Who’s staying, who’s leaving, who’s incoming for Utah State football? Tracking 2024 decisions

Transfer portal season has arrived.

The first of two transfer portal windows opens Dec. 4, the day after the College Football Playoff and bowl matchups are finalized, and closes on Jan. 2, 2024.

Couple that with the early signing period for high school recruits, Dec. 20-22, plus possible NFL draft declarations, and the winter has become a season of extreme roster upheaval across college football.

Here’s who’s staying at Utah State, who’s leaving, plus a look at the incoming 2024 players, updated regularly.

Returning to Utah State

Blaine Spires, DE, junior.

2023 stats: Recorded statistics in 12 games, finishing with 27 tackles, including 8.5 tackles for loss, plus a forced fumble.

Robert Briggs, RB, junior.

2023 stats: Split time with Davon Booth and Rahsul Faison, rushed for 420 yards and two touchdowns on 80 carries, averaging 5.3 yards per rush.

Poukesi Vakauta, DT, senior.

2023 stats: Played in nine games, recording five total tackles, including helping on a tackle for loss.

Cooper Legas, QB, senior.

2023 stats: In nine games played, Legas led all Aggie quarterbacks with 1,815 passing yards and 19 touchdowns (he also three eight interceptions). Legas also rushed for 122 yards.

Rahsul Faison, RB, junior.

2023 stats: A dynamic change of pace running back for Utah State this season, Faison rushed for 688 yards and five touchdowns, averaging over six yards per carry. Faison had a knack for breaking off large runs, highlighted by 60-yard scamper against Idaho State and a 46-yard run against Nevada.

Davon Booth, RB, junior.

2023 stats: One of three dynamic running backs for the Aggies, Booth was the most productive of the bunch, rushing for a team-high 734 yards and five touchdowns, averaging 6.3 yards per carry.

Ike Larsen, S, sophomore.

2023 stats: First-team All-Mountain West Conference defender racked up 91 tackles and six pass breakups and 4.5 tackles for loss, while also leading the team with two blocked kicks and four interceptions, one of which was a 47-yard pick six.

Jalen Royals, WR, junior.

2022 stats: Caught 68 passes for 1,023 yards and 14 touchdowns and had four 100-yard receiving games. The 13th player in school history to post a 1,000-yard receiving season. His 14 touchdown catches are tied for the most in a single season in school history. Seven touchdown receptions of at least 50 yards this year lead the nation and his 14 touchdown receptions are the second-most in the nation.

Anthony Switzer, LB, junior.

2023 stats: Finished the regular season with 85 total tackles, 39 solo and 46 assisted. Also recorded three sacks, an interception, a fumble recovery, five quarterback hurries and four pass breakups.

Transferring from Utah State

Devin Dye, S, sophomore.

2023 stats: One of the Aggies’ most productive defenders, Dye finished fourth on the team in tackles with 44 and also had two interceptions, a forced fumble and fumble recovery and seven pass breakups.

Shively Asoau Fua, OL, junior.

2023 stats: Played in 12 games as a reserve/special teams offensive lineman.

Ralph Frias III, OL, senior.

2023 stats: Was the Aggies’ starting left tackle for most of the season.

Reggie Foster, RB, freshman.

2023 stats: Redshirted the 2023 season, without playing a single game.

Cooper Jones, RB/PR, senior.

2023 stats: Played in three games, at running back and as a punt returner. Rushed for 45 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries.

Siaosi Lauhingoa, DT, junior.

2023 stats: Played in seven games, recording a single tackle.

Vaughn Mamea, DT, junior.

2023 stats: Played in one game for the Aggies, failed to record a statistic.

Ja’ Kheo Mitchell, CB, freshman.

2023 stats: Former Dixie High School standout did not play a game for the Aggies.

Titan Saxton, S, freshman.

2023 stats: Former Sky View High School standout did not play in a game for the Aggies.

William Testa, PK, junior.

2023 stats: Made two of three field goal attempts, going 1-for-1 one on tries from 20 to 29 yards and 1-for-2 on tries from 30 to 39 yards.

Adam Tomczyk, DT, redshirt freshman.

2023 stats: Played in one game and assisted on one tackle.

Maka Tu’akoi, DE, sophomore.

2023 stats: Did not appear in any games for Utah State.

Josh Williams, LB, redshirt freshman.

2023 stats: Played in one game, did not record any statistics.

Vaughn Mamea, DL, junior.

2023 stats: Played in one game, did not record any statistics.

Transferring to Utah State

Jordan Vincent, New Mexico State, S, senior.

2023 stats: Finished with 65 tackles — 31 solo — three pass deflections and two sacks.

Gabriel Iniguez, New Mexico State, DT, sophomore.

2023 stats: Played in 15 games for the Aggies, totaling 25 tackles, including five for loss, and two sacks.

Bryce Cage, Texas State, DE, sophomore.

2023 stats: Played in nine games for the Bobcats, recording stats in three, totaling six tackles.

Bryson Barnes, Utah, QB, junior.

