • Stat line: 30 tackles, 2 TFLs, sack, fumble recovery, forced fumble, PFF grade of 57.8
• FR LB Isaiah Patterson
  • Career timeline: UCLA (‘24) → UNLV (‘25)
    • Stat line: 40 tackles, TFL, 0.5 sack, PBU, PFF grade of 53.6
• JR CB Andrew Powdrell
  • Career timeline: Montana State (FCS) (‘23-‘24) → UNLV (‘25)
    • Stat line: 59 tackles, TFL, 5 PBUs, PFF grade of 59.5
• JR S Mumu Bin-Wahad
  • Career timeline: West Virginia (‘22) → UConn (‘23) → Navarro College (JUCO) (‘24) → UNLV (‘25)
    • Stat line: 30 tackles, 0.5 TFL, PBU, fumble recovery, forced fumble, PFF grade of 68.4
• SO S Jake Pope
  • Career timeline: Alabama (‘22-‘23) → Georgia (‘24) → UNLV (‘25)
    • Stat line: 79 tackles, 3 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, INT, 4 PBUs, PFF grade of 50.7

Utah State (4)

• (RET) JR RB Javen Jacobs
  • Career timeline: Arizona State (‘22-‘23) → New Mexico (‘24) → Utah State (‘25)
    • Stat line: 8 kick returns for 135 yards, 8 punt returns for 31 yards
• SR CB Bryson Taylor
  • Career timeline: New Mexico (‘22-‘24) → Utah State (‘25)
    • Stat line: 28 tackles, 2 TFLs, 5 PBUs, PFF grade of 71.6
• SO LB Mataira Brown
  • Career timeline: Snow College (JUCO) (‘24) → Utah State (‘25)
    • Stat line: 31 tackles, TFL, 0.5 sack, INT, PBU, PFF grade of 68.7
• SO P Landon Rehkow
  • Career timeline: BYU (‘23-‘24)
    • Stat line: 61 punts for 2,607 yards (average of 42.7), 18 downed inside the 20 yard line, 4 touchbacks, long of 63

Wyoming (4)

• JR RB Terron Kellman*
  • Career timeline: Northern Illinois (‘22) → Charlotte (‘23-‘24) → Wyoming (‘25)
    • Stat line: 65 carries, 331 rush yards, 4 TDs; 5 catches, 52 REC yards
• GR LB Ethan Stuhlsatz
  • Career timeline: Butler CC (JUCO) (‘22) → Lindenwood (FCS) (‘23-‘24) → Wyoming (‘25)
    • Stat line: 41 tackles, 1.5 TFLs, PBU, PFF grade of 76.3
• SR CB Dainsus Miller
  • Career timeline: Marshall (‘22) → Mercer (FCS) (‘23-‘24) → Wyoming (‘25)
    • Stat line: 27 tackles, 3 TFLs, 5 PBUs, forced fumble, PFF grade of 75.4
• JR P Bart Edmiston
  • Career timeline: Jones College (JUCO) (‘23-‘24) → Wyoming (‘25)
    • Stat line: 65 punts for 2,997 yards (average of 46.1), 20 downed inside the 20 yard line, 10 touchbacks, long of 68

Overall Trends

First, here are all eleven Mountain West teams (Air Force doesn’t have any interest in this, I promise) ranked by the percentage of transfers that made the 1st, 2nd, 3rd team, or honorable mention list:

1. New Mexico: 19/48 – 39.58%
2. Utah State: 11/37 – 29.73%
3. Nevada: 8/28 – 28.57%
4. Colorado State: 8/31 – 25.81%
5. Fresno State: 7/39 – 17.95%
6. UNLV: 8/48 – 16.67%
7. San Diego State: 6/37 – 16.22%
8. Hawaii: 4/25 – 16%
9. Boise State: 3/19 – 15.79%
10. San Jose State: 3/26 – 11.54%
11. Wyoming: 2/20 – 10%

Next, here’s the team rankings if we assign a basic point system. Five points for 1st teamers, three points for 2nd teamers, and one point for 3rd teamers.

