An FCS Transfer Tops the Best Edge Rushers Out West

The best edge rushers in the West through six weeks mostly came in through the side door. SuperWest Sports collected the region’s top Pro Football Focus defensive grades, and Colorado Buffaloes Lamont Lester Jr. leads with a 91.2. SuperWest also lists him third nationally. For a player who arrived from FCS Monmouth, that’s a remarkable introduction to the Power Four.

The names behind him tell a similar story. San Jose State’s Jeremiah Tuiileila left San Diego State without playing a game. New Mexico’s Darren Agu arrived from Vanderbilt, while Wyoming’s Esaia Bogar came from junior college. USC’s Kameryn Crawford took the more familiar blue-chip route.

Here is the top 10, their backgrounds and what each grade shows

Lamont Lester Jr. Makes the FCS Jump Look Easy

Lester was already causing problems at Monmouth. He recorded 9.5 sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss last season, earning Coastal Athletic Association Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. In Colorado’s 14-13 opening win at Georgia Tech, he delivered all three of the Buffaloes’ sacks. The Big 12 named him Defensive Player of the Week, and the performance made the jump in competition look awfully manageable.

The grade needs context. Lester has played four games, and three of his four sacks came in that opener. An ankle injury kept him out against Texas Tech. His next test is staying healthy and maintaining that pace against Big 12 opponents.

Tuiileila’s rise is just as striking. The Sacramento native redshirted at San Diego State last season before joining coach Ken Niumatalolo at San Jose State. His 90.5 grade puts him almost alongside Lester, despite having no previous college-game experience. The Spartans also have veteran Justin Stearns at No. 10, the only school with two players in this regional group.

The Mountain West Edge Rushers Took Different Roads

Agu’s path is hard to mistake. Born in Ireland and raised in London, the 6-foot-6 defender played at Vanderbilt before joining New Mexico. Visa trouble delayed his 2025 debut. While waiting to return, he trained alone in a London park. His 85.8 grade shows how far he has come.

Bogar knows the value of being healthy. The former Riverside City College standout played much of last season with a cast on his right hand. Wyoming coach Jay Sawvel praised his effort early this fall, but Bogar gave the clearer explanation in a September interview with the school’s athletics website. “With the club, you can’t really grab anyone or really strike them, especially when your hand’s broken,” Bogar said. “Being free of that, it has allowed me to use my hands much more, get off blocks, and just play more confidently.”

UNLV’s Andre Porter is the hometown story. The Las Vegas native had half a sack last season. His 79.9 grade under Dan Mullen suggests a more promising start this fall.

The Power Four Names Have Their Own Stories

Arizona State’s Jalen Thompson came from Michigan State, where he worked with current Sun Devils defensive line coach Diron Reynolds. Crawford stayed at USC after arriving as a four-star recruit, and his 10.5 tackles for loss last season showed the pedigree was no empty promise. Oregon’s Matayo Uiagalelei has provided another kind of impact. In the Ducks’ 39-31 loss at Oklahoma State, he intercepted a pass and returned it to the 1-yard line.

Oregon State senior Takari Hickle came from Tenino, Washington, and brings another small-town background. These edge rushers are graded for individual play, so the list does not establish which defense is best. Still, Lester’s rise is difficult to ignore. Colorado listed him as the No. 60 edge defender in January’s transfer portal rankings. Six weeks into the season, SuperWest’s PFF-based list has him third nationally.