SDSU Football Transfer Portal Roundup

Since the end of spring camp, SDSU’s football roster has undergone some revamping. The spring transfer portal window opened on April 15th and closed on April 30th for new entrants. 

Six recent Aztecs entered the portal in this window, five of whom participated in spring camp. RT Josh Simmons left the team on February 7th when he announced his intent to transfer from SDSU but was unable to officially enter the portal until the spring window opened. Simmons ultimately committed to Ohio State. 

S Patrick McMorris (California), TE Gus McGee (Charlotte), and OL Laakea Kapoi (San Jose State) have committed elsewhere, while WRs Hassan Mahasin and Jacoby Kelly are still weighing their options. 

Four players from Power 5 programs have committed to SDSU in the past several weeks.

S Deshawn Mccuin (TCU) and WR Jalil Tucker (Oregon) bring elite athleticism to their positions, while CB Tayvion Beasley (Colorado) and TE Dez Melton (Louisville) add depth. 

Beasley played his freshman season at Jackson State before transferring to Colorado to join head coach Deion Sanders in January. However, after Colorado’s spring camp, Beasley re-entered the portal and committed to SDSU. 

Undergraduate athletes are required to sit out a season after their second transfer, but Beasley falls in a gray area where both transfers occurred within the same offseason, and an accepted waiver by the NCAA is possible. 

Given SDSU’s depth at cornerback in 2023 and Beasley entering only his second year in college, sitting out the upcoming season may have been discussed with the staff already. 

Melton (6’3, 240) spent his first four years in college at Louisville, primarily as a blocking tight end. After redshirting in 2019 and only playing two snaps in 2020, he played 230 snaps the past two years, catching four passes for 88 yards on seven targets. With the losses of McGee (transfer) and Aaron Greene (retirement) after spring camp, Melton can provide blocking from the position for an offense that is looking to play more 12 and 13 personnel under new offensive coordinator Ryan Lindley. 

Currently, SDSU appears to have 81 committed scholarship players for the fall, leaving four still open. 

Potential Targets

Despite securing Melton, the Aztecs are looking for another TE. One player on their radar is JUCO transfer Elijah Johnson. The 6’5, 230lb athlete from Woodland, CA, boasts an impressive 81” wingspan. To put that measurement in context, Atlanta Falcons TE Kyle Pitts’ wingspan of 83 ⅜” at the NFL Combine in 2021 was the longest by any WR or TE in the past 20 years. 

Johnson told EVT on Thursday that SDSU is in his top 3, but he has yet to take his official visit yet.

“There’s no place like Daygo,” he said, adding that he hopes to make a decision “very soon.”

Johnson has three years of eligibility to play two and is looking for a home to finish his collegiate career. His career statistics at Sacramento City College total 23 receptions for 197 yards and two touchdowns. 

The offensive line, which many expected to be the main targeted position in the spring transfer portal, has yet to deliver an FBS commit in either transfer portal window this offseason. That may change soon as the Aztecs are pursuing several offensive linemen currently in the portal. 

One name to keep an eye on Myles Murao, a transfer from Washington. The 6’3, 319 lbs transfer played with Cooper McDonald and Mark Redman at Washington and Josh Hunter at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana. 

After redshirting in 2020 and being unable to play in 2021 due to injury, Murao played in four games in 2022 before entering the portal before it closed at the end of April. 

As a high school recruit, Murao was rated the 8th and 12th best player in California by ESPN and 247Sports, respectively. Despite playing tackle in high school, Murao was projected as an interior lineman in college, listed as the 2nd best guard by ESPN and 3rd best center by 247Sports. 

Murao battled for backup right guard reps during spring camp but was unable to make progress on the depth chart. He battled multiple knee injuries during his time at Washington that he hopes to be fully recovered from. 

Multiple sources confirmed to EVT that Murao will be headed to San Diego for a visit within the next week. Murao was not available for comment. Given Murao’s experience, he could compete immediately at center or right guard at SDSU. 

Andre Haghverdian

Avid sports fan and historian of basketball, baseball, football and soccer. UC San Diego and San Diego State alumni living in America’s Finest City. Diverse team following across multiple sports leagues, but Aztecs come first in college athletics.