San Diego State concluded spring practice Saturday afternoon with its AztecFAST Showcase. Within hours, players who didn’t see a future with the program started the search for what comes next.
Through Tuesday morning, eight SDSU players entered the NCAA transfer portal or made plans to do so.
The group includes six redshirt freshmen from SDSU’s 2024 recruiting class — defensive back Tayvion Beasley, cornerback Tayten Beyer, defensive lineman Ryan Gaea, offensive lineman Kai Holec, wide receiver Jason Mitchell and linebacker Danny Niu.
Senior defensive lineman Darrion Dalton and senior edge rusher Malik Gucake also entered the portal.
The Aztecs had 19 freshmen in the ’24 class, Sean Lewis’ first as SDSU coach. Eight of them now have left the program. The other two were starting quarterback Danny O’Neil, who transferred in December, and running back Anthony McMillian, who left the program before the 2024 season. Four of the eight players who have departed were originally recruited by the previous coaching staff.
Most of the players entering the portal did not figure on the two-deep roster for the 2025 season.
Dalton, who got some first- and second-team reps during the spring, had the most playing time. He played in 11 games last season and made 15 tackles. Gucake played in nine games and made two tackles.
Players can enter their names in the portal through Friday.
Lewis, who was not available for comment on Tuesday, has said the Aztecs will be active in the portal. In particular, they will look for offensive or defensive linemen and a wide receiver as well as players at other positions who could help the program.
SDSU had 22 players enter the portal during the winter transfer window, with wide receiver Jordan Napier and linebacker Brady Anderson choosing to remain with the program. The Aztecs had 19 players transfer into the program during the winter period.
The spring period is typically not nearly as active as the winter period, though it can still bring significant additions. Last year, SDSU had a dozen players enter the portal and half a dozen the program from the portal during the spring window.
Among those additions were starting running back Marquez Cooper, who gained more than 1,000 yards as the team’s featured back.
Starting left tackle Joe Borjon also was a spring addition, though he suffered a season-ending knee injury in the season opener. Borjon was limited during spring practice, but he is expected to recover in time for preseason camp.
What additions SDSU makes from the portal remain to be seen, but some players already have posted on social media about offers from the Aztecs. They include 6-foot-2 safety Hunter Haines, formerly of Washington State, and 6-4, 285-pound defensive lineman Kainoa Davis from the University of Charlotte. Davis is from Temecula.
Both players are redshirt freshmen with four years of eligibility remaining.
