Boise State Transfer Portal Grades: Linebackers.

As part of an ongoing position-by-position evaluation of Boise State’s transfer portal activity, this installment focuses on the linebacker group. Entering the offseason, linebacker stood out as a major area of need. While early projections suggested the Broncos might pursue two specific targets, neither ultimately visited Boise, highlighting just how unpredictable the transfer portal process can be. Despite that uncertainty, Boise State added two linebackers through the portal and also welcomed back a familiar contributor. The additions help offset the departures of Marco Notarianni, Chase Martin, and Clay Martineau, all of whom exited the program after last season. The most established returner is Boen Phelps, a former safety who transitioned to linebacker and emerged as a key piece of the defense. Phelps finished third on the team in tackles with 66 and was the only linebacker to record an interception. Also back is Jake Ripp, who lost his starting role to Phelps but still produced a solid season, recording 43 tackles and three tackles for loss. Beyond those two, the linebacker room features mostly unproven talent. Samuel Brooks, a junior college transfer last year, began the season transitioning from safety. True freshmen Mana Tuioti and Syncere Brackett-Lambey also saw limited action. Brackett-Lambey flashed potential in brief opportunities, while Tuioti contributed primarily on special teams.

The first linebacker addition through the transfer portal was Logan Brantley from Kansas. The 6-foot, 229-pound redshirt junior saw limited snaps with the Jayhawks, finishing last season with eight tackles, including 1.5 for loss. A three-star recruit out of Cherry Creek High School in Colorado, Brantley originally chose Kansas over offers from Arizona, Colorado, and Minnesota. His high school film showcases an athletic defender capable of covering ground from sideline to sideline. While Brantley remains largely untested at the collegiate level, his athletic profile suggests potential value on defense and special teams as he adjusts to Boise State’s system. The Broncos also added Zyhaire Lewis from Chaffey College. Lewis, listed at 6-foot and 215 pounds, primarily played defensive back during his junior college career but projects as a linebacker at Boise State. Last season, he totaled 57 tackles, five tackles for loss, one interception, and three pass breakups. He earned Defensive Player of the Year honors twice at the junior college level. Lewis had previously committed to Nevada before reopening his recruitment and signing with Boise State shortly afterward.

In addition to portal additions, Boise State will see the return of Ty Tanner from an LDS mission. Tanner, a 6-foot-1, 225-pound redshirt sophomore, appeared in all 12 games during the 2022 season and recorded nine tackles. Overall, Boise State continued a recent recruiting trend by prioritizing athleticism at linebacker. While the revamped group features promising physical traits, much of the production remains speculative. The true impact of these additions will depend on how quickly they adapt and contribute on the field.