Welcome to the Transfer Portal Team of the Week! Now that every Mountain West team’s season has officially begun, we can build a full lineup out of the top incoming transfers from week one! We’ll also highlight the best transfer performance in each facet of the game, complete with their journey to this point. Congrats to the honorees, and let us know if there are any players that you think should’ve made their way into this edition!
Team of the Week
Quarterback
Anthony Colandrea, Virginia to UNLV, Junior || W, 38-21
@ Sam Houston State || 19/23, 249 pass yards, 2 TDs, INT; 23 rush yards, TD, fumble
Running Back (2)
Rayshon “Speedy” Luke, Arizona to Fresno State, Junior || W, 42-14 vs Georgia Southern || 10 carries, 96 rush yards (career high), 3 TDs (career high), 9.6 YPCarry
Miles Davis, BYU to Utah State, Graduate || W, 28-16 vs UTEP || 12 carries, 88 rush yards, TD, 7.3 YPCarry; 6 catches (career high), 61 REC yards (career high)
Wide Receiver (3)
Danny Scudero, Sacramento State (FCS) to San Jose State, Sophomore || L, 16-14 vs Central Michigan || 9 catches (career high), 189 REC yards (career high), TD
Jacob Bostick, Texas A&M to San Diego State, Junior || W, 42-0 vs Stony Brook (FCS) || 3 catches, 56 REC yards, TD (all career highs)
JoJo Earle, TCU to UNLV, Senior || W, 38-21 vs Sam Houston State || 4 catches, 66 REC yards, fumble
Tight End
Dorian Thomas, Arizona to New Mexico, Sophomore || L, 34-17 @ #14 Michigan || 10 catches, 71 REC yards, 2 TDs (all career highs)
Offensive Tackle (2)
Jake Eichorn, BYU to Utah State, Senior || W, 28-16 vs UTEP || PFF grade of 76.9
Tyler Lawrence, Air Force to New Mexico, Sophomore || L, 34-17 @ #14 Michigan || PFF grade of 59.3
Offensive Guard (2)
Liam Wortmann, Central Missouri (D2) to Colorado State, Graduate || L, 38-21 @ Washington || PFF grade of 74.7
Bayo Kannike, Utah Tech (FCS) to San Diego State, Senior || W, 42-0 vs Stony Brook (FCS) || PFF grade of 70.1
Center
Jimmy Liston, Illinois to Utah State, Sophomore || W, 28-16 vs UTEP || PFF grade of 60.9
Defensive End (2)
August Salvati, FAU to San Diego State, Junior || W, 42-0 vs Stony Brook (FCS) || 3 tackles, 1.5 sacks, PFF grade of 79.2
Keyshawn James-Newby, Idaho (FCS) to New Mexico, Graduate || L, 34-17 @ #14 Michigan || 5 tackles, PFF grade of 71.5
Defensive Tackle (2)
De’Jon Benton, New Mexico to Hawaii, Graduate || L, 40-6 @ Arizona || 3 tackles, 2 TFLs, sack, PFF grade of 62.4
Dion Washington, Hawaii to Boise State, Senior || L, 34-7 @ USF || 3 tackles, sack, PFF grade of 61.3
Linebacker (3)
Brayden Johnson, Oklahoma Baptist (D2) to Wyoming, Senior || W, 10-0 @ Akron || 8 tackles, deflection, INT, PFF grade of 90.3
Robert Edmonson, Prairie View A&M (FCS) to Colorado State, Junior || L, 38-21 @ Washington || 8 tackles, sack, PFF grade of 63.6
Brett Karhu, Memphis to New Mexico, Graduate || L, 34-17 @ #14 Michigan || 5 tackles, 1.5 TFLs, sack, PFF grade of 62.8
Cornerback (2)
Aamaris Brown, USF to UNLV, Graduate || W, 38-21 vs Sam Houston State || 4 tackles, 3 TFLs (career high), 2 sacks (career high), Pick Six (1st of career), PFF grade of 71.9
Lemondre Joe, Missouri State to Colorado State, Senior || L, 38-21 @ Washington || 6 tackles, 1.5 sacks (career high), PFF grade of 73.9
Safety (2)
Noah Avinger, New Mexico to Utah State, Senior || W, 28-16 vs UTEP || 11 tackles, PFF grade of 63.5
Hayden McDonald, Columbia (FCS) to Nevada, Graduate || L, 46-11 @ #2 Penn State || 7 tackles, PFF grade of 72.1
Kicker
Tanner Rinker, Garden City (JUCO) to Utah State, Junior || W, 28-16 vs UTEP || 2/2 on FGs (career long of 49, 28), 2/2 on XPs
Punter
Landon Rekhow, BYU to Utah State, Sophomore || W, 28-16 vs UTEP || 7 punts for 332 yards (47.4 average), 3 downed inside the 20, long of 54
Returner
Lloyd Avant, RB, Tulsa to Colorado State, Sophomore || L, 38-21 @ Washington || 4 carries, 12 rush yards; 3 KRs for 95 yards, long of 50
Offense Spotlight: Danny Scudero
Danny Scudero did all the right things throughout his high school career. At Archbishop Mitty, he was a two-year captain that would cap his career with the 2023 San Jose male high school athlete of the year award, in addition to being a four-year baseball player and an honor roll student. He was a consensus three star recruit, but only standing 5 foot 9, no FBS school was willing to give him an offer. Sacramento State did, though, and Scudero began his collegiate career as a Hornet.
