Mountain West Transfer Portal Team: Week 14

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Welcome back to the Transfer Portal Team of the Week! The final week of the regular season was by far the craziest, with the dust settling to another UNLV versus Boise State conference championship! As per usual, we have the best lineup possible built from the top performing transfers of Week 14! 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 what your favorite portal pickup of the season has been!

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: Javen Jacobs

Hailing from Chandler, Arizona, Javen Jacobs was destined for the gridiron. His father, Jacori, was a running back at Iowa State, and his older brother Josiah played linebacker at Sacramento State. Explosive, versatile, and impossible to corral in space, Jacobs built a storied career at Saguaro High School, earning state offensive player of the year honors while leading the Sabercats to their first-ever state title. Nearly 3,000 all-purpose yards later, he held offers from nine programs—including Colorado, Air Force, Army and Yale—but his heart was set on representing the Grand Canyon State. He chose to walk on at Arizona State, just a short drive from home.

Jacobs’ path to handoffs as a true freshman was blocked by the arrival of Wyoming transfer Xazavian Valladay, but he made himself indispensable on special teams. In his debut season, he fielded seven punts and four kick returns for 123 yards, with his first career touch going for 47 yards against Utah. Entering 2023, opportunity seemed to be opening with Valladay off to the NFL—until some transfer named Cam Skattebo arrived and seized the starting role. Four games in, Jacobs had just three carries and a handful of returns, and with no clear path to real snaps, he elected to redshirt and enter the transfer portal. One month later, he signed on with Bronco Mendenhall’s rebuild at New Mexico.

Unlike in Tempe, Jacobs immediately stepped into a feature role with the Lobos. Slotted as the lightning-fast complement to Iowa State transfer Eli Sanders, he became a matchup nightmare—part running back, part wide receiver, part return threat. Through seven games he tallied 277 rushing yards, 130 receiving yards, and four total touchdowns. But his breakout season was cut short by injury following a two-score performance against Utah State. After the Lobos finished 5–7, Mendenhall bolted for Utah State, and six New Mexico players—including Jacobs—followed him to Logan.

Though his jersey changed from cherry red to Aggie blue, Jacobs’ role remained unchanged. He became the ultimate Swiss Army knife in Mendenhall’s offense, posting career highs across the board: 405 rushing yards, 333 receiving yards on 38 catches, and seven touchdowns in the regular season. His late-season surge has been electric. He delivered back-to-back fourth-quarter touchdown runs to knock Fresno State out of the Mountain West title race, then torched Boise State for 145 total yards. His 56-yard touchdown sprint in the second quarter stunned Albertsons Stadium, even if the Broncos ultimately escaped with a win.

Two years into his Mountain West career, the former high school phenom is proving he belongs among the conference’s elite. And with another year ahead, Javen Jacobs is still just scratching the surface of what he can become.

Honorable Mention: SO WR Jackson Harris, Stanford to Hawaii — 4 catches, 153 REC yards (career high), TD (5th straight game w/ TD catch)

Defense Spotlight: Sherrod Smith

A two-way star at Menlo-Atherton High School in East Palo Alto, Sherrod Smith flashed elite potential on both sides of the ball. He posted nearly 1,000 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns on offense while racking up 91 tackles as a defensive standout. At 6-foot-1 with fluid hips and natural instincts at corner, it’s surprising he drew little attention from Division I programs during the 2024 recruiting cycle. With few options and plenty of untapped upside, Smith opted to stay close to home, enrolling at College of San Mateo—one of the premier JUCO programs in the country and a team that hadn’t lost more than two games in a season since 2018.

Once he pulled on a Bulldogs uniform, Smith never looked back. He delivered a stellar freshman campaign, tallying 34 tackles, six pass breakups, and four interceptions across 12 games—earning all-conference honors as San Mateo rolled to another state championship. By season’s end, FBS interest had arrived in full. After considering Old Dominion, Boise State, Utah State, and UTEP, the California native committed to Boise State and headed north to The Gem State.

