Amid changes in the Oregon State football program that includes the loss of two of its top three coaches, two of its top three quarterbacks, and its place in a power five conference, there is one aspect that seems certain; the Beaver defense is going to be “gnarly” again in 2024.
That was apparent in the Spring Showcase when the Beaver defense crushed the offensive line and stymied a new and unprepared offense.
As I mentioned in June, new defensive coordinator Keith Heyward was a spectacular hire by head coach Trent Bray and Heyward’s effectiveness was on clear display in that Showcase.
Although the defensive front seven is mostly a puzzle of new faces, the talent is terrific.
Defensive tackle Semisi Saluni appeared in 13 games last year and he’ll be joined by 325-pound, four-star Minnesota transfer Jack Schuster to plug the middle. Although Schuster is not a threat to chase down quarterbacks, he is a threat to squash a few running backs.
Oregon State’s defense will apply pressure with incoming Northern Colorado transfer Nick Norris and the planned return of defensive end Takari Hickle if he is healthy. Last season, Norris had 85 tackles with 10.5 for loss while Hickle averaged one-half sack per game despite not starting.
All three of OSU’s top linebackers are gone but the Beavers picked up Wyoming’s coveted Oluwaseyi Omotosho and the top junior college linebacker, Nikko Taylor. Putting those two with rising star Melvin Jordan IV will creat a formidable pressure group.
Expect Missouri transfer D.J. Wesolak to grab another LB spot. As a high school senior, Wesolak was a four-star recruit who held over 50 college scholarship offers which included Alabama, Georgia, LSU, USC, Clemson, Penn State, MIchigan, Notre Dame, Texas and Oregon.
It is clear that OSU’s secondary is going to be a menace to opposing receivers. Not only are they athletic, but they are lengthy.
The return of Jaden Robinson at one corner will go with transfer Kobe Singleton who was an unapologetic thief at 13-1 Liberty last season as he finished in the top-20 of the nation’s most prolific interceptors.
Safety Skyler Thomas is back from a knee injury and with him added to the secondary, opposing quarterbacks are going to find it hard to place the ball against Oregon State. At 6’2″, 200 pounds, Thomas is a beast who teammates declared “NFL-ready” when he was just a sophomore.
My system projects the OSU defense to be among the 35 best in the nation.
Defense is going to be fine but the OSU offense is problematic.
The offensive line returns only Joshua Gray as a fixture although he is moving to the interior and will need time to adjust.
He will get help from center Van Wells who started 18 games at Colorado. Although the Colorado offensive line was terrible, Wells was solid.
Former Thurston High School [Springfield, Or] star Grant Starck was an All-Mountain West nominee at Nevada in 2022 and he will fill another OL position while 313 pound sophomore guard Nathan Elu appears ready to step into another.
The work of new offensive line coach Kyle Devan is going to be the most critical part of Oregon State’s success in 2024. Coach Devan rates high in my savvygameline.com ratings so it seems likely he will get the job done. Perhaps a better question is – when?
If the line does not come together, it will be a shame because the Beavers are holding a full house of talented skill players.
With an unproven line and a change in schemes, it seems likely that Missouri transfer quarterback Gabarri Johnson will become the Beavers’ starting quarterback.
Johnson came out of high school as a four star recruit and was listed among the top ten quarterbacks in the nation. As a high school senior he threw for 28 touchdowns and just two interceptions while rushing for 15 touchdowns and over six yards per carry. He had offers from a score of impressive colleges that included Utah, Washington, and Oregon.
Eli Drinkwitz, his former coach at Missouri said, “Gabarri was a born leader and that’s something at that position you’ve got to always be excited about. He’s a play-maker with his feet and his arm. He’s got the ability to throw and he’s an accurate passer. He’s also got that ‘B-button’ quickness and shake-and-bake ability.”
Although Ben Gulbranson has much more experience as an OSU quarterback, he has little in common with the new schemes and he’s not likely to escape pressure that opponents are certain to bring.
Also in the mix for the qb spot is Idaho transfer quarterback Gevani McCoy who is a good scrambler but I believe his interception rate gives the advantage to Johnson.
There are many capable running backs so if the ball doesn’t move on the ground, it won’t be for lack of capable ball carriers.
Jam Griffin returned to Corvallis and is likely to be the primary ball-carrier although Anthony Hankerson has been turning heads since his transfer from Colorado.
Both are prime time talents but what I am eager to see is pure freshman Cornell Hatcher from powerhouse Centennial High School in Corona, California. Despite CHS playing what has been called the toughest schedule of any high school in America, Hatcher rushed for over 2200 yards at nine yards per attempt. He scored a mind-boggling 42 touchdowns as a senior.
He gained 554 yards and scored 10 touchdowns in just three games. And — oh yes — all three of those games were against nationally ranked opponents, Bishop Gorman of Nevada, Mater Dei and St. John Bosco, both of California.
The Los Angeles Times named Hatcher the Back of the Year for Southern California.
Do the Beavers have receivers?
Yes and no.
Portland native Darrius Clemons transferred from Michigan and he has set the program on fire with his speed, athleticism, and will to win. At 6’3″, 215 pounds, Clemons is a monster that must be fed and the only thing he eats is pigskin so the Beavers must find a way to get the ball to him.
The other four top outside receiver candidates had only 14 combined receptions last year and that tells me that pure freshman Malachi Durant is going to be given a chance and once he’s on the field, coaches won’t be able to take him off.
Durant is a dynamic athlete who can take the ball to the end zone on every reception.
Another advantage Durant has is a long-standing relationship with quarterback Gabarri Johnson.
So, Oregon State has two dynamite receivers but unproven depth.
OSU lost all four of its top tight ends but Jermaine Terry and walk-on Bryce Caufield appear ready to start. However, Oregon State is eager to run some two tight end schemes so depth is an issue.
One outstanding football publication expects Oregon State to finish 6-6 while another ranks the Beavers 87th in the preseason.
As things stand today my Savygameline.com system says the Beavers will win 7.5 games and finish in the top 60.
That record will come with wins over Idaho State, Purdue, Colorado State, Nevada, San Jose State, and Washington Sate while splitting UNLV, San Diego State, and California.
Losses will be to Oregon, Air Force, and Boise State.
Savvy Game Line 