1. New Mexico // 55 points (Five 1st teamers, eight 2nd teamers, six 3rd teamers)
2. Utah State // 43 points (Six 1st teamers, four 2nd teamers, one 3rd teamer)
3. Fresno State // 23 points (Two 1st teamers, four 2nd teamers, one 3rd teamer)
4. Nevada // 20 points (Two 1st teamers, two 2nd teamers, four 3rd teamers)
5. Colorado State // 20 points (Two 1st teamers, two 2nd teamers, four 3rd teamers)
6. UNLV // 18 points (Two 1st teamers, one 2nd teamer, five 3rd teamers)
7. San Diego State // (Two 1st teamers, two 2nd teamers, two 3rd teamers)
8. Hawaii / 16 points (Three 1st teamers, one 2nd teamer)
9. San Jose State // 11 points (Three 1st teamers, one 3rd teamer)
10. Wyoming // 8 points (One 1st teamer, One 2nd teamer)
11. Boise State // 7 points (One 2nd teamers, One 3rd teamer)

Before we go through the analysis of our data, let’s take a look at where the 129 players we honored transferred in from!

Total by FBS conference (best player in parentheses)

1. Big 12: 18 players (Fresno State JR/RET RB Rayshon “Speedy” Luke)
2. Big 10: 10 players (Utah State JR WR Braden Pegan*)
3. ACC: 8 Players (UNLV JR QB Anthony Colandrea)
4. Mountain West: 8 players (Utah State SR S Noah Avinger)
5. SEC: 7 players (New Mexico JR DE Darren Agu)
6. American: 6 players (UNLV GR CB Aamaris Brown)
7. CUSA: 6 players (Colorado State SR CB Lemondre Joe)
8. Independent, Sun Belt: 2 players (Nevada SR K Joe McFadden)
9. MAC: 1 player (New Mexico SR S Austin Brawley)

Total by competition level:

1. FBS: 68 players (UNLV JR QB Anthony Colandrea)
2. FCS: 36 players (San Jose State SO WR Danny Scudero)
3. JUCO: 13 players (UNLV JR CB Quandarius Keyes)
4. D2: 5 players (Wyoming SR LB Brayden Johnson)

Teams with two players or more from 2024 roster featured in the TOTY

1. Idaho: 7 (New Mexico JR LB Jaxton Eck/JR QB Jack Layne/GR DE Keyshawn James-Newby)
2. BYU, New Mexico: 4 (BYU to Utah State GR RB Miles Davis)
3. Weber State, Sacramento State, UCLA, Arizona, Utah State, Texas State: 3 (Weber State to New Mexico GR RB/RET Damon Bankston)
4. Purdue, Utah, USF, Utah Tech, Texas Tech, Minnesota, St. Francis (PA), Montana State, Kentucky, Arizona State, Pitt, Mercer: 2 (Utah Tech to Utah State JR S Brevin Hamblin)

Last but not least, we’ve broken each team into a category based on the quality and quantity of their 2025 transfer portal class.

Clear Winners

New Mexico, Utah State

The Lobos went 9-3 off of their FCS all-star team, somehow landing nearly 40% of their transfers on our list despite tying UNLV for the most transfers added in the past cycle with 48. Jason Eck did have some layups with his starters from Idaho following him, seven of them to be exact, but his lethality in identifying capable talent at lower levels and finding overlooked young guns like tight end Dorian Thomas from Arizona is a sight to behold. If only the computers gave them a shot at pulling off the 2021 Utah State (if you know, you know).

Speaking of, Bronco Mendenhall also had a great year in the portal, leading all Mountain West squads with six players named to the first team. As with Eck, he brought stars like running back Javen Jacobs and safety Noah Avinger with him from Albuquerque to Logan, but he found a nice balance of neglected Power Four talents and lower level breakouts. The 2026 cycle will be both of these coaches first without the safety net of their prior stop, so it will be interesting to watch how their approach changes as January 12th looms.

