Photo by Alessio Cavalca
In honor of National Signing day, San Jose State Football Head Coach Brent Brennan held a press conference on Wednesday morning to talk about the Spartans new signees.
With the new National Collegiate Athletic Association rules regarding name, image and likeness and the transfer portal, the Spartans looked to get ahead by signing a mix of high school players and college transfers.
The new transfer rules state that a student-athlete can transfer to another school and not have to sit out a whole academic year. The rules also state that student-athletes can profit off of their name, image and likeness, something that was outlawed just two years ago. For the longest time, athletes in college were not able to be sponsored by anyone or anything due to the rule.
“I think people are paying attention to our process of improvement here,” Brennan said. I think people are aware [of our success] which is exciting to give us a chance to widen that scope a little bit.”
The players who are coming to SJSU are from all around California, from the Bay Area to Los Angeles.
Of the top signees, sophomore transfer quarterback Jay Butterfield was one of the key commits for SJSU. Butterfield, who was a four-star recruit out of Liberty High School in Brentwood, California, committed to football powerhouse Oregon University coming out of high school. After two seasons of sitting on the bench, he decided to transfer after the 2022 season, choosing SJSU as his new home.
“He came down here and watched practice and I think for Jay it was getting an idea of what the quarterback room was like and what the scheme and how the whole program felt and he really enjoyed it,” said Brennan.
Though Brennan has said senior quarterback Chevan Cordeiro will remain the starter, he hopes that Butterfield and the other quarterbacks push each other to elevate themselves. Cordeiro led the Spartans to a 7-5 record as a starter this past season and was an All-Mountain West second team player.
“Chevan is our quarterback and everybody knows that,” Brennan said. “But there’s real value in healthy competition and I’m hoping they push the heck out of each other.”
Another big signing for the Spartans was local linebacker Kade Millard.
Millard, who is currently a freshman, was a three-star recruit coming out of Foothill High School in Pleasanton, California, and turned down offers from California University,Berkeley and Washington State to come to SJSU.
“A real pass rusher… it’s always valuable when we can get a really good player from the Bay Area to stay home and choose us and we’re really excited about it,” said Brennan.
Millard was All-League player twice, was team MVP and team captain in his final two seasons of high school. He also led the league in sacks for two seasons.
Senior running back Isaiah Ifanse is transferring out of Montana State to join the Spartans.
Ifanse holds Montana State’s all time record for the most rushing yards with 3,742. He also tied the record for MSU with 17 career 100-yard games.
“When he was looking to come home, this was just a really good fit for him and a good visit,” said Brennan.
With the departures of players like Elijah Cooks, Junior Fehoko and Cade Hall, Brenan said there was an emphasis to fill holes on both sides of the ball.
The Spartans will start spring training soon and fans will get a firsthand look at some of the new players.