Smith entered 2024 projected to be part of the Broncos’ cornerback rotation, but he found himself buried behind three proven seniors: A’Marion McCoy, Jeremiah Earby, and Davon Banks. He grabbed his first career interception against Appalachian State, but otherwise recorded no official stats through the team’s first seven contests. His role began to expand late in the season, and when Banks was dismissed from the program, a starting spot unexpectedly opened. Smith got the call in Boise State’s pivotal showdown with Utah State—and he responded in a massive way. He posted career highs with seven tackles, half a tackle for loss, and two pass breakups, helping the Broncos escape with a one-point win and punch their ticket back to the Mountain West Championship Game. Aggies quarterback Bryson Barnes finished the night with a completion percentage of just 40.6%—the lowest by a Utah State passer since 2022.

Smith has flown under the radar for most of his football career, but every time he’s been asked to step up, he’s delivered. If his breakout performance is any indication, Boise State may need him to play a similarly crucial role in the conference title game, the bowl game, and whatever comes next.

Honorable Mention: SR DE Niles King, Grand Valley State (D2) to San Diego State — 5 tackles, 2.5 sacks, PFF grade of 84.5

Special Teams Spotlight: Bart Edmiston

A native of Ocean Springs in southern Mississippi, Bart Edmiston had kicking talent in his DNA. Not only was his grandfather a kicker for Florida, but his father also played for the Gators, earning All-SEC honors and winning a national championship in 1996. The youngest Edmiston would kick and punt for his high school, going 23-2 during his two years on the team. Even with a solid output and name recognition, he was left without an FBS offer. He took his chances and moved a few hours north to in-state JUCO Jones College, joining them for the 2023 season.

Edmiston would pull double duty for the Bobcats, and he did so incredibly well. He went 9/13 on field goals with his longest being from 48 yards out, and he set multiple school punting records, including a whopping 22 punts downed inside the twenty-yard line. He would earn a host of awards as a freshman, such as MACCC Special Teams Player of the Year and NJCAA second-team All-American. Transitioning to a full-time punter as a sophomore, Edmiston improved the majority of his stats while cutting his touchbacks in half. With no doubt left as to whether he belonged at the top level of college football like his predecessors, Edmiston looked for an FBS school to call home. He would eventually come into contact with Jay Sawvel at Wyoming, who had to replace their starting punter, Jack Culbreath. It was a perfect fit, and the Mississippi kid flew all the way north to play for the Cowboys.

Though the 4-8 finish wasn’t ideal, Edmiston’s consistency has been one of the few bright spots for Wyoming fans to hold on to. With their season wrapped up, he ends the year sitting atop the Mountain West in punts and punting yards, as well as second in the country in the latter stat. Edmiston ended the year on an absolute tear, amassing over 300 yards in his final five contests. His 46.1 yards per boot is a Cowboys school record, and he likely broke a few other marks throughout his junior campaign. Now building a legacy of his own, Bart will have to decide between trying to rewrite the conference record books next year for Wyoming or trying his luck in the transfer portal. Regardless, his talent is no longer a question.

Honorable Mention: GR RB Malik Sherrod, Fresno State to Boise State — 4 carries, 16 rush yards; 6 catches, 56 REC yards, 3 KRs for 62 yards; 1 PR for 1 yard

Team of the Week

Offense

Quarterback

Anthony Colandrea, Virginia to UNLV, Junior || W, 42-17 @ Nevada || 15/22, 270 pass yards, TD, 2 INTs; 27 rush yards, TD

Running Back (2)

Javen Jacobs, New Mexico to Utah State, Junior|| L, 25-24 vs Boise State || 5 carries, 92 rush yards (career high), TD; 4 catches, 53 REC yards

Lloyd Avant, Tulsa to Colorado State, Sophomore || L, 42-21 vs Air Force || 3 carries, 11 rush yards, TD; 8 catches (career high), 135 REC yards (career high)

Wide Receiver (3)

Jackson Harris, Stanford to Hawaii, Sophomore || W, 27-7 vs Wyoming || 4 catches, 153 REC yards (career high), TD (5th straight game w/ TD catch)

