Welcome back to the Transfer Portal Team of the Week! After a wild week two that saw eight Mountain West teams come away with wins, let’s compile this week’s lineup of top performing transfers! 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 what players you think should have been recognized that we missed!
Team of the Week
Offense
Quarterback
Anthony Colandrea, Virginia to UNLV, Junior || W, 30-23 vs UCLA || 15/21,
203 pass yards, 3 TDs; 59 rush yards
Running Back (2)
Scottre Humphrey, Montana State (FCS) to New Mexico, Junior || W, 32-22 vs Idaho State || 18 carries, 141 rush yards, 2 TDs
Rayshon “Speedy” Luke, Arizona to Fresno State, Junior || W, 36-27 @ Oregon State || 12 carries, 86 rush yards, TD
Wide Receiver (3)
Brady Boyd, Texas Tech to Utah State, Senior || L, 44-22 @ #19 Texas A&M || 6 catches, 87 REC yards
Danny Scudero, Sacramento State (FCS) to San Jose State, Sophomore || L, 38-7 @ #7 Texas || 7 catches, 66 REC yards, fumble
Jordan Brown, Texas Tech to Nevada, Senior || W, 20-17 vs Sacramento State || 4 catches, 55 REC yards
Tight End
Var’Keyes Gumms, Arkansas to UNLV, Senior || W, 30-23 vs UCLA || 3 catches, 40 REC yards, TD
Offensive Tackle (2)
Zach Cochnauer, Central Arkansas (FCS) to Nevada, Senior || W, 20-17 vs Sacramento State || PFF grade of 74.8
Jack Foster, Idaho (FCS) to Nevada, Junior || W, 20-17 vs Sacramento State || PFF grade of 64.6
Offensive Guard (2)
Liam Wortmann, Central Missouri (D2) to Colorado State, Graduate || W, 21-17 vs Northern Colorado || PFF grade of 74.3
Hadine Diaby, Tennessee Tech (FCS) to Nevada, Junior || W, 20-17 vs Sacramento State || PFF grade of 62.2
Center
Reid Williams, Chattanooga (FCS) to UNLV, Graduate || W, 30-23 vs UCLA || PFF grade of 65.4
Defense
Defensive End (2)
Keyshawn James-Newby, Idaho (FCS) to New Mexico, Graduate || W, 32-22 vs Idaho State || 4 tackles, TFL, deflection, PFF grade of 88
Vili Taufatofua, Utah to San Jose State, Senior || L, 38-7 @ #7 Texas || 5 tackles, sack, deflection, PFF grade of 76.3
Defensive Tackle (2)
De’Jon Benton, New Mexico to Hawaii, Graduate || W, 37-20 vs Sam Houston State || 5 tackles, TFL, PFF grade of 68.4
David Latu, BYU to Boise State, Senior || W, 51-14 vs Eastern Washington || 3 tackles, 0.5 sack, PFF grade of 80.2
Linebacker (3)
Jadon Pearson, Utah State to Fresno State, Graduate || W, 36-27 @ Oregon State || 16 tackles, deflection, PFF grade of 63.3
Jaxton Eck, Idaho (FCS) to New Mexico, Junior || W, 32-22 vs Idaho State || 15 tackles, PFF grade of 70.9
Jacob Ellis, Iowa State to Colorado State, Senior || W, 21-17 vs Northern Colorado || 8 tackles, 2 TFLs, PFF grade of 86.7
Cornerback (2)
Jaden Mickey, Notre Dame to Boise State, Junior || W, 51-14 vs Eastern Washington || 7 tackles, TFL, fumble recovery, PFF grade of 80.8
Jahari Rogers, SMU to Colorado State, Graduate || W, 21-17 vs Northern Colorado || 5 tackles, INT, PFF grade of 73
Safety (2)
Noah Avinger, New Mexico to Utah State, Senior || L, 44-22 @ #19 Texas A&M || 6 tackles, INT, PFF grade of 70.7
Jake Pope, Georgia to UNLV, Junior || W, 30-23 vs UCLA || 11 tackles, PFF grade of 56.8
Special Teams
Kicker
Joe McFadden, UConn to Nevada, Senior || W, 20-17 vs Sacramento State || 2/2 FGs (37,40), 2/2 XPs
Punter
Oscar Doyle, Weber State (FCS) to Boise State || W, 51-14 vs Eastern Washington || 2 punts for 107 yards (avg. of 53.5), 1 i20, long of 59
Returner
Damon Bankston, RB, Weber State (FCS) to New Mexico, Graduate || W, 32-22 vs Idaho State || 6 carries, 28 rush yards, TD; 55 yard catch; 3 KRs for 83 yards (avg. of 27.7), long of 49
Offense Spotlight: Scottre Humphrey
A three-star recruit from Seattle, Scottre Humphrey somehow went completely under the radar for the FBS, with his only offers coming from Montana State and Portland State. He chose the former and traveled east to join the Bobcats.
