Boise State’s Backfield Gets a Boost: Breaking Down the Broncos’ Transfer Portal Additions at Running Back
Heading into the transfer portal window, running back didn’t exactly jump off the page as a pressing need for Boise State. The Broncos had just lost Breezy Dubar and Greg Ard to the portal, but with their top two rushers - Dylan Riley and Sire Gaines - returning, plus two incoming freshmen already signed, the backfield looked solid.
Maybe a depth piece was in the cards. But two transfers?
And two with this level of upside? That’s where things got interesting.
Let’s start with Harry Stewart III, the first of the two portal additions. Stewart arrives in Boise after two seasons with the Kansas Jayhawks.
His freshman year was quiet - he redshirted after limited action - but he began to carve out a role as a redshirt freshman, finishing with 21 carries for 98 yards and a touchdown, plus five catches for 29 yards. Modest numbers, sure, but they hint at a player waiting for a bigger opportunity.
And there’s reason to believe Stewart can deliver more. Coming out of Frisco Centennial High School in Texas, he was a high three-star recruit with an 88 rating and offers from heavy hitters like Michigan, Texas A&M, Baylor, and BYU.
At 5-foot-10 and 220 pounds, he brings a physical, downhill running style that fits nicely alongside Sire Gaines. Stewart adds another power element to what Boise State affectionately calls “The Stable” - and that’s always a welcome addition in Mountain West football.
But just when it seemed like the Broncos were done at running back, they pulled off a surprise move: the addition of Juelz Goff from the University of Pittsburgh.
Goff offers a different flavor entirely. At 5-foot-9 and 195 pounds, he’s quicker, shiftier, and brings a burst of speed that jumps off the tape.
If Stewart is the thunder, Goff is the lightning. His redshirt freshman season at Pitt saw him rack up 270 yards and five touchdowns on 69 carries, while also catching 12 passes for 93 yards.
He played behind Desmond Reid, but made the most of his touches, averaging nearly four yards per carry.
There’s a lot to like about Goff’s game. His balance, vision, and ability to slip through tight spaces bring to mind past Broncos like DJ Harper and Lee Marks - backs who could change a game with a single cut. Goff’s versatility also gives the Broncos another weapon in the passing game, which adds another layer to this offense.
Naturally, the addition of a second transfer raised some eyebrows. Would this mean one of Boise State’s stars - Riley or Gaines - was on the way out?
Fortunately for Bronco fans, that’s not the case. This move wasn’t about replacing anyone.
It was about reinforcing a position that demands depth, durability, and constant competition.
And that’s the key here: depth. Running back is one of the most volatile positions in football.
Injuries, hot hands, and scheme fits can shuffle a depth chart in a hurry. Just ask Dylan Riley.
He started last season as the No. 3 back and ended it as the team’s leading rusher, surpassing the 1,000-yard mark and becoming the offense’s most reliable weapon. That kind of leap reminds us that opportunity and preparation can flip a room’s hierarchy overnight.
Adding Stewart and Goff also gives Boise State the luxury of patience with its incoming freshmen, Mariyon Sloan and Keilan Chavies. With the depth chart now stacked, the coaching staff can afford to redshirt both players and let them develop - physically and mentally - before throwing them into the fire. That’s a win for the long-term health of the program.
So, while the Broncos may not have needed to go big in the portal at running back, they saw an opportunity to elevate the room - and they took it. Stewart brings power.
Goff brings juice. And together, they give Boise State one of the deepest and most versatile backfields in the Mountain West.
Portal Grade for Running Backs: B+
This wasn’t about plugging a hole. It was about raising the ceiling. And with these two additions, the Broncos just gave themselves a lot more ways to win on the ground.