Amid changes in the Oregon State football program that include 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 inevitable: 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, unprepared offense.
As I mentioned in June, head coach Trent Bray’s spectacular hire of new defensive coordinator Keith Heyward clearly demonstrated Heyward’s effectiveness in that Showcase.
Although the defensive front seven is primarily 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. Adding those two to rising star Melvin Jordan IV will form 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 with over 50 college scholarship offers, including from Alabama, Georgia, LSU, USC, Clemson, Penn State, Michigan, Notre Dame, Texas, and Oregon.
It is clear that OSU’s secondary will be a menace to opposing receivers. Not only are they athletic, but they are also 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, finishing 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 will find it hard to place the ball against Oregon State. At 6’2″, 200 pounds, Thomas is a beast whose teammates declared was “NFL-ready” when he was just a sophomore.
My system projects the OSU defense to be among the 35 best in the nation.
The defense will 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. 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 will be the most critical part of Oregon State’s success in 2024. Coach Devan rates high in my savvygameline.com ratings, so he will likely 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 hold a full house of talented players.
With an unproven line and a change in schemes, Missouri transfer quarterback Gabarri Johnson seems likely to become the Beavers’ starting quarterback.
Johnson was a four-star recruit out of high school and was listed among the top ten quarterbacks in the nation. As a 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 number of impressive colleges, including 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 playmaker with his feet and his arm. He has the ability to throw and is 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 the pressure that opponents are certain to bring.
Also in the mix for the quarterback spot is Idaho transfer quarterback Gevani McCoy, who is a good scrambler, but I believe his interception rate gives Johnson the advantage.
There are many capable running backs, so if the ball doesn’t move on the ground, it won’t be because of the lack of capable ball carriers.
Jam Griffin returned to Corvallis and is likely the primary ball carrier, although Anthony Hankerson has been turning heads since his transfer from Colorado.
Both are prime-time talents, but I am eager to see 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?
Absolutely.
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″and 215 pounds, Clemons is a monster that must be fed. 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, which tells me that pure freshman Malachi Durant is going to be given a chance. 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.
OSU lost all four top tight ends, but Jermaine Terry and walk-on Bryce Caufield appear ready to start. However, Oregon State is eager to run two tight-end schemes, so depth is an issue.
One outstanding football publication expects Oregon State to finish with a 6-6 record, 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 State while splitting with UNLV, San Diego State, and California.
Losses will be to Oregon, Air Force, and Boise State.
Rankings for all FBS and FCS teams can be seen here.