Miss 100% of the shots you don’t take

UNLV, San Diego State

Despite their on-field success, our rankings had the Rebels and Aztecs at the middle of the Mountain West pack. Upon closer inspection, it’s clear that the overall strategy for these two programs was to gather a solid pool of potential stars, leaving them with room to work if some of their “home run” signings didn’t pan out. Dan Mullen had to rebuild his roster from scratch, so even with only eight selections to the Team of the Year, it’s impossible to call his class anything but a success with conference Offensive Player of the Year Anthony Colandrea leading the charge. On the flip side, Sean Lewis brought back plenty of talent from his first season in San Diego, and looked for high upside transfers with experience. This helped the Aztecs finish 9-3, with transfers such as guard Kalan Ellis and safety Dwayne McDougle were key to their resurgence. As long as nothing unexpected guts their roster, both of these teams should have the luxury of being more selective in 2026.

Needed a few key pieces, and found them

Boise State, Hawaii, Fresno State

Similar to the last section, these teams only needed help in specific areas and used the rest of their class to swing for the fences. The Broncos top priority last cycle was to find a new punter and kicker, both of whom made the TOTY. Over on the islands, the Rainbow Warriors rebuilt their defensive tackle room with several solid pickups, including 2nd team selection Qwyn Williams from Division II Ohio Dominican. They also notably added Stanford WR Jackson Harris, who was dominant all season long before announcing his intention to re-enter the portal ahead of their bowl game. As for the Bulldogs, Matt Entz had to find production in the skill positions. The quarterback additions were somewhat underwhelming, but running back Rayshon Luke was a revalation for their offense. He also poached two TOTY selections from Utah State in linebacker Jadon Pearson and corner Simeon Harris.

Good on paper, not so much on the field

Nevada, Colorado State

Interestingly, the Rams and Wolf Pack finished top five in both rankings despite combining for 19 losses in 2025. Jay Norvell focused his efforts on adding proven starting level talent from the Group of 5, with him landing standouts like 1st team corner Lemondre Joe and running back Lloyd Avant. Even with over a quarter of their transfers making our list, they relied heavily on some big swings that just didn’t pan out. JacQues “Donut” Evans had 106 tackles for Western Kentucky in 2022, and transferred to CSU with sky-high expectations after redshirting the year prior for Baylor. He only played in five games, even though Coach Norvell had said he expected Evans to be “one of the best defenders in the conference”. As for Jeff Choate and Nevada, they’re continuing to take the long road to rebuilding, which is starting to feel like pushing a boulder up a hill. Even with additions like star safety Murvin Kenion III and three offensive lineman that made the TOTY, the Wolf Pack only won three games as Choate’s career record moved to 6-19.

Back to the drawing board

San Jose State, Wyoming

Finally, we have the two programs that faired the worst in our rankings, and their record reflected that. Picked second in the Mountain West preseason polls, San Jose State was arguably the biggest disappointment of the year, posting their worst record since 2018. Ken Niumatalolo continues to find bona fide elite wide receivers in the portal, with Danny Scudero narrowly missing out on the Biletnikoff award, but he’s now entering the portal. The Spartans also didn’t add many transfers on the defensive side of the ball, and regressed from the seventh best scoring defense in 2024 to the worst in the conference in 2025. One of the smartest coaches around, San Jose State is in good hands with Niumatalolo, but he clearly needs to adjust his approach from this past cycle. Wyoming entered year two of the Jay Sawvel era with hopes a return to form, but that never came to fruition. The Cowboys had some of the best finds of anyone with D2 linebacker Brayden Johnson showing NFL caliber talent, but with this being their worst two season stretch since 2014-2015, Sawvel will have to find a new avenue to get Wyoming back to consistently competing in the Mountain West.

At long last, we’ve reached the end of the Team of the Year series. Thank you to everyone who’s checked it out, and thank you to everyone who’s followed along with the weekly editions up until this point! This TOTY project is easily the biggest project I’ve ever done, so if you enjoyed, just share it with another Mountain West fan and argue about how wrong it is to have Tunmise Adeleye as an honorable mention (that’s my fault, it was too late when I saw how good his stat line was). Keep an eye out for the start of our Transfer Team of the Week for basketball beginning soon, as well as a redux version of the Team of the Year once the portal has settled down!