Donovan Brown, Monroe (JUCO) to San Diego State, Junior || L, 23-17 @ New Mexico || 5 catches (T-career high), 91 REC yards (career high), TD

Tay Lanier, Northern Arizona (FCS) to Colorado State, Senior || L, 42-21 vs Air Force || 9 catches, 73 REC yards, TD

Tight End

Cade Keith, TCU to New Mexico, Freshman || W, 23-17 vs San Diego State || 25 yard GW TD catch in double OT

Offensive Tackle (2)

Zach Cochnauer, Central Arkansas (FCS) to Nevada, Junior || L, 42-17 vs UNLV || PFF grade of 65.4

Jake Eichorn, BYU to Utah State, Senior || L, 25-24 vs Boise State || PFF grade of 65

Offensive Guard (2)

Alani Makihele, UCLA to UNLV, Graduate || W, 42-17 @ Nevada || PFF grade of 63.2

Bayo Kannike, Utah Tech (FCS) to San Diego State, Senior || L, 23-17 @ New Mexico || PFF grade of 61.9

Center

Jimmy Liston, Purdue to Utah State, Sophomore || L, 25-24 vs Boise State || PFF grade of 72.1

Defense

Defensive End (2)

Niles King, Grand Valley State (D2) to San Diego State, Graduate || L, 23-17 @ New Mexico || 5 tcakles, 2.5 sacks, PFF grade of 84.5

Keyshawn James-Newby, Idaho (FCS) to New Mexico, Graduate || W, 23-17 vs San Diego State || 4 tackles, 2 TFLs, sack, forced fumble, PFF grade of 86.4

Defensive Tackle (2)

De’Jon Benton, New Mexico to Hawaii, Graduate || W, 27-7 vs Wyoming || 2 tackles, 1.5 TFLs, 0.5 sack, PFF grade of 79.9

Amari Comier, Diablo Valley (JUCO) to San Diego State, Junior || L, 23-17 @ New Mexico|| 2 tackles, sack, PBU, PFF grade of 76.3

Linebacker (3)

Jaxton Eck, Idaho (FCS) to New Mexico, Junior || W, 23-17 vs San Diego State || 11 tackles, 0.5 TFL, fumble recovery, PFF grade of 66.2

Jacob Ellis, Iowa State to Colorado State, Senior || L, 42-17 vs Air Force || 10 tackles, 0.5 TFL, PFF grade of 66.7

Ethan Stuhlsatz, Lindenwood (FCS) to Wyoming, Graduate || L, 27-7 @ Hawaii || 7 tackles, 1.5 TFLs, PFF grade of 68.3

Cornerback (2)

Sherrod Smith, San Mateo (JUCO) to Boise State, Sophomore || W, 25-24 @ Utah State || 7 tackles, 0.5 TFL, 2 PBUs (all career highs), PFF grade of 77.1

Simeon Harris, Utah State to Fresno State, Junior || W, 41-14 @ San Jose State || TFL, 2 INTs, PFF grade of 78.8

Safety (2)

Austin Brawley, Ohio to New Mexico, Senior || W, 23-17 vs San Diego State || 10 tackles, sack, INT, forced fumble, PFF grade of 86.4

Noah Avinger, New Mexico to Utah State, Senior || L, 25-24 vs Boise State || 11 tackles, 2.5 TFLs (career high), sack, PBU, fumble recovery, PFF grade of 66.7

Special Teams

Kicker

Colton Boomer, UCF to Boise State, Junior || W, 25-24 @ Utah State || 2/3 on FGs (27, 32, missed 43), 1/1 on XPs

Punter

Bart Edmiston, Southern Miss to Wyoming, Junior || L, 27-7 @ Hawaii || 7 punts for 312 yards (average of 44.6), 2 downed inside the 20 yard line, TB, long of 66 yards

Returner

Malik Sherrod, RB, Fresno State to Boise State, Graduate || W, 25-24 @ Utah State || 4 carries, 16 rush yards; 6 catches, 56 REC yards, 3 KRs for 62 yards; 1 PR for 1 yard

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