Roster construction is — ever increasingly — an ongoing endeavor in modern college football. There is no such thing as a solidified roster, not with the NCAA transfer portal and NIL.
Even in so-called slow periods, like the summer, player movement is rampant.
Utah State coach Bronco Mendenhall has been pleased overall when it comes to the construction of Utah State’s 2025 roster — the Aggies managed to retain many of the players who are expected to be major contributors this season — but expects to continue to add to the roster during the coming months.
“Not only (for) some depth, but there’s some players that we have a more immediate need for as well,” Mendenhall told KSL Sports’ Scott Garrard. “... I don’t know what percentage of college football teams are not currently looking adding in some way, shape or form. It’s certainly not the exception, it’s the rule right now. It’s just how many.
“And really, if you’re going in with double digit (additions) that’s really difficult to find the right fit for your program at that position that will really make a difference,” he continued. “If you have a handful-ish, that is way more reasonable and you have a chance to generate some momentum with skill selections and enough vetting to hit the right need.”
So who is on the move as it relates to Utah State? Who’ve the Aggies added this spring and who’ve they lost?
This story will be updated regularly.
Utah State football spring additions
Since April 1, the Aggies have landed some notable transfers, including three from Power Four programs.
Dylan Tucker
- Elon University (FCS)
- Cornerback
- 5-foot-11, 193 pounds
- One year of eligibility remaining
Tucker played in 10 games last season, starting nine. He totaled 30 tackles (22 solo), including a tackle for loss, four pass breakups, an interception and a fumble recovery
Jimmy Liston
- Purdue
- Offensive line
- 6-foot-3, 305 pounds
- Three years of eligibility remaining
A consensus three-star prospect coming out of high school, Liston played in four games during his career with the Boilermakers, all as a freshman in 2023.
John Gayer
- Cal
- Defensive end
- 6-foot-4, 245 pounds
- Two years of eligibility remaining
A junior college All-American in 2024 — at the College of San Mateo (California), he recorded 53 tackles, including 21.5 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks — Gayer transferred to Cal in December before entering the transfer portal and moving to USU.
Naki Fahina
- New Mexico State
- Defensive tackle
- 6-feet, 300 pounds
- One year of eligibility remaining.
Fahina started all 12 games with New Mexico State last year and recorded 29 tackles, including a tackle for loss, and blocked a kick. Before playing for NMSU, Fahina was at UNLV.
Landon Rehkow
- BYU
- Punter
- 6-foot-1, 190 pounds
- Three years of eligibility remaining.
In two seasons with the Cougars, Rehklow played in five games and punted five times — averaging 36 yards per punt.
Chika Ebunoha
- BYU
- Safety
- 6-feet, 190 pounds.
- Two years of eligibility remaining.
A consensus three-star recruit coming out of high school in Tucson, Arizona, Ebunoha spent three seasons with BYU, during which time he played in 17 games and recorded five tackles.
Carson Tujague
- BYU
- Defensive tackle
- 6-foot-3, 280 pounds.
- Four years of eligibility remaining.
A returned missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Tujague redshirted his only season in Provo last year. A Virginia native, Tujague was a three-star prospect at linebacker coming out of high school.
D’Andre Barnes
- Nebraska
- Safety
- 6-feet, 195 pounds.
- Three years of eligibility remaining.
A three-star prospect coming out of high school, Barnes redshirted his freshman year at Nebraska and then appeared in only one game last season, against UTEP. Still a large unknown in college football, Barnes had an impressive prep career playing football and in track and field.
Carlos Orr-Gillespie
- Illinois
- Wide receiver
- 6-feet, 200 pounds
- Four years of eligibility remaining.
Formerly a consensus three-star recruit out of Gatlinburg, Tennessee, Orr-Gillespie spent one season in Champaign and didn’t see any playing time, redshirting the year. A multi-sport standout in high school, Orr-Gillespie scored over 1,000 career points at the varsity level, per 247 Sports. On the gridiron, he was a two-way player, suiting up at wide receiver and defensive back. He caught 55 passes for 1,035 yards and nine touchdowns as a wideout and racked up 57 tackles, three pass breakups, two interceptions and a fumble recovery as a DB.
Nuuletau Sellesin
- BYU
- Defensive tackle
- 6-foot-1, 285 pounds
- Two years of eligibility remaining.
Yet another transfer from BYU to Utah State this offseason, Sellesin spent two seasons at BYU (he missed the 2024 with injury). Last year he played sparingly for the Cougars, appearing in two games and recording one tackle.
Prior to his time at BYU, Sellesin was at Weber State, where in 2022 he totaled 24 tackles (13 solo) and six sacks in 12 games played.
Utah State football spring losses
The Aggies have managed to avoid an exodus of players post spring ball, but there have still been defections, multiple to Power 4 teams no less.
Grayson Brousseau
- Oklahoma State
- Tight end
- 6-foot-5, 220 pounds
A former three-star prospect who appeared in four games last season as a true freshman, Brousseau was viewed by many as the future at tight end for Utah State, especially with a very vet-heavy TE room.
Siolaa “Ricky” Lolohea
- Oklahoma
- Defensive line
- 6-foot-3, 305 pounds
Future Oklahoma State Cowboy appeared in eight games for USU last season and recorded 10 tackles (six solo), including a tackle for loss.
Will Safris
- No transfer destination yet
- Kicker
- 5-foot-10, 175 pounds
One of USU’s more notable offseason additions, Safris transferred from Missouri and was rated a five-star punter
Jack Hestera
- Colorado
- Wide receiver
- 6-feet, 185 pounds
One of a few fairly productive receivers for USU last season — behind Jalen Royals — Hestera finished the year with 24 receptions for 340 yards (14.17 yards per reception) and four touchdowns.
Kadiyon Sweat
- Southern Utah
- Safety
- 6-feet, 180 pounds
Former three-star recruit, Sweat was a notable local addition for USU two years ago, but he didn’t make an appearance in any of the last two seasons.
Macyo “Taz” Williams
- Central Michigan
- Defensive tackle
- 6-foot-1, 280 pounds
The Kent State transfer was expected to be a major difference maker for the Aggies last year along the defensive front, but played in only four games before suffering a season-ending injury. In the four games played, Williams recorded nine tackles (four solo), including a tackle for loss.
Robert Freeman IV
- Idaho State
- Wide receiver/kick returner
- 5-foot-7, 170 pounds
A former junior college All-American, Freeman played sparingly during his one and only season in Logan. Freeman played in each of the first four games of the season to preserve his redshirt and recorded 142 all-purpose yards, including 99 yards on five kick returns and 43 yards on four punt returns.
Antoineo Harris Jr.
- UConn
- EDGE
- 6-foot-3, 253 pounds
Harris never suited up for Utah State. He initially followed Mendenhall to USU during the winter, but that didn’t last long and he ended up transferring to UConn. A veteran defender, with stints at Indiana State and New Mexico, Harris was expected to be a major add on the defensive line for the Aggies, but no longer.