Oregon State football is hoping to reinvigorate its program after a disappointing 2025 season. Along with new Head Coach JaMarcus Shephard, one of the more intriguing storylines is the return of Maalik Murphy. Murphy struggled mightily last season and is hoping to rewrite his story in Corvallis. He was supposed to be the guy who pushed the program forward, but instead, OSU faltered to new lows. 2-10 proved embarrassing. Statistically, he could’ve been better, but the main problem was his lack of timeliness. He improved the passing offense from 92nd to 64th in yards per game, so there’s a potential upside. This article will highlight three factors that will determine whether he’ll return to the nine-win starter he used to be.
Spring Game
Even with his troubles a year ago, he will be the starter this season. Shephard hasn’t officially been named QB1, but any other decision would be odd.
Murphy didn’t dominate the spring game; he only threw for 155 yards and was 16 of 21. But he’s the most experienced quarterback the team has; he’s also the most athletic.
This also isn’t the type of situation that you want to throw a new signal caller into.
The offensive line is missing more than half of its starters, and this should prove a glaring issue all season. Even when healthy, this group may struggle.
It sounds basic, but a veteran will likely know when to throw the ball away.
Another thing to consider is that the receivers are unproven and inexperienced.
They have one key returner in Eddie Freauff. Freauff had 12 catches, 144 yards, and one touchdown a year ago. But outside of him, it’s bare.
He’ll need support from freshmen like Jesse Legree and Cynai Thomas to make the receiving core formidable.
The Beavers are talented in other areas, but this team needs a veteran quarterback.
https://www.oregonlive.com/beavers/2026/04/10-takeaways-from-oregon-states-spring-game.html
https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/oregon-state-defense-wins-spring-010414772.html
The Coach
Right now, it feels like Murphy needs some confidence. Shephard is the guy to infuse that spirit.
One of the reasons the hiring committee decided on him is that he’s motivational. He speaks with passion and has been known to get the guys going.
He is also a former wide receiver. He played his college ball at DePauw University, a Division III school in Indiana. His experience as a wideout may help the receivers understand the game at a higher level.
He can teach them intricacies that only someone who played the position would know. This can only benefit Murphy.
In terms of offensive strategy, no one knows what to expect this season.
Mitch Dahlen’s a first-time high-level offense coordinator, and this is Shephard’s first stint as a head coach.
But this team will likely rely on short passes due to limitations in protecting the quarterback. They also have an excellent tight end group; all six of them had a catch in the spring game.
Maalik’s last year was tough, but he chose to stay in Corvallis. That’s the type of character a head coach can build behind.
Maalik in the Middle
What happened last year wasn’t entirely Murphy’s fault. The Beavs lost multiple heartbreaking games.
If Oregon State could’ve flipped the scores against Sam Houston State, App State, and Houston, they would’ve been 5-7. Sometimes the vibes are off, and it’s a collection rather than an individual.
He threw for 1,805 yards, nine touchdowns, and eight interceptions a year ago.
Because of his struggles a season ago, it’s easy to forget how dominant he was in the ACC.
He threw for 2,933 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions in his final season at Duke. The 9-3 record also indicates that he’s a winner; he needs to remember how.
He improved the Beavers’ passing attack a year ago, has gotten it done in a power conference, and has the potential to be one of the better signal callers in the Pac-12 this season.
He doesn’t need to drop 26 tuddy’s like he did with the Blue Devils, but he needs to play better than he did last year.
Conclusion
No one knows exactly what to make of the Beavers this year, but they should have enough talent to remain competitive amidst a difficult schedule. This team needed a change, and hopefully Shephard’s the right fit. It usually takes a couple of years for a coach to instill his vision within the program, so having Murphy could prove vital in his inaugural year.
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