SAN JOSE — Two of San Jose State’s starters on offense were among the more than 1,500 Division I college football players who entered the transfer portal this week.
When the Spartans play in the Hawaii Bowl later this month, they’ll be without sophomore left tackle Fernando Carmona Jr. and junior tight end Dominick Mazotti, two of the key pieces that helped SJSU rebound from a 1-5 start and secure its second straight postseason appearance.
In all, six Spartans entered the transfer portal: sophomore wide receiver Branden Alvarez, linebackers Elijah Wood (sophomore) and Anthony Madrigal (junior), and junior defensive lineman Charlie Leota were the others.
The Spartans did get a win, as wide receiver Nick Nash confirmed Wednesday he will not enter the portal and stay at SJSU for his senior season.
“My future is San Jose,” Nash said. “They’ve stuck with me through my hard times. This is where I want to finish out my career in college, and hopefully move on to the next level. But right now I’m just focused on the next steps with San Jose and I’m not really worried about the transfer portal or anything like that. I’m a Spartan.”
San Jose State’s Nick Nash gets a hug from head coach Brent Brennan after catching a 29-yard touchdown pass in the 4th quarter against Utah State’s Michael Anyanwu, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, in San Jose, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
Nash, a former quarterback, led the Spartans with 47 receptions for 704 yards and eight touchdowns in his first full season at wide receiver. In addition to Nash, the Spartans’ receiving corps will return Malikhi Miller, Charles Ross and Matthew Coleman. Preseason All-Conference receiver Justin Lockhart, who missed what would have been his senior season with an arm injury, has not announced his plans for next season.
Though the first week of the transfer portal window is often the busiest, there is still a chance players could end up entering their name in the portal in the next few weeks. The window officially opened on Monday and players have until Jan. 2 to find a team.
SJSU’s upcoming bowl game against Coastal Carolina on Dec. 23 could play a big factor in players transferring as well. A solid performance in the Aloha Bowl could open the door for players to find opportunities elsewhere and there is precedent for this happening to the Spartans.
Last season, former SJSU receiver Isaiah Hamilton had a big game in the Idaho Potato Bowl, catching five passes for 137 yards and a touchdown. The next day, Hamilton entered his name in the transfer portal and eventually accepted an offer to play at Washington State.
SJSU hasn’t made much noise thus far recruiting out of the transfer portal, but it has proven to snag big-time players in the past, including its two most recent quarterbacks — Chevan Cordeiro and his predecessor, Nick Starkel — and likely it’s next.
Brennan and his staff recruited former Oregon quarterback Jay Butterfield late in the transfer window last season. Butterfield is the front-runner to take Cordeiro’s place at starting quarterback next season.
Former SJSU wide receiver Elijah Cooks was another transfer portal grab from Nevada who went on to be an all-conference player for the Spartans in 2022 and is currently in the NFL with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Carmona is a significant loss for the Spartans.
The 6-foot-5, 315-pound left tackle developed into one of the best offensive lineman in the Mountain West. He was named to the All-Mountain West Honorable Mention team for 2023.
Carmona, who started 24 games, helped SJSU become the third-best (27th nationally) rushing offense in the country this season as well as protecting Cordeiro’s blind side.
“Fernando Carmona is one of the best young leaders I’ve ever seen on a football team,” said SJSU coach Brent Brennan earlier this season.
Carmona said he has already received offers from Ole Miss, Michigan State, Arkansas, South Carolina, Texas Tech and Auburn.
“It really came down to helping myself and my draft stock,” Carmona said. “I just wanted to expose myself to playing in front of a bigger environment.”
Carmona was one of the few SJSU players and the only offensive lineman to have a name, image and likeness (NIL) deal this season. California Wet Burrito, a Mexican restaurant located just two blocks south of campus, negotiated a deal with Carmona that included naming a burrito after him and splitting a percentage of profits anytime a customer bought the item.
But he said this decision was solely based on the additional exposure Power 5 schools will give him.
“Money doesn’t really excite me at all in this transition,” Carmona said. “The money will come in the NFL and I think that’s kind of where I’m envisioning myself right now.”
Related Articles
Mailbag: Why the CFP matched Oregon vs. Liberty in the Fiesta
Pac-12 recruiting: Sanders lands No. 1, Brown to ASU, Stanford’s flips
NCAA reform: Charlie Baker’s radical plan change and the future of CFB
Best of the West rankings: Arizona on top, followed by Gonzaga, BYU and Colorado State
Breaking down the top Pac-12 football assistant coaches and coordinators of 2023
Mazotti started three games this season in place of starter Sam Olson and was second on the team with 322 receiving yards. He caught 23 passes, tied for third on the team with two touchdowns and also played a key role as one of the team’s leaders in the locker room.
The Pleasanton native and former Amador Valley Don has fielded offers from Connecticut, Temple, San Diego State and UNLV.
“This decision was not one I take lightly as San Jose has been my home for the past 5 seasons,” Mazotti said on the social media platform X.
The writing was on the wall for Mazotti even if he were to come back next season. With Olson returning and a young crop of talented tight ends coming back, Mazotti’s role would have likely been the same or even slightly diminished next season.
According to reports, SJSU has also made an offer to three-star Cupertino High School tight end Wyatt Hook, who recently decommitted from Oregon State following Jonathan Smith’s departure to Michigan State.
