Boise State football loses another experienced safety to the transfer portal
Boise State redshirt senior Jordan Happle has entered the transfer portal, a Boise State spokesperson confirmed to the Idaho Statesman on Thursday.
Happle was likely to start at safety for the Broncos football team this season after making five starts in 2019 and totaling 22 tackles, including one for loss, and two pass breakups. The 5-foot-11, 201-pounder from Portland, Oregon, was limited to six games last season due to injury but has started nine games throughout his career at Boise State.
Happle has already earned a degree in criminal justice from Boise State and will be immediately eligible as a graduate transfer.
The loss of Happle, along with the departure of redshirt senior DeAndre Pierce for Arizona State, leaves the Broncos with three experienced players at safety — redshirt junior Tyreque Jones (6-2, 201), sixth-year senior Evan Tyler (6-2, 205) and sophomore JL Skinner (6-4, 219).
Tyler is recovering from a torn pectoral muscle and has battled multiple ACL injuries.
Redshirt junior A.J. Smith also is listed as a safety on the Broncos’ roster along with redshirt freshman Alexander Teubner.
The Broncos made the secondary a focus of their 2020 recruiting class, adding six defensive backs, including Semaj Verner (6-2, 185) and junior college cornerback Jonathan Earl. Earl’s size allows for the possibility of moving him to safety if needed.
Happle played in 27 games as a Bronco and racked up 61 tackles (39 solo), 5.5 tackles for loss, one sack, four passes defended and one interception. He has started games as the boundary (short side of the field) and field safety for the Broncos.
The Mountain West Board of Directors is expected to meet this week to discuss the possibility of an eight-game football season beginning in late October, according to multiple reports.
This story was originally published September 24, 2020 at 1:58 PM.
