Boise State’s transfer haul for 2026 is already starting to take shape, and a handful of those newcomers look ready to step into real roles right away.
The Broncos added 19 players through the portal after the 2025 season, pulling from Division I, Division II, Division III and junior college ranks. Among that group, 10 stand out as the most likely to contribute immediately as Boise State prepares for its first Pac-12 season.
At linebacker, 6-foot, 229-pound Brantley arrives after three seasons at Kansas and is expected to be in the fight for a starting job next to Boen Phelps. On the defensive line, 6-foot-1, 285-pound Edward brings momentum from Central Washington, where he posted 41 total tackles, including nine for loss, and seven sacks as a sophomore while earning first-team all-Lone Star Conference honors. He could be the answer at defensive tackle after Braxton Fely’s departure.
Boise State also brought in size up front with 6-foot-3, 308-pound Ethridge, a three-year starter at left tackle for Colorado State-Pueblo. He is viewed as the favorite to replace current Denver Bronco Kage Casey at left tackle.
In the backfield, 5-foot-9, 195-pound Goff comes over after appearing in 12 games for Pittsburgh last season, when he ran 69 times for 270 yards and five touchdowns. He missed spring practice because of injury, but he still has a path to becoming Boise State’s main third-down back.
Another running back to watch is Stewart III, who stood out in spring practice after spending his first two college seasons at Kansas. The 5-foot-10, 220-pound sophomore is expected to push for the No. 3 job.
Special teams should get an immediate addition too. Kellow, a 5-foot-11, 223-pound long snapper, is at his fourth school in five seasons after starting for Weber State last year. He is expected to be a Game 1 starter for the Broncos.
At receiver, Boise State added two players who should factor into the rotation. Morris, a 6-foot-1, 183-pound target from Southern University, totaled 77 catches for 1,256 yards and nine touchdowns across four seasons.
Wright, meanwhile, arrives after two productive seasons at De Anza College, where he piled up 112 receptions for 2,137 yards and 25 touchdowns. Wright will compete for a starting role in 2026.
The secondary also got help from two transfers with starting potential. Tillmon, a 5-foot-11, 185-pound defensive back from South Dakota, finished second on that team with 94 total tackles last season and can line up at safety or nickelback.
Washington Jr., a 5-foot-9, 176-pound cornerback, earned second-team all-Conference USA honors in 2024 and picked off five passes in three seasons at Kennesaw State. He could be a Game 1 starter at cornerback.
And then there’s Lane, the Division III kick return specialist from Brevard College, who committed in June and became Boise State’s 19th transfer addition. He rounds out a portal class that looks built to matter right away.
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Dylan Riley Is Becoming A Pac-12 Defining Piece For Boise State
As Boise State heads into its first season in the rebuilt Pac-12, Dylan Riley looks like one of the players who can help define what the Broncos are on offense. The sophomore turned in a breakout year, piling up 1,125 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns while earning second-team all-Mountain West honors and two Offensive Player of the Week awards, production that put him squarely on the radar as more than just another piece in the backfield.
Rileys next step may be even more important for a team trying to establish itself quickly in a new league. Boise State is expected to lean on a run-heavy approach with Sire Gaines, and Riley should see plenty of work as part of that rotation while also positioning himself for a larger third-down role down the line. For a program looking for reliable answers in a new conference setting, that kind of versatility can matter as much as the big runs. [Read more 🡒]