- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Austin Peay football signs impressive transfer portal class for 2026
The Governors add several talented players from the transfer portal ahead of the 2026 season.
Jan. 30, 2026 at 3:15pm
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
The Austin Peay Governors have added a number of impressive players through the transfer portal, including wide receivers Chance Fitzgerald and Braylon Harmon, edge rusher Kendal Howard, kicker Hamilton DiBoyan, defensive back Justin Wimpye, edge rusher David Portu, linebacker Jefferson Desca, quarterback Matthew Wilson, and safety William Wiebush. These transfers are expected to bolster the Governors' roster as they look to build on their successful 2025 season.
Why it matters
The Governors' strong transfer portal class demonstrates the program's ability to attract top-tier talent and indicates their intent to continue improving after a 7-5 season in 2025. These new additions could help the team take the next step and potentially earn a spot in the FCS playoffs.
The details
The Governors landed 43 total transfer portal additions, with several notable players joining the team. Wide receivers Chance Fitzgerald and Braylon Harmon both transferred from SEC schools, while edge rusher Kendal Howard and kicker Hamilton DiBoyan bring FBS experience. Defensive back Justin Wimpye, edge rusher David Portu, and linebacker Jefferson Desca were productive at the FCS level, and quarterback Matthew Wilson and safety William Wiebush add depth to the roster.
- The transfer portal was open from January 2 to January 16, 2026.
- The Governors announced their 43 total transfer portal additions on January 30, 2026.
The players
Chance Fitzgerald
A wide receiver who transferred from Vanderbilt, where he spent two seasons after originally committing to Virginia Tech out of high school.
Braylon Harmon
A wide receiver who transferred from Tennessee, where he appeared in four games and caught one pass for 41 yards in 2025.
Kendal Howard
An edge rusher who transferred from Wake Forest, where he was a three-star prospect out of high school but did not see any game action in two seasons.
Hamilton DiBoyan
A kicker who transferred from South Alabama, where he went 20-of-22 on extra points and 6-of-9 on field goals in 2025.
Justin Wimpye
A defensive back who transferred from Youngstown State, where he recorded 60 tackles, 11 pass deflections, and three interceptions in 2025.
What’s next
The Governors will look to integrate their new transfer portal additions into the team and build chemistry ahead of the 2026 season, with the goal of earning a spot in the FCS playoffs.
The takeaway
Austin Peay's impressive transfer portal class demonstrates the program's ability to attract top talent and their commitment to building a championship-caliber team. These new additions, combined with the return of star quarterback Chris Parson, could propel the Governors to new heights in the 2026 season.
