Welcome back to the Transfer Portal Team of the Week! We’ve reached the home stretch of the regular season, with conference championship berths up for grabs over the next two weeks! As per usual, we have
the best lineup possible built from the top performing transfers of Week 12! We’ll also highlight the best transfer performance from each aspect of the game, complete with their journey to this point. Congrats to the honorees, and let us know if there’s anyone you think was snubbed!
Note: For the spotlight players, we’re doing our absolute best to avoid repeat selections. The main point of that section is to showcase the incredible, sometimes arduous journeys that these transfers took to reach the Mountain West. Therefore, picking players more than one time would defeat the purpose of the spotlights. If there’s a standout performance going forward that doesn’t receive top billing, that’s most likely why!
Offense Spotlight: Rocky Beers
Born and raised in Littleton, Colorado, Rocky Beers is a part of a legendary quartet of siblings that would etch their last name into college sports fans minds everywhere. His brother, Rowdy, would go on to play at FIU, while his sister, Raegan, would parlay an All-American basketball career at Oregon State into a spot on both the FIBA AmeriCup team and Oklahoma. Not to be outdone, little sister Rylie is also a college basketball player at Belmont. As for Rocky, his solid high school career wasn’t enough to earn him a ranking on any recruiting sites, but it was enough to earn him a scholarship to the Air Force Academy. Getting to play college football in his home state was a dream come true for him, so he jumped at the offer and joined them for the 2021 season.
Rocky would end up redshirting his first year on base, and worked his way into the special teams rotation as a sophomore. Though he would only record three tackles, he saw the field in eleven different games, giving him his first extended playing time on the collegiate level. Despite having a decent shot at starting for the Falcons in 2023, Rocky had a master plan that required him to enter the transfer portal. After two weeks, the plan was clear: Both he and his brother Rowdy, who was an incoming freshman, committed to FIU. The Beers bros (patent pending) packed their bags, left Colorado behind, and headed to Miami.
Playing in an offense that throws the ball for the first time in years, Rocky had to wait until his third game with the Panthers for his first career catch, a 12 yard reception against North Texas. Following one more game of zeroes on the stat sheet, his role in the offense steadily grew, as he would have at least one snag in each of his final seven games. Rocky’s best stretch came in the last three contests of the year, where he had back to back games with over 35 receiving yards and caught his first career touchdown against Western Kentucky. He’d finish the campaign ranked fifth on the team in receptions (18) and yards (158), priming him for a breakout senior year with FIU.
One half into the 2024 campaign, Rocky was looking better than ever. Facing off against future CFP participant Indiana, he hauled in four catches for 18 yards and a touchdown, not to mention that the Panthers were only down 21-7. That momentum would quickly screech to a halt, as Rocky suffered a torn hamstring in the third quarter, an injury that would sideline him for the rest of the year. The bright side was that this allowed him to redshirt and play one more season of college ball. With his brother, Rowdy, no longer listed on the roster at this point, the eldest Beers re-entered the transfer portal once it opened in December. Not long after, Jay Norvell would contact him with a chance to finish what he started at play in his home state. Rocky didn’t need much convincing, and he committed to Colorado State nine days later.
In what has been a year to forget for Ram fans, Rocky has been one of the lone bright spots for them to hang on to. After not seeing the ball in the first two games of the season, he announced his presence with four catches, 38 yards, and a touchdown against UTSA. He kept picking up steam, and played a massive role in Colorado State’s upset of Fresno State, posting a career high two touchdowns in that one. He had at least two more career outings in the tank, though, as he led the Rams with 61 receiving yards and a touchdown in their loss to UNLV. That mark was a career best for Rocky, but not for long, as he would outdo himself the very next game. Even though they fell by three points to New Mexico, he tallied a career high seven catches for 67 yards, along with his fifth touchdown of the year. While he hasn’t reached All-American status like Raegan, Rocky Beers has carved out a unique and inspiring legacy of his own on the gridiron.
Honorable Mention: JR WR Braden Pegan, UCLA to Utah State — 8 catches (career high), 109 REC yards
Defense Spotlight: Austin Brawley
Hailing from Massillon, Ohio, Austin Brawley has done nothing but produce on the football field. Despite only measuring in at 5 foot 10, he was a force on both sides of the ball in high school, ending his career with ridiculous statistics such as 1,082 receiving yards, 160 tackles, and TEN blocked kicks. This somehow wasn’t enough to get him any offers, leaving Brawley with no choice but to walk-on at Kent State ahead of the 2022 season. Then, out of the blue, Ohio head coach Tim Albin would call him and offer a full ride with the Bobcats. He committed on the spot, and just like that, Brawley had a home.
