Several Tigers Headed to Play at Next Level

Written by Eric Pacheco, RCC sports information intern

Continuing the tradition of sending players onto the next level, the Tigers transferred 23 players to four-year universities for the 2026 season, including 18 Division I transfers.

• Ross Nickson (WR) is headed to Oregon State after logging 505 yards with 10 touchdowns last season. 
• Myles Hancock (DL) transfers to Ball State after he totaled 20 tackles with a sack and a forced fumble with the Tigers in 2025. 
• Matt Lashley (DB) heads to New Mexico State. Last season, Lashley averaged 2.3 tackles per game and snagged two interceptions.
• Bryan Wilson (QB) makes his way to Alcorn State. Wilson was named the Southern California Football Association National-Southern Most Valuable Offensive Player of the Year. He threw for 19 touchdowns while also adding seven more on the ground.
• Jared Doolittle (QB) transfers to Gardner-Webb after playing for the Tigers. Last year, Doolittle threw for 1,526 yards and 16 touchdowns. 
• Elijah Vasquez (WR) will join his fellow Tiger at Gardner-Webb. Last season, Vasquez notched 160 yards in eight games.
• Walter Manning (DB) is headed to Western Kentucky. Manning totaled 22 tackles, one for a loss and an interception in 2025.
• Micah Valenzuela (LB) transferred to Eastern Illinois. Valenzuela earned first-team Southern California Football Association defensive honors after leading the team with 111 total tackles in 2025. 
• David Trujillo (OL) will also join the team at Eastern Illinois. Last year, Trujillo helped limit defensive sacks to just 16 on the year.
• Kayvion Sibley (RB) is headed to Northern Arizona. Sibley earned Southern California Football Association first-team offensive honors, averaging 103.3 yards per game and scoring 10 rushing touchdowns last season with RCC. 
• Jayden Fernandez (LS) joins the roster at Idaho after manning the special teams unit at Riverside and helping the Tigers to a 70.8% field goal percentage and 34 yards per punt.
• Sha'heem Taylor (DB) is also headed to Idaho. Last year, Taylor notched 25 tackles with an interception.
• Carl Brenaugh (OL) transfers to East Texas A&M from Riverside after helping protect the Tigers' quarterbacks and helping the Riverside offense to 48.4 points per game. 
• Beau Bruins (TE/FB) transferred to Arkansas-Pine Bluff mid-year. Last season, Bruins earned Southern California Football Association second-team offensive honors, grabbing 14 receptions on the year, totaling 120 yards on the year, and scoring two receiving touchdowns.
• Trinidad Wilson (OL) is headed to Southern. Last year, Wilson earned Southern California Football Association first-team offensive honors and helped keep RCC's sacks down to 16 on the year and helped the Tigers boast a 43 percent third-down conversion rate, along with a 56 percent fourth-down conversion percentage.
• Donald Smith (DB) makes his way to Charlotte. In 2025, Smith averaged 2.8 tackles per game, good for 25 on the year with two interceptions.
• Mateo Licon (WR) heads to Stony Brook. Last year, Licon had a kick return for 46 yards against San Diego Mesa on Nov. 8.
• Hunter Letua (LB) transfers to Western New Mexico after helping manage the gaps with 31 total tackles, 3.5 of those for loss and 1.5 sacks.
• Devon Nofoa-Masoe (RB) also makes his way to Western New Mexico after finishing last year with 110 yards and three touchdowns.
• Arash Taghian (DB) makes it a triple deal at Western New Mexico. Taghian totaled 11 tackles in 2024 for the Tigers.
• Nyko Alvarez (OL) heads to Southern Nazarene after recording a sack and a forced fumble in the Tigers' bowl game against Fullerton on Nov. 17.
• Philander Lee (DL) makes his way to Midwestern State. In 2025, Lee totaled 13 tackles, two for loss and 1.5 sacks.