After redshirting his first year on campus, Scudero stepped up as his squad’s main slot receiver. He finished third on the team in catches, yards, and touchdowns, along with a season high eight receptions at Fresno State. Leaving no doubt that he belongs at the highest level of competition, he entered his name into the portal following the season, and came back home to San Jose State.
While the first game of the season did not go according to plan for the Spartans, Scudero did his best to give their fans a reason to keep their head held high. He finished the game with nine catches (eight of them for first downs), 189 yards, and a touchdown. Four of his grabs went for over 30 yards, including his 45 yard score, where he took a quick slant on 3rd down all the way to the house for San Jose State’s first, and only, lead of the night. His route running was on point, he was making contested catches down the field, this was a Nick Nash-esque performance for Scudero. We’ll see if his role remains as large down the stretch, but regardless, what a magical homecoming for the hometown kid. If only the Spartans could have converted on one of those late field goals…
Honorable Mention: SO TE Dorian Thomas, Arizona to New Mexico — 10 catches, 71 REC yards, 2 TDs (all career highs)
Defense Spotlight: Brayden Johnson
Under recruited out of Ringling, Oklahoma, Brayden Johnson took the long road to the Mountain West. He landed at Oklahoma Baptist University, a Division II school outside of Oklahoma City. After playing sparingly as a freshman, Johnson took over as a starting outside linebacker entering 2023. He put up over fifty tackles and five TFLs, helping the Bison reach a 6-5 record after winning just one game the year prior. His role grew larger as a junior, tying for most on the team with 71 tackles, as well as interception, fumble recovery, and blocked kick. With a long enough resume to make the jump to the FBS, Johnson entered his name into the transfer portal, and decided to become a Cowboy.
Going into the 2025 season, it was hard to predict if Johnson was going to be a starter for Wyoming or not. With several underclassmen making a name for themselves in the linebacker room, along with two other transfers, it wouldn’t have been surprising if the D2 standout took a few weeks to break into the the two deep. That was not the case, however, as Johnson started his first game as a Cowboy and dominated. He posted eight tackles, had the third highest PFF grade of any linebacker in the country (90.3), and stopped Akron’s longest drive of the night with an interception in the end zone. Without a doubt, he was Wyoming’s best defensive player in this contest. It is week one, so depth charts will inevitably shuffle, but Brayden Johnson certainly appears to be one of Jay Sawvel’s biggest playmakers going forward.
Honorable Mention: GR CB Aamaris Brown, USF to UNLV — 4 tackles, 3 TFLs (career high), 2 sacks (career high), Pick Six (1st of career), PFF grade of 71.9
Special Teams Spotlight: Tanner Rinker
As per usual, the journey to the Mountain West with the most distance covered is the special teams. Tanner Rinker was born with kicking in his DNA, as his father James played pro soccer with the Greensboro Dynamo. He went to high school in Castle Rock, Colorado, where he earned all-conference honors on the pitch, but not on the gridiron. He went 7 for 11 as a senior, nailing a 54 yarder in the process, but this wasn’t enough to him any major college offers. With his options limited, Rinker packed his bags and traveled to Louisiana to join Grambling State.
During his time with the Tigers, Rinker scored fifty total points, going 7 for 13 on his field goals. While this wasn’t a poor season, Rinker wasn’t satisfied, so he chose to go the JUCO route. Spending the 2024 season with powerhouse FBS factory Garden City Community College, he went 10 for 13 with a long of 51 yards, and led all of junior college in points for placekickers. His efforts earned him 1st team all-conference honors, which is essentially a voucher for a scholarship with any Group of Five program in the country. Rinker cashed his in at Utah State, and joined Bronco Mendenhall in Logan for 2025.
It wasn’t long after taking the field that Rinker was called upon for his first field goal attempt as an Aggie. On their first drive of the season, looking at a 4th & 20, Coach Mendenhall had little choice but send out the kicking unit. Trusting that he had found the right kicker for the job, Rinker trotted out for the 49 yarder, and drilled it for Utah State’s first points of the year. He would follow it up shortly thereafter with a chip shot in the second quarter, setting the tone for the rest of the game. They would lead by double digits the rest of the way, delivering Rinker his first win at the top level of college football, as well as his first conference award. The Mountain West gave him their Special Teams Player of the Week award, finally bestowing recognition upon a kid from Colorado that has kicked his way from state to state to follow his dream.
Honorable Mention: SO P Landon Rekhow, BYU to Utah State — 7 punts for 332 yards (47.4 average), 3 downed inside the 20, long of 54 yards
