VERMILLION, S.D. -- Head coach Travis Johansen has announced the signings of the transfer class ahead of spring ball practices for the University of South Dakota football program (as of January 23, 2026). Below is information on the signed transfer athletes set to join the 2026 USD football roster. 

NEEO AVERY // LB // 6-4 // 275 // Glen Burnie, Md. // University of Maryland
Spent three seasons at the University of Maryland (2023-25) ... redshirted his freshman season (2023) ... appeared in 12 games (2024-25) in his two seasons at Maryland ... had four tackles and two TFLs.

HARRISON BRUN // DB // 6-1 // 205 // Buffalo, Minn. // University of Minnesota
Spent two seasons at the University of Minnesota (2024-25) ... redshirted his freshman season (2024) ... played in four games as a redshirt freshman (2025) with his collegiate debut coming against Northwestern State.

ETHAN CARRIER // DB // 6-1 // 200 // Detroit Lakes, Minn. // University of Minnesota
Spent three seasons at the University of Minnesota (2023-25) ... redshirted his freshman season (2023) ... did not see any game action as a Gopher.

BRYCE COHOON // WR // 6-2 // 200 // Wichita, Kan. // University of Kansas
Spent three seasons at the University of Kansas (2023-25) ... redshirted his freshman season (2023) ... played in four games his first full season at KU in 2024 ... played in all 12 games in 2025, primarily on special teams. 

KEVIN DODARD // DB // 5-11 // 180 // Fort Worth, Texas // Lafayette College
Spent two seasons at Lafayette College (Pa.) (2024-25) ... saw game action in 20 career games at Lafayette with 53 career tackles ... played in eight games as a true freshman in 2024 with one tackle on the season ... played in all 12 games in 2025 with 52 total tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss ... also had a pair of interceptions and 11 pass break-ups on the season.

ZION FONUA // LB // 6-0 // 245 // Euless, Texas // Abilene Christian
Transferring from Abilene Christian after one season (2025) ... prior to ACU, spent the 2024 season at Eastern Michigan ... his first two collegiate seasons spent at Tyler College (Texas) in 2022-23, utilizing his redshirt season in 2022.

JOSHUA GRANT // DB // 6-2 // 190 // Powder Springs, Ga. // McEachern H.S. // Washburn University (Kan.)
A four-year member of the Washburn University football team ... redshirted his first season at Washburn (2022) ... played in 10 games as a redshirt freshman (2023) with 48 tackles, while leading the team with his 33 tackles ... in 2024, played in three games before a season-ending injury ... in 2025, played in 11 games and had 35 tackles with three pass break-ups and three fumble recoveries ... had an 83-yard scoop-and-score to close out the season against Missouri Southern State.

KAMERON HAWKINS // DB // 6-0 // 175 // East Palo Alto, Calif. // Menlo-Atherton H.S. // Foothill College (Calif.)
Played in nine games for Foothill College (Calif.) in 2025, recording 34 tackles ... he had one tackle for loss, along with four pass break-ups ... posted a season-best three pass break-ups in the 29-28 win over Sequoias (Nov. 22).

KAEL KOLARIK // DB // 6-0 // 210 // Wichita, Kan. // University of Iowa
Spent four seasons at the University of Iowa (2022-25) ... utilized his redshirt in 2022 ... saw action in every game since 2023 (39 games) in those three seasons ... played in 41 total games as a Hawkeye with 13 total tackles.

JACKSON PROCTOR // QB // 6-2 // 210 // Kent, Wash. // Dartmouth College & Northern Illinois University
Spent his first four seasons at Dartmouth College (2021-24) with his collegiate debut coming at Princeton in 2022 ... played in 17 games for the Big Green with 617 yards and five touchdown passes ... spent time at Northern Illinois University but not during a football season.

JAKE RIGGS // OL // 6-3 // 295 // Murfreesboro, Tenn. // UTEP
Spent two seasons at UTEP (2024-25) ... redshirted his freshman season (2024) ... participated in three games on the offensive line as a redshirt freshman in 2025 (UT Martin, Sam Houston, and Delaware).

SAM SAME // LB // 6-5 // 225 // Indianola, Iowa // Iowa State University
Three seasons at Iowa State University (2023-25) ... redshirted his freshman season (2023) ... saw action in three games in 2024, including action against North Dakota, Arkansas State, and against No. 15 Miami in the Pop-Tarts Bowl ... did not see game action in 2025 ... a three-time Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll athlete, plus an Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team (2024).

TYLER SAPIT // DL // 6-2 // 240 // Batavia, Ill. // Bemidji State University (Minn.)
Spent four seasons at Bemidji State University (Minn.) at the Division II level ... used only two years of eligibility at BSU [Redshirt, 2022; Medical Redshirt, 2023] ... named a All-NSIC North First Team All-Conference performer in 2025 after 32 tackles with 6.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks ... credited with one forced fumble and six quarterback hurries ... he tallied 51 tackles in his two full seasons at Bemidji State with 6.5 sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss.

JOHN STARMAN // DL // 6-3 // 285 // Miami, Fla. // Brown University
Spent four seasons at Brown University of the Ivy League (2022-25) ... played in 27 career games as a Bear ... recorded 33 tackles with 2.5 sacks and 3.5 TFLs.

ASHER TOMASZEWSKI // DL // 6-4 // 300 // Schererville, Ind. // Kansas State University
Spent three seasons at Kansas State University (2023-25) ... utilized his redshirt in 2023, seeing time as a reserve DL against SEMO and Baylor ... played in eight games in 2024 ... did not see any action in 2025.

JAKE UTLEY // OL // 6-6 // 315 // College Station, Texas // UTEP
Spent three seasons at UTEP (2023-25) ... redshirted his freshman season (2023) ... played in 17 games as a Miner on the offensive line.

ISAIAH WRAY // DL // 6-5 // 255 // Racine, Wis. // St. Catherine's H.S. // Concordia, St. Paul (Minn.)
Spent three seasons at Concordia, St. Paul (Minn.) at the Division II level and two years as a starter ... in the last two seasons (2024-25), Wray played in 21 games with 19 starts with 105 tackles and 14 TFLs (four sacks) ... this past season (2025), he started all 11 games and had 72 tackles (30 solo) and 7.5 TFls with 1.5 sacks, while forcing one fumble. 

Athletes listed alphabetical by last name