The Argos are no stranger to using the transfer portal, as they brought in 14 transfers after the 2024 season. Coach Nobles and his staff have brought the heat this offseason as they have welcomed (so far) 28 transfers, both Winter and Spring.
With the recent move to Division 1-FCS, the Argos have been heavy on the recruiting trail, attempting to compete day one.
“There’s a lot of things that we can do positively that we have been doing at Division II, and I think now that we can offer some different things and do some different things, we can keep these guys here. We’re not going to lose those recruiting battles” Nobles said during an interview with The Blue Bloods podcast.
The Argos are looking to bolster their roster with Division I experience, proven potential, and ready-to-play guys. An increase in size at key positions as well as added experience in others will help the Argos compete in the United Athletic Conference (UAC) in hopes to make a run to the conference championship game.
A few key things stand out:
Coach Melo and the Defensive Line look to keep the ball rolling from last year as they had a great 2025 season. The Argonaut defense recorded 34 sacks last season and was considered one of the top run-stopping defenses in Division II play.
In the QB room, experience is key, as they took 3 Division I quarterbacks out of the portal. Bubba Thompson, a former MLB player and South Alabama QB, is the headline guy coming in with 3 years of eligibility left. Blake Boda has very good measurables, standing at 6’4”, 220 lbs. Donavan Leary, brother of standout NC State and Kentucky QB, by way of Tulane, has 4 years of experience under his belt. These three guys will be competing against high school recruit Ty’ray Davis for the starting job.
With guys in the trenches being a hot commodity, UWF has taken 4 transfer Offensive Lineman.
Here is the up-to-date version of what this off-season transfer portal looks like:
Incoming:
QB – Blake Boda (Arkansas)
QB – Bubba Thompson (South Alabama)
QB – Donovan Leary (Tulane)
RB – Markel Townsend (WCU)
WR – Cole Shaw (Mercer)
WR – Jordan Richardson (Copiah-Lincoln CC)
WR – Oliver Van Dyke (Lane College)
WR – Xakery Weidner (Coastal Carolina)
OL – Dylan Lloyd (Florida Atlantic )
OL – Logan Crabs (Wittenberg)
OL – Nick Perry (Upper Iowa)
OL – Teddy Smith (Lincoln University – Missouri)
DE – Will Fennema II (Wayne State)
DL – Aidan Dark (Tusculm)
DL – Ephraim Deese (Iowa Western CC)
DL – Howard Craft (Concordia University – St. Paul)
DL – Iliyas Fuavai (Southern Miss)
DL – Jamarion Stevenson (Fort Valley State)
DL – Markel James (Middle Tennessee)
LB – Ricky Cooper (Westminster)
LB – Travell Wright (Mercyhurst)
DB – David Awuah (IUP)
DB – David Law-Mortimer (Edward Waters)
DB – Desmond Greene (Lenoir-Rhyne)
DB – Greg Pressley (Johnson C. Smith)
DB – Kenyan Hunter (Dodge City CC)
K – Reid Grek (Miles College)
*this list will be updated throughout the offseason
Departing:
QB – Marcus Stokes (Memphis)
QB – John Nicholas (Uncommitted)
WR – Corey Scott (JMU)
WR – Pat Declour (Uncommitted)
WR – Trevon Kemmerlin (Uncommited)
WR – Tyree Holloway (LSU)
OL – Jabari Edwards (Gardner Webb)
OL – Jayiah Gardner (Catawba College)
OL – Jaylin Jackson (Valdosta State)
OL – Trevaris Edwards (Middle Tennessee)
DL – Greg Lott (Uncommitted)
DL – Justice Williams (Louisiana-Tech)
DL – Kevin Roberts (JMU)
LB – AJ Eason (Uncommitted)
DB – Ernest Flythe (Uncommitted)
*this list may be incomplete