The dust has finally settled on the winter window. Honestly, if you've been following the Boise State football transfer portal saga over the last month, your head is probably spinning. It’s a lot. One day you’re hearing about a local kid staying home, and the next, your leading tackler is packing his bags for the SEC.
Spencer Danielson isn't playing games. He's been vocal about "doing things the right way," which basically means not tampering with kids before the portal officially opens. It's a noble stance in a sport that feels increasingly lawless. But does "the right way" win championships in the new-look Pac-12? That’s the question everyone in the Treasure Valley is chewing on right now.
The Brutal Reality of the Boise State Football Transfer Portal
Losing Ty Benefield hurts. There is no other way to slice it. When your leading tackler and a guy who was basically the heartbeat of the secondary decides to bolt for LSU, it leaves a massive crater. Benefield wasn't just a stat-filler; he was the type of player you build a defense around. Now, he’s headed to Baton Rouge to play for Lane Kiffin. It sucks for Bronco fans, but it's the reality of 2026 college football.
But it wasn't just him. The secondary took a massive hit across the board. Jeremiah Earby and A’Marion McCoy are out of eligibility. Zion Washington is gone. We’re talking about a near-total rebuild in the back end.
Then there's the Chris Marshall situation. He was supposed to be "the guy" in the wide receiver room after a decent 2025 campaign. Instead, he’s off to Arkansas. It feels like a revolving door sometimes. You see 19 players leave—names like Kaleb Annett and Breezy Dubar—and you start to wonder if there’s anyone left to turn out the lights at the Bleymaier Football Center.
Why the Panic is Sorta Overblown
Look, nobody likes seeing "Boise State" and "LSU" in the same sentence unless it's a bowl game matchup we're winning. But Danielson didn't just sit on his hands. He went out and snagged 11 guys who actually fit the blue-collar vibe this program tries to maintain.
Take Roman Tillmon from South Dakota. Most casual fans haven't watched a lick of Coyotes football, but the kid is a certified thumper. He had 93 tackles last year. He’s 6-foot, nearly 200 pounds, and he plays like he’s got a grudge against every ball carrier he sees. He’s likely a Day 1 starter at safety because he has to be.
And don't overlook Tyler Ethridge from CSU-Pueblo. Yeah, yeah, he's coming from the Division II ranks. I get it. But the dude is 6-foot-5, 300 pounds, and was the anchor of a line that won back-to-back conference titles. With Kage Casey headed to the NFL Draft, the left tackle spot is wide open. Ethridge isn't coming here to sit on the bench and eat Famous Dave's.
Rebuilding the "Stable" Without Jeanty
We have to talk about the elephant in the room. Ashton Jeanty isn't coming through that tunnel anymore. He’s currently trying to survive behind a shaky offensive line for the Las Vegas Raiders after going 6th overall. You don't "replace" a Heisman runner-up. You just try to find enough bodies to keep the chains moving.
The Boise State football transfer portal strategy at running back this year was about depth. Entering the fray is Juelz Goff from Pitt. He’s a different breed of back—shifty, 5-foot-9, and explosive in space. He’s not going to run over people like Jeanty did, but in Dirk Koetter’s offense, he doesn't necessarily have to. Pair him with Harry Stewart III, a Kansas transfer who originally hails from Texas, and suddenly the "stable" looks a lot more respectable.
It’s about layers. Dylan Riley and Sire Gaines are still the projected leaders, but Goff and Stewart provide the insurance you need when you're playing a physical Mountain West (or soon-to-be Pac-12) schedule.
The Quarterback Room: Stability or Stagnation?
One of the most interesting things Danielson did—or rather, didn't do—was chase a portal quarterback. There were rumors. People wanted a big name. But Danielson shot that down early.
"Maddux is our starting quarterback."
That was the quote. Simple. Direct. Maddux Madsen has earned that loyalty. Meanwhile, the Malachi Nelson experiment is officially over for the entire Northwest. After failing to beat out Madsen and moving on to UTEP, Nelson has now committed to Syracuse. It’s his fourth school. It’s a wild reminder that five-star ratings don't always translate to wins on the Blue.
By standing pat with Madsen and grooming youngsters like Cash Herrera, Boise State is betting on chemistry over "shiny object" syndrome. It's a gamble, especially when you see other G5-plus schools throwing NIL money at disgruntled Power Four backups.
Breaking Down the Newcomers
If you want to know who will actually impact the win-loss column, keep an eye on these specific names. This isn't just roster filler; these are schematic fits.
- JeRico Washington Jr. (CB, Kennesaw State): This kid was second-team All-CUSA. He has a nose for the ball—11 pass breakups last year. With our top three corners gone, he’s basically been handed a jersey and told to go lock down the opponent's WR1.
- Darren Morris (WR, Southern University): 18.8 yards per catch. Read that again. He’s a vertical threat that this offense desperately needed after losing Caples and Marshall. He’s 6-foot-2 and can fly.
- Taebron Bennie-Powell (S, Notre Dame): He didn't see much action in South Bend, but you don't get recruited by the Irish if you can't play. He’s a redshirt freshman with a massive ceiling.
It’s a mix of "proven production" from smaller schools and "untapped potential" from the big boys. It’s the classic Boise State blueprint, just updated for the portal era.
What’s Next for the Broncos?
The winter window is closed, but the spring window will be here before you know it. Usually, that’s when the "grad transfer" market heats up. Boise State still looks a little thin at interior defensive line and maybe one more veteran voice in the linebacker room.
Honestly, the biggest challenge isn't just who they brought in. It’s how fast these guys gel. You’re replacing about 60% of your defensive production. That’s a lot of new faces trying to learn a system in six months.
If you're looking for actionable insights on how to track this moving forward, stop looking at the star ratings. Start looking at "starts." Guys like Ethridge and Washington Jr. have played thousands of meaningful snaps. That matters way more than a scout’s opinion from three years ago.
Keep an eye on spring practice reports. If the secondary is getting torched in April, it might be a long September. But if Tillmon and Washington Jr. can lock things down early, this team might just cruise into their new conference with a full head of steam.
The game has changed. You either adapt or you end up like the programs that are still complaining about how things "used to be." Danielson is adapting, even if he's doing it with his own specific moral compass. It's going to be a fascinating ride.
Key Takeaways for the 2026 Season:
- Watch the Secondary: With 4 new transfers in the defensive backfield, communication will be the #1 factor in early-season success.
- The Left Tackle Battle: Tyler Ethridge is the favorite, but keep an eye on the internal development of the younger guys.
- Running Back Committee: Expect a "hot hand" approach behind Madsen. The days of one guy getting 30 carries are likely over for now.
- NIL vs. Culture: Boise State is leaning heavily on the "Blue Collar" identity to keep guys from leaving, but the Benefield departure shows that the lure of the Power Four is still massive.
Keep your eyes on the spring portal window—it's never truly over in this era of college football.