The transfer portal is in full swing right now, with every team trying to take advantage of the madhouse by pulling talented players to give them a boost going into next season. With all of the talent available, it’s hard to keep track of the best players in the portal with so many names entering.
Enter CFN’s very own Mountain West Conference transfer portal rankings.
Top 10 Mountain West Transfer Portal Departures in 2023
Find all other top transfer portal departures from each conference around the country: ACC | AAC | Big Ten | Big 12 | CUSA | MAC | Pac-12 | SEC | Sun Belt
10) T. J. Crandall, CB, Colorado State
A true freshman this year, T.J. Crandall cracked the starting lineup in Week 5 and didn’t look back. Crandall played all over the Colorado State secondary and even moonlighted on special teams as well.
Crandall finished second on the team in pass breakups. The 6’1″ DB built a successful freshman season and will look to be an impact starter elsewhere.
9) Mark Redman, TE, San Diego State
Former four-star recruit Mark Redman finished second among all Mountain West tight ends with 413 receiving yards this season, including a 77-yard performance against Oregon State. The former Washington Husky finished with just one drop and could be a solid chain mover for another team with a better passing offense.
8) Drew Azzopardi, OT, San Diego State
The Mountain West doesn’t often get thought of as an offensive line hotbed, but they had plenty of talent this season.
MORE: 2023 All-Transfer Portal Team
One of them was Drew Azzopardi, a redshirt freshman who took over the starting right tackle job in Week 7 and responded well. Azzopardi allowed just one sack in his six starts this past season. The 6’7″, 315-pound tackle showed enough to contend for a starting job elsewhere.
7) Brayden Schager, QB, Hawaii
The Mountain West’s leading passer this season, Brayden Schager operated Hawaii’s Run-and-Shoot to a highly productive season. The Dallas native has the arm talent and gunslinger mentality that will appeal to plenty of Power Five teams, and he should be a hot commodity in the portal.
6) Fernando Carmona, OT, San Jose State
Another talented offensive tackle, Fernando Carmona is a redshirt sophomore with almost 1,000 snaps under his belt already. After a rough 2022, Carmona finished 2023 with just two sacks allowed and 12 pressures allowed in 12 games.
One of the best Group of Five tackles this season, Carmona could start for needy Power Five programs next season.
5) Dezjohn Malone, CB, San Diego State
Next School: Oklahoma
One of the top corners in the Mountain West this season, Dezjohn Malone finished third in the conference in pass breakups. Despite being targeted over 50 times this season, Malone allowed just one touchdown all season and posted six games where he allowed just one or fewer catches all game.
MORE: College Football Transfer Portal Tracker
Malone received plenty of Power Five interest and was quick to commit to transfer to Oklahoma.
4. Taylen Green, QB, Boise State
Next School: Arkansas
A bit of a surprise entrance after Boise State’s miraculous turnaround season, Green is one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the country. Once Boise State started taking advantage of his talent, the offense started humming, and Green was a significant part of Boise State’s championship season.
Green garnered a bunch of Power Five interest and could parlay himself into NFL Draft territory now that he’s committed to Arkansas.
3) Eric McAlister, WR, Boise State
Eric McAlister was one of the best wide receivers in the Mountain West this season, a superb contested catch target with the speed to hit the big play routinely. The 6’4″ receiver will be a coveted height/weight/speed receiver among the top contenders.
2) JC Davis, OT, New Mexico
The best offensive tackle in the entirety of the Group of Five, JC Davis is an incredibly talented left tackle. Davis stonewalled Texas A&M in New Mexico’s first game this season and was productive all season long.
A talented tackle with plenty of upside, Davis should be a hot target among all Power Five teams to start at left tackle.
1) Jayden Maiava, QB, UNLV
College Football Network’s Freshman Quarterback of the Year, Jayden Maiava earned the starting gig from Doug Brumfield early on in 2023 and led UNLV to a 9-4 record with a MWC title game appearance. Maiava is an excellent dual-threat quarterback who will receive plenty of Power Five offers with so many teams hungry for improved quarterback play.
There are rumors that Maiava didn’t enter the transfer portal, but if he did or does, he surely ranks as the top player coming from the Mountain West.