Almost as if to prove a point to the programs that wrote him off, Humphrey went ballistic in his first-ever collegiate game against Utah Tech. With 114 yards and three touchdowns, it was the first time in program history a true freshman had reached the century mark in their debut. His 2023 campaign ended with over 400 rushing yards and eight scores, putting him in line to be the bell cow as a sophomore. That’s exactly what happened, with Humphrey making national headlines thanks to his 1,386-yard, 16-TD season, averaging an absurd seven yards per carry on his way to an FCS All-American nod. He also made his first foray into the Mountain West, with the Bobcats upsetting New Mexico in Week 0 in large part due to his 140 yards and a house call with ten seconds to go. Now that the highest level of college football was paying attention, Humphrey decided to enter the transfer portal. Despite receiving interest from several P4 schools, including Ole Miss, he chose to return to the field he had torched a few months earlier, joining the Lobos for 2025.
Even with Humphrey as the crown jewel of Jason Eck’s portal class, there was still plenty of competition in the running back room. Three other FCS starting ball carriers committed to New Mexico during the cycle, including 1K-yard rusher Damon Bankston from Weber State. Regardless, there was no hesitation for Coach Eck when he was asked who his starter was at media days in August, and his answer was the same when the 2025 season kicked off. After struggling in game one against Michigan, Humphrey looked like his old dominant self against Idaho State, finishing with 141 yards and two touchdowns. The first was a 61-yarder in the second quarter, and the second was the finishing blow from one yard out with less than two minutes to play. With a performance like that under his belt, there’s no doubt left to be had: Scottre Humphrey is one of the Mountain West’s best backs, and he’s coming to a program near you soon. Watch out!
Honorable Mention: JR QB Anthony Colandrea, Virginia to UNLV — 15/21, 203 pass yards, 3 TDs; 59 rush yards
Defense Spotlight: Jadon Pearson
No journey through the transfer portal has had more twists and turns than Jadon Pearson’s. The two-star prospect out of Gilbert, Arizona, had offers from all three service academies and ultimately committed to Air Force out of high school. He played in two games during the 2020 season before going the JUCO route and joining Reedley College in California. Pearson excelled there, finishing the year as the 34th-ranked junior college recruit in the nation and earning offers from schools like Florida State, Utah, and Oregon State. He would end up settling on the Utes as his next program.
In 2022, Pearson saw his most action yet, posting five tackles across twelve contests. Ready to step into a larger role, it was unfortunate that his junior year wouldn’t be nearly as productive. He only played in three games and would end up redshirting to preserve a year of eligibility. Once again, Pearson took his chances in the transfer portal, looking for his fourth home in five years. He committed to Utah State, remaining in the same state but rejoining the conference he departed as a freshman. While the Aggies didn’t have a banner year on the field, the now well-traveled veteran was able to see his first extended playing time at the FBS level. Pearson tallied 42 tackles and three TFLs, showcasing a great mix of athleticism and football IQ. With Bronco Mendenhall coming to Logan and the new JUCO ruling giving him one final year of college football, he jumped into the portal for the fourth and final time, choosing to return to The Golden State and play for Fresno State.
It’s been a long time coming, but the moment for Jadon Pearson to officially arrive is here. As the Bulldogs’ starting MIKE linebacker, he’s been the heart and soul of their defense through three games. After posting a career-best 12 tackles in their Week Zero loss to Kansas, Pearson had the best game of his career last week against future conference foe Oregon State. With 16 tackles and a deflection, he easily walked away with the Mountain West’s Defensive Player of the Week award, as well as the biggest win of Matt Entz’s tenure so far. Going forward, there’s no reason to expect anything less than an 80-tackle campaign from the established defender. By combining everything he learned from his time at five schools, three conferences, and three states, it appears Pearson has finally become a star at the collegiate level — right before the buzzer.
Honorable Mention: SR LB Jacob Ellis, Iowa State to Colorado State — 8 tackles, 2 TFLs, PFF grade of 86.7
Special Teams Spotlight: Joe McFadden
Hailing from Southlake, Texas, McFadden’s time in the college ranks began at UConn. He began contributing immediately, serving as the Huskies’ primary kicker and punter, going 12-for-17 on field goals. Unfortunately, a torn ACL robbed him of his sophomore season and hampered his performance the year after. He would only convert 53.8% of his field goals in 2023, in addition to missing three extra point attempts. McFadden entered the transfer portal following the year but struggled to find his next home. Needing a way to financially support himself, he packed his bags and moved to Wall Street to become a mortgage securities broker.
The lifestyle and security were enticing, but they didn’t compare to being on the gridiron. Hoping for another chance at football, McFadden took a video of himself kicking field goals against the RFK Bridge and posted it to Twitter/X. Nevada special teams coordinator Parker Henry was on the hunt for the Wolf Pack’s next placekicker and had his man after stumbling upon one of the most unique recruiting tapes of all time.
McFadden’s return to the field happened at Happy Valley against #2 Penn State, where he converted a chip-shot 28-yarder to get himself on the right track for the rest of the 2025 season. His services were much more necessary in the following game against Sacramento State, where he was called on to try a 37-yard attempt midway through the second quarter and a 40-yard attempt before the end of the half. McFadden drilled both of them, along with two extra points, making him Nevada’s leading scorer on the day for their 20–17 win. There may be no better example of the opportunities and life experiences that the transfer portal provides. It doesn’t work out that way for all players, but for Joe McFadden, it pressed pause on the rest of his life to allow him to follow his dream one more time.
Honorable Mention: GR RB/KR Damon Bankston, Weber State (FCS) to New Mexico, Graduate — 6 carries, 28 rush yards, TD; 55 yard catch; 3 KRs for 83 yards (avg. of 27.7), long of 49 yards