2023 stats: Started nine games and threw for 1,572 yards, 12 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

Miguel Jackson, Charlotte, DE, junior.

2023 stats: Recorded stats in six games, finishing the year with six tackles and two sacks.

Davon “DJ” Graham II, Oklahoma, cornerback, senior.

2023 stats: Missed the entire 2023 season with an injury. Former wide receiver turned cornerback.

Shaun Dolac, Buffalo, LB, senior.

2023 stats: Recorded 31 tackles and an inteception in four games played, before suffering season-ending knee injury. Led all of FBS in solo tackles in 2022 with 97.

Macyo “Taz” Williams, Kent State, DT, junior.

2023 stats: Had 18 tackles, including three tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks, along with two quarterback hurries in 12 games played.

Siolaa Ricky Lolohea, Oklahoma State, DT, redshirt freshman.

2023 stats: Did not play, took a redshirt season.

Will Shaffer, Arizona State, LB, redshirt sophomore.

2023 stats: Recorded stats in one game, five total tackles, while playing in four total games.

George Maile, Baylor, OL, redshirt freshman.

2023 stats: Played in all 12 games for the Bears during the 2023 season.

Trey Andersen, Pitt, OL, sophomore

2023 stats: Played in all 12 games, seeing time on special teams (point after and field goal unit) and as a reserve offensive tackle.

Spencer Petras, Iowa, QB, senior.

2023 stats: Took a medical redshirt season, rehabbing a season-ending shoulder injury from 2022. Was the Iowa Hawkeyes’ starting quarterback multiple season and finishing his career in Iowa City having thrown for 5,199 yards, 24 touchdowns and 19 interceptions.

Jadon Pearson, Utah, S, sophomore.

2023 stats: Played in four games, all on special teams, recording four tackles, including three of loss.

Exhausted/forgoing remaining eligibility

Michael Anyanwu, CB, senior.
2023 stats: Appeared in all 12 games, tallying 38 tackles, five pass breakups, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

Sione Finau, RB, senior.
2023 stats: Didn’t appear in a game this season. Previously spent four years at BYU and appeared in 21 games with two starts.

Cooper Jones, RB, senior.
2023 stats: Played in three games and carried the ball 14 times for 45 yards and a touchdown, averaging 3.2 yards per carry.

Calvin Knapp, OL, senior.
2023 stats: Played in all 12 games for the Aggies, starting multiple games.

Wade Meacham, OL, senior.
2023 stats: A regular starter for the Aggies, appeared in all 12 regular-season games.

Hale Motu’apuaka, DT, senior.
2023 stats: In 11 games played, racked up 32 tackles, including 5.5 for loss and three sacks. Also had four quarterback hurries.

Xavion Steele, CB, senior.
2023 stats: Played in 11 games, recording 17 tackles and one pass breakup.

MJ Tafisi, LB, senior.
2023 stats: Played in every regular-season game and led the Aggies in tackles with 131. Also had 7.5 tackles for loss.

2023 stats: In 12 games played, racked up 81 receptions for 847 yards and 10 touchdowns. Averaged 70.58 receiving yards per game and 10.46 yards per catch.

Levi Williams, QB, junior.
2023 stats: Played in 10 games, primarily on special teams. Famously led the Aggies to a double-overtime win over New Mexico, accounting for five touchdowns, including the game-winning touchdown run. Is foregoing remaining eligibility to attempt to be a Navy SEAL.

Utah State’s 2024 recruiting class

High school prospects

• Grayson Brousseau, TE, three-star recruit per 247 Sports and On3 Sports, two-star recruit per Rivals, Lehi High, Lehi, Utah.

• Camden Jury, OL, three-star recruit per On3 Sports, two-star recruit per Rivals and unrated recruit by 247 Sports, Casteel High, Queen Creek, Arizona.

• Tate Kjar, WR, three-star recruit per 247 Sports, two-star recruit per Rivals and unrated recruit per On3 Sports, Corner Canyon High, Draper, Utah.

• Tanner Williams, LB, three-star recruit per 247 Sports and On3 Sports, two-star recruit per Rivals, Mater Dei High, Santa Ana, California.

Junior college prospects

• Braydon Bailey, DT, unrated recruit, Golden West Community College, Huntington Beach, California.

• Marlin Dean, DL, four-star recruit per On3 Sports, and a three-star recruit per 247 Sports and Rivals, Butler Community College, El Dorado, Kansas.

• Mason Edwards, DB, unrated recruit, Hutchinson Community College, Hutchinson, Kansas.

• EJ Fisk Jr., DB, three-star recruit per 247 Sports and On3 Sports, East Central Community College, Decatur, Mississippi.

• Robert Freeman IV, WR, unrated recruit, American River College, Sacramento, California.

• CJ Nesmith, DE, unrated recruit, Fullerton Community College, Fullerton, California.

• Jared Pele, OL, unrated recruit, Navarro Community College, Corsicana, Texas.

• Terrell Taylor, DB, three-star recruit per 247 Sports and On3 Sports and two-star recruit per Rivals (coming out of high school in 2020), Golden West Community College, Huntington Beach, California.