Which of Boise State’s transfers have a chance to make an immediate impact in 2024?

The Boise State football team has hit the transfer portal hard the past two years, but the Broncos are hoping for a better return on investment this year.

The Broncos brought in four transfers from Power Five programs last year. None of them made an impact during the 2023 season, and two of them never even saw the field.

Former Wisconsin safety Titus Toler came in with high expectations. He was a former four-star recruit and spent four seasons in the Big Ten, but he was limited in fall camp by an injury and left the team in September to focus on academics and graduation, according to a spokesperson for Boise State.

Former Iowa State defensive tackle Howard Brown was supposed to be difference maker in the trenches. He was ruled ineligible in September.

The Broncos also brought in two pass rushers: former Utah edge Tyler Wegis and former Boston College edge Kivon Wright. Wright appeared in four games and posted two tackles last season. Wegis also played in just four games, in part because of injuries, and finished with one tackle.

Boise State football coach Danielson completes staff with assistant from Penn State

Boise State did hit on a couple of transfers last year. Former junior college cornerback A’Marion McCoy earned a starting role mid way through the season and led the team with three interceptions. Former Northern Arizona nose tackle Sheldon Newton played in 13 games and finished with 22 tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss.

The Broncos added four transfers from Power Five programs again this year. Here’s a look at which of them have the best chance to make an immediate impact in 2024.

QB Malachi Nelson — The former USC Trojan is the obvious choice for the transfer who has the best chance to crack the starting lineup from day one. That’s in part because he plays the most important position on the field and because the Broncos don’t have an entrenched starter for him to compete with. Former starter Taylen Green transferred to Arkansas in December.

Nelson’s top competition will likely be redshirt sophomore Maddux Madsen, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in his only start last season. He isn’t expected to be cleared for full contact until the start of fall camp in August, Boise State football coach Spencer Danielson said.

Nelson came out of Los Alamitos High School in California as a five-star recruit after he posted 7,984 passing yards and 110 total touchdowns (105 passing) during his career. He appeared in just one game for USC last season.

DE Tavion Woodard — The Broncos desperately need a pass rusher to pair with Ahmed Hassanein, who led the team with 12.5 sacks last season. He’s the first Boise State player to finish a season with more than 10 since Curtis Weaver posted 13.5 in 2019.

Woodard, who spent the past four seasons at Ball State, might just be the piece the Broncos have been searching for. He started 20 games for Ball State and joined the Broncos with 80 career tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks. He also has the added benefit of being familiar with former Ball State defensive coordinator Tyler Stockton, who Boise State hired as its safeties coach/co-defensive coordinator in December.

WR Cam Camper — Camper has a chance to make an early impact at a position that is in flux at Boise State. Last season’s leading receiver Eric McAlister transferred to TCU. The Broncos’ second-leading receiver was running back Ashton Jeanty, who hauled in 43 passes for 469 yards and five touchdowns. Billy Bowens was third with 28 catches for 383 yards, but he exhausted his eligibility.

Boise State does expect to have Latrell Caples back after he missed last season with a knee injury. He led the team with 51 catches for 549 yards in 2022. Deep threats Prince Strachan and Austin Bolt are also expected back, but the Broncos need an all-around play maker to emerge in the passing game. Camper has the pedigree to do it. He caught 63 catches for 854 yards and three touchdowns in 15 games at Indiana. He also caught 50 passes for 858 yards and four touchdowns in two seasons at Trinity Valley Community College.

CB Jeremiah Earby — The former Cal Bear is coming in at a position where the Broncos have an abundance of experience, even after starter Jaylen Clark was indefinitely suspended after he was arrested last week on suspicion of committing several violent crimes.

Former starter Markel Reed is returning for his sixth season, but he has suffered two season-ending injuries in recent years. McCoy will enter spring ball as one of the favorites to start again, and redshirt senior Kaonohi Kaniho is also back after he played in 40 games the past four years. Earby has a chance to earn a starting spot, though. He played in 24 games the past two seasons for the Bears and posted 36 tackles, one interception, 12 pass breakups and two fumble recoveries.