Bowling Green State University Athletics
Loeffler Announces Seven Transfers to Join Team for 2024 Season
May 20, 2024 | Football
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The Bowling Green football program added seven transfers for the 2024 football season, according to football head coach Scot Loeffler.
BGSU welcomes tight end Elijah Boyd (UTEP), cornerback Todd Bumphis (Cincinnati), tight end Blane Cleaver (Army), cornerback Darius McClendon (FAU), RB Justin Pegues (Tennessee Tech), wide receiver Rahkeem Smith (Delaware St.) and inside linebacker Donovan Stephens (Oklahoma State). All seven are on campus and currently attending summer classes.
Boyd (Fairfield, Calif.) comes to BGSU after spending the 2023 season at UTEP where he appeared in nine games. He previously spent two years at Contra Costa College in California where he appeared in seven games in 2022. Boyd has two years of eligibility remaining. Boyd is a 2021 graduate of Armijo High School.
Bumphis (Toledo, Ohio) returns to his home region after appearing in 35 career games over the last four years at Cincinnati. He accumulated 16 career tackles and 1.0 TFL during his time with the Bearcats. He appeared in all 14 games as a reserve defensive back and special teams player during Cincinnati's 2021 AAC Championship squad that made the College Football Playoff semifinals. Bumphis enjoyed a career-high three tackles and a TFL in Cincinnati's historic win at Notre Dame in 2021. He will have one year of eligibility.
Cleaver (Berwick, Pa.) comes to BGSU after spending three years at Army. After redshirting the 2021 season, Cleaver appeared in nine career games while at West Point and will have two years of eligibility left. He was a four-year starter at Berwick Area High School.
McClendon (Boynton Beach, Fla.) joins BGSU after spending the 2023 season at FAU. While at FAU he appeared in all 12 games with three starts. McClendon notched 61 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss and broke up three passes. He spent the 2019 and 2020 season at Middle Tennessee State and the 2022 campaign at New Mexico Military Institute. McClendon is a 2019 graduate of Forest Hill High School and has one year of eligibility left.
Pegues (Birmingham, Ala.) comes to BGSU after appearing in 20 career games at Tennessee Tech over the 2022 and 2023 seasons. He notched 482 rushing yards and two touchdowns during his time at TTU. Pegues also caught 33 passes for 259 yards and two touchdowns at Tennessee Tech. He is a 2022 graduate of Thompson High School. Pegues will have two years of eligibility left.
Smith (Baltimore, Md.) joins the Falcons after appearing in 18 career games over the past two seasons at Delaware State. Comes to BGSU with 34 career receptions for 560 yards and six touchdowns. Also finished 2023 No. 3 I the nation for FCS with two kick returns for touchdowns and No. 5 in the nation for FCS with 30.1 yards per kick return. He will have two years of eligibility with the Falcons. Smith is a 2022 graduate of Calvert Hall.
Stephens (Del City, Okla.) comes to BGSU after appearing in 23 career games the last two years at Oklahoma State. He owns 11 career tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks and posted a career-high four stops in the 2023 Big 12 Championship game against Texas. Stephens will have two years of eligibility with the Falcons and is a 2021 graduate of Del City High School.
BGSU previously added eight other transfers that took part in spring football. Defensive back Jacorey Benjamin (Texas Southern), safety CJ Brown (NIU), outside linebacker Justin Eklund (San Jose State), wide receiver RJ Garcia II (Kansas State), wide receiver Malcolm Johnson Jr. (Auburn), kicker Zach Long (Troy), offensive lineman Nick Reimer (Merrimack College) and defensive back Edward Rhambo (Northern Arizona).
BGSU welcomes tight end Elijah Boyd (UTEP), cornerback Todd Bumphis (Cincinnati), tight end Blane Cleaver (Army), cornerback Darius McClendon (FAU), RB Justin Pegues (Tennessee Tech), wide receiver Rahkeem Smith (Delaware St.) and inside linebacker Donovan Stephens (Oklahoma State). All seven are on campus and currently attending summer classes.
Boyd (Fairfield, Calif.) comes to BGSU after spending the 2023 season at UTEP where he appeared in nine games. He previously spent two years at Contra Costa College in California where he appeared in seven games in 2022. Boyd has two years of eligibility remaining. Boyd is a 2021 graduate of Armijo High School.
Bumphis (Toledo, Ohio) returns to his home region after appearing in 35 career games over the last four years at Cincinnati. He accumulated 16 career tackles and 1.0 TFL during his time with the Bearcats. He appeared in all 14 games as a reserve defensive back and special teams player during Cincinnati's 2021 AAC Championship squad that made the College Football Playoff semifinals. Bumphis enjoyed a career-high three tackles and a TFL in Cincinnati's historic win at Notre Dame in 2021. He will have one year of eligibility.
Cleaver (Berwick, Pa.) comes to BGSU after spending three years at Army. After redshirting the 2021 season, Cleaver appeared in nine career games while at West Point and will have two years of eligibility left. He was a four-year starter at Berwick Area High School.
McClendon (Boynton Beach, Fla.) joins BGSU after spending the 2023 season at FAU. While at FAU he appeared in all 12 games with three starts. McClendon notched 61 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss and broke up three passes. He spent the 2019 and 2020 season at Middle Tennessee State and the 2022 campaign at New Mexico Military Institute. McClendon is a 2019 graduate of Forest Hill High School and has one year of eligibility left.
Pegues (Birmingham, Ala.) comes to BGSU after appearing in 20 career games at Tennessee Tech over the 2022 and 2023 seasons. He notched 482 rushing yards and two touchdowns during his time at TTU. Pegues also caught 33 passes for 259 yards and two touchdowns at Tennessee Tech. He is a 2022 graduate of Thompson High School. Pegues will have two years of eligibility left.
Smith (Baltimore, Md.) joins the Falcons after appearing in 18 career games over the past two seasons at Delaware State. Comes to BGSU with 34 career receptions for 560 yards and six touchdowns. Also finished 2023 No. 3 I the nation for FCS with two kick returns for touchdowns and No. 5 in the nation for FCS with 30.1 yards per kick return. He will have two years of eligibility with the Falcons. Smith is a 2022 graduate of Calvert Hall.
Stephens (Del City, Okla.) comes to BGSU after appearing in 23 career games the last two years at Oklahoma State. He owns 11 career tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks and posted a career-high four stops in the 2023 Big 12 Championship game against Texas. Stephens will have two years of eligibility with the Falcons and is a 2021 graduate of Del City High School.
BGSU previously added eight other transfers that took part in spring football. Defensive back Jacorey Benjamin (Texas Southern), safety CJ Brown (NIU), outside linebacker Justin Eklund (San Jose State), wide receiver RJ Garcia II (Kansas State), wide receiver Malcolm Johnson Jr. (Auburn), kicker Zach Long (Troy), offensive lineman Nick Reimer (Merrimack College) and defensive back Edward Rhambo (Northern Arizona).
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