By Tony Thomas
Editor’s Note: This article has been updated to reflect Elijah Alston re-opening his recruitment.
The Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year, who threw for over 3,000 yards, will give Carson Beck some competition between the hedges, and Texas A&M and Mike Elko get yet another talented and productive defensive lineman via the transfer portal.
QB Reese Poffenbarger
Miami Hurricanes (from FCS Albany)
6’1”, 200 lbs.
A 3rd Team FCS All-American in 2023 by Sports Illustrated, Reese Poffenbarger led all of FCS with 3,614 passing yards and 36 touchdowns in 2023. Poffenbarger posted three games over 300 yards passing, and five games with four passing touchdowns. He also rushed for 310 yards and eight more scores.
JUST IN: Reese Poffenbarger is transfering to the University of Miami in 2024.
Take a look back at thr QB's top five passing touchdowns from the 2023 season at UAlbany.@ReesePoffenbarg | @CanesFootball pic.twitter.com/0PqkQUSS2j
— FloCollege | Football (@FloCollegeFB) January 8, 2024
Poffenbarger led the Albany Great Danes to the FCS semifinals, but it did not end well in a 59-0 loss to South Dakota State. While Poffenbarger threw for 232 yards and completed 68% of his passes, he also failed to throw a touchdown pass and threw three INTs.
In two seasons at Albany, Poffenbarger threw for 6,613 yards and 60 touchdowns (school career leader) and 17 INTs. He started his career as a walk-on at Old Dominion.
QB Jayden Maiava
Georgia Bulldogs (from UNLV)
6’4”, 227 lbs.
As a true freshman in 2023, Jayden Maiava passed for 3,085 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 10 INTs, while completing 63% of his passes. In addition, he added three rushing touchdowns. Maiava led UNLV to the Mountain West Conference Championship Game vs Boise State, which was won 44-20 by the Broncos.
First play, second quarter. @jayden_maiava 27-yard TD pass. @TrenchDawgz lead #MBCAthletics 7-0, 9:13, Q2. @HawaiiPrepWorld @Kaimuki_Fb pic.twitter.com/2Tm0RVtmyN
— Paul Honda (@PupulePaul) April 18, 2021
Maiava was named the Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year and 2nd Team All-Mountain West.
DB Kameryn Alexander
Oregon Ducks (from UTSA)
5’11”, 175 lbs.
A 1st Team All-AAC selection in 2023, Kameryn Alexander was tied for 5th in the FBS with a whopping 15 pass breakups. He also picked off 2 passes, made 34 tackles, recorded two tackles for loss and one sack for the Roadrunners of UTSA.
Alexander also received offers from West Virginia, Kentucky, Florida, and TCU. Before suiting up for the Roadrunners, Alexander played four seasons at Sam Houston.
DB Wesley Walker
Louisville Cardinals (from Tennessee)
6’1”, 200 lbs.
4th on the Tennessee team with 53 stops, Wesley Walker also recorded 3.5 tackles for loss, one sack, two pass breakups, and a forced fumble. Walker posted two games with nine tackles and recorded six tackles and a sack vs Austin Peay.
Jets shouldn't even have to use a pick to get him on draft day. The NFL should just add Tennessee DB Wesley Walker to the 53 because it's the right thing to do. pic.twitter.com/9a0DQvaH5u
— Glenn Naughton (@JNRadio_Glenn) October 12, 2022
For his college career, which includes a stop at Georgia Tech, Walker has 185 tackles and 12 pass breakups. Louisville continues to load up on talented players in the portal.
