‘Sad to see him go’: Major piece of Boise State football’s defense will transfer
Redshirt senior linebacker Andrew Simpson announced Thursday morning that he would be entering the transfer portal and leaving Boise State for his final year of eligibility.
Simpson has been with the Broncos since 2021, redshirting his freshman year before becoming a regular in 2022. He made 11 starts as a redshirt junior in 2024, recording 46 tackles, three sacks, three forced fumbles and an interception as Boise State made it to its first Fiesta Bowl in a decade.
“I now have an idea of how much it means to be a Bronco and defend the BLUE. Boise State has changed my life forever and is a very special place,” Simpson wrote in a social media post.
“After many conversations with my family and my trust in the Lord, we have decided it’s best to enter the transfer portal to finish my 5th year of eligibility.”
Simpson is the third notable name to leave the Broncos this offseason, following in the footsteps of quarterback Malachi Nelson (UTEP) and wide receiver Prince Strachan (USC). Simpson did not say where he’d be playing next season.
“Andrew is a huge piece to our team and our defense in terms of production, a really good football player,” redshirt senior linebacker Marco Notarainni said. “Sad to see him go.”
With Boise State’s solid core of Simpson and Notarainni broken up, the door has been opened for someone to fill an outside linebacker position. Redshirt junior edge Jake Ripp was in position to back up the edge and defensive end positions in 2025, but with him having deputized at linebacker in 2024, the new opening could be an opportunity.
Notarainni also had some ideas.
“I think Clay (Martineau), Chase (Martin), Boen Phelps, all those guys work super hard and they do all the things right,” Notarraini said. “They come in the linebacker room early, they watch film. ... I think they’ve all done a tremendous job in terms of the work ethic and really buying into the culture.”
All in all, 13 players have left Boise State for the portal since the end of last season, while nine players have transferred in. The spring transfer portal officially opens on April 16 and lasts through April 25, meaning more movement could be on the horizon.
“I don’t think there’s any better place than Boise State,” safeties coach Tyler Stockton said Thursday.
The Broncos have lost just one safety to the portal: Gabe Tahir is going to play at FCS Idaho State.
“At the end of the day, if someone decides that there is somewhere better, I wish them all the best,” Stockton said.
“It’s just about building relationships and showing them how much we care about them,” he continued. “Who knows if people are offering guys this or this, but hopefully, old-school love bears all, and those guys want to stay here because they care about their coaches and care about this place.”
This story was originally published March 27, 2025 at 3:36 PM.