Fresh off of a 3-9 finish in 2021, Brawley was able to contribute immediately as a true freshman, playing in 13 games and amassing 20 tackles. He helped Ohio to a 10-4 record, their first double digit win season in over a decade, as well as an Arizona Bowl win over Wyoming. Sliding into a starting role as a sophomore, Brawley continued to make a consistent impact at safety. He snagged the first two interceptions of his career in back-to-back outings against Long Island and FAU, and would end the year tied for fourth on the team with 39 tackles. Brawley had more left in the tank, but a back injury would end his season prematurely.
Entering his junior campaign, Brawley was expected to be one of the stars of the Bobcats’ defense. Five games in, that was certainly the case, as he led them with 33 tackles in addition to an interception and a pass breakup. The luck would stop there though, as he wouldn’t see the field until Ohio’s MAC Championship game victory over Miami of Ohio due to “personal issues”. Following three successful years in Athens, Brawley was ready for a new challenge. He entered the transfer portal ahead of his senior season, and decided to commit to Jason Eck’s reclamation project in Albuquerque.
Brawley was penciled in as a starter and captain for New Mexico as soon as he signed, but the injury bug would return in the worst way in his season opener against Michigan. After notching four tackles and a deflection, Brawley would suffer a clean break in his right foot, stunting his breakout campaign before it could even get out of the gates. He’d miss the next nine games, but returned to action against Colorado State this past weekend. Needing to make up for lost time, Brawley dominated his first outing in two and a half months, ending the day with three tackles, 1.5 TFLs, and a career high two interceptions. The Lobos held on for a 20-17 win, keeping their conference title hopes alive, but more importantly, it proved Brawley is back to his game-changing ways at safety, and the rest of the Mountain West should look out.
Honorable Mention: JR LB Jaxton Eck, Idaho (FCS) to New Mexico — 11 tackles, 2 TFLs, 0.5 sack, PFF grade of 88.3
Special Teams Spotlight: Rayshon Luke
Nicknamed “Speedy” for his insane shiftiness on the field, Rayshon Luke was a decorated four star recruit at St. John Bosco’s in California. He held offers from some of the biggest programs in the country, including Georgia, LSU, USC, and Michigan, but ultimately, he spurned the blue bloods to commit to Jedd Fisch and Arizona. With the Wildcats coming off of a 1-11 campaign, as well as losing two of their top three running backs, Luke was on the fast track to becoming a star in Tucson.
Although he was somewhat buried on the depth chart, Luke would play in seven contests as a true freshman, ending the campaign with 105 rush yards on just 15 attempts. His best outing was on the road against Utah, where he notched 42 yards. Arizona returned their top three running backs for 2023, but Speedy was able to be utilized slightly more in the offense. He improved his rushing totals to 153 yards across 13 games, and added 95 receiving yards as well. The Wildcats ended the year at #11 in the polls, and momentum was building quickly for them. That would be ripped out from under them in the offseason, as the Nick Saban retirement dominoes eventually led to Jedd Fisch taking the head coaching gig at Washington, taking several of Arizona’s best players with him to Seattle. While many of his teammates entered the transfer portal, Luke stayed put, and was projected to be the starting running back for the first time in his collegiate career.
Unfortunately for Speedy, new showrunner Brent Brennan had other plans. Not only had he brought his best running back, Quali Conley, with him from San Jose State, but he also signed New Mexico bell cow Jacory Croskey-Merritt. Luke would be relegated to a role as a screen specialist, only carrying the ball four times through three games. Knowing his talents were being wasted, he chose to enter the portal at the end of the season, notably after only playing in four games to preserve his eligibility. Matt Entz and Fresno State would put on a full-court press to land him, which would prove fruitful one month later, as Luke officially decided to come back to his home state.
Despite the Bulldogs returning their top two backs from the year prior in Bryson Donelson and Elijah Gilliam, Coach Entz made it known as early as media days that Luke was going to be a major part of their offense. Speedy introduced himself to the Red Wave in the second game of the year against Georgia Southern, where he went off for 96 rush yards and a hat trick of touchdowns. He’s had several performances of that caliber in 2025, as he currently ranks in the Mountain West’s top ten in rush yards (587), rushing touchdowns (5), and yards per carry (6.1), all marks that lead Fresno State as well. Speedy has also been making plays in the kick return game, posting 243 in that category across 13 chances. With one year of eligibility remaining, he’ll have to decide between being the Bulldog’s offensive centerpiece in 2026 or trying to return to the Power Four, but there’s no longer any doubt regarding his talents. Luke is one of the most versatile and dynamic backs in the country, and it’s about time he’s been given the opportunity to showcase that.
Honorable Mention: SR K Joe McFadden, UConn to Nevada — 2/3 on FGs (50, 26), 7/7 on XPs
Team of the Week
Offense
Quarterback
Anthony Colandrea, Virginia to UNLV, Junior || W, 29-26 vs Utah State || 24/43, 276 pass yards, TD, INT; 29 rush yards, TD
Running Back (2)
Christian Washington, Coastal Carolina to San Diego State, Junior|| W, 17-7 vs Boise State || 9 carries, 98 rush yards
DJ McKinney Jr, Sam Houston State to New Mexico, Sophomore || W, 20-17 vs Colorado State || 17 carries, 52 rush yards, TD, fumble; 2 catches, 57 REC yards (career high)
Wide Receiver (3)
Braden Pegan, UCLA to Utah State, Junior || L, 29-26 @ UNLV || 8 catches (career high), 109 REC yards
Dakota Thomas, Western Kentucky to Nevada, Graduate || W, 55-10 vs San Jose State || 6 catches, 85 REC yards (career high)
Troy Omeire, Arizona State to UNLV, Senior || W, 29-26 vs Utah State || 4 catches, 83 REC yards
Tight End
Rocky Beers, FIU to Colorado State, Graduate || L, 20-17 @ New Mexico || 7 catches (career high), 67 REC yards (career high), TD
Offensive Tackle (2)
Tyler Lawrence, Air Force to New Mexico, Sophomore || W, 20-17 vs Colorado State || PFF grade of 67.1
Jack Foster, Idaho (FCS) to Nevada, Junior || W, 55-10 vs San Jose State || PFF grade of 63.7
Offensive Guard (2)
Bayo Kannike, Utah Tech (FCS) to San Diego State, Graduate || W, 17-7 vs Boise State || PFF grade of 69
Alani Makihele, UCLA to UNLV, Graduate || L, 42-10 vs UNLV || PFF grade of 63.3
Center
Jimmy Liston, Purdue to Utah State, Sophomore || L, 29-26 @ UNLV || PFF grade of 77.2
Defense
Defensive End (2)
Keyshawn James-Newby, Idaho (FCS) to New Mexico, Graduate || W, 20-17 vs Colorado State || 6 tackles, 2 TFLs, sack, PBU, PFF grade of 85.8
Tunmise Adeleye, Texas State to UNLV, Senior || W, 29-26 @ Utah State || 4 tackles, 2 sacks (career high), PFF grade of 58.9
Defensive Tackle (2)
Alton Tarber IV, Hinds CC (JUCO) to Colorado State, Sophomore || L, 20-17 @ New Mexico || 2 tackles, forced fumble, PFF grade of 77.8
Cohen Fuller, Coastal Carolina to UNLV, Junior || W, 29-26 vs Utah State || 3 tackles, 0.5 TFL, PFF grade of 64.5
Linebacker (3)
Jaxton Eck, Idaho (FCS) to New Mexico, Junior || W, 20-17 vs Colorado State || 11 tackles, 2 TFLs, 0.5 sack, PFF grade of 88.3
Nakian Jackson, Sacramento State (FCS) to Nevada, Junior || W, 55-10 vs San Jose State || 6 tackles, Pick Six, PFF grade of 69
Jeremy Naborne-Owens, Fullerton College (JUCO) to Colorado State, Junior || L, 20-17 @ New Mexico || 6 tackles, 2 sacks (career high), PFF grade of 57.7
Cornerback (2)
Bryson Snelling, Butte College (JUCO) to Nevada, Sophomore || W, 55-10 vs San Jose State || 3 tackles, INT, PBU, PFF grade of 83.6
Lemondre Joe, Missouri State to Colorado State, Senior || L, 20-17 @ New Mexico || 4 tackles, PBU, forced fumble, PFF grade of 83.1
Safety (2)
Austin Brawley, Ohio to New Mexico, Senior || W, 20-17 vs Colorado State || 3 tackles, 1.5 TFLs (career high), 2 INTs (career high), PFF grade of 72.1
Jake Pope, Georgia to UNLV, Sophomore || W, 29-26 vs Utah State || 9 tackles, 1.5 sacks (career high), PFF grade of 54.2
Special Teams
Kicker
Joe McFadden, UConn to Nevada, Senior || W, 55-10 vs San Jose State || 2/3 on FGs (50, 26, missed 38), 7/7 on XPs
Punter
Daniel Hughes, CC of San Francisco (JUCO) to New Mexico, Sophomore || W, 20-17 vs Colorado State || 4 punts for 183 yards (average of 45.8), 1 downed inside the 20 yard line, long of 53
Returner
Rayshon “Speedy” Luke, RB, Arizona to Fresno State, Junior || W, 24-3 vs Wyoming || 16 carries (T-career high), 92 rush yards; 3 catches, 16 REC yards; 2 KRs for 31 yards
