CORVALLIS, Ore. — Through all the noise of the offseason and into camp, Trent Bray tried to keep the Oregon State Beavers focused on what they could control.
That’s not exactly the easiest situation for a first-time head coach to step into, considering the uncertainty about the future of the Beavers.
“All we can control is winning and if we win and we’re successful, then we’re going to be valuable whenever that shakes up again,” Bray said.
Oregon State is about to begin a season unlike any other in Corvallis. Along with Washington State, the Beavers find themselves stuck in college football purgatory facing uncertainty about their future following the collapse of the Pac-12.
Bray is correct — winning would help in a season where the attention will be amplified. But finding those wins will be more challenging given the circumstances.
Bray took over after Jonathan Smith left his alma mater for the same position at Michigan State.
The Beavers were one of the schools hammered by the transfer portal, losing the likes of quarterbacks DJ Uiagalelei (Florida State) and Aidan Chiles (Michigan State), star running back Damien Martinez (Miami), wide receiver Silas Bolden (Texas) and safety Akili Arnold (USC).
Nearly a quarter of Oregon State’s roster from last season will play elsewhere this year.
Still, Bray is confident in what this team could become.
“The physical talent is here. I think from a size, strength, speed standpoint, it’s here,” Bray said. “We can win the games we need to win with the talent that we have here. Now, it’s just going to be how fast can we come together? How fast can we play? Because that’s been one thing, we’ve done a great job of the last couple of years is our guys play fast and they play physical.”
Under center
The biggest question for the Beavers is who will take over at quarterback with the departures of Uiagalelei and Chiles. Ben Gulbranson has the most experience, playing in 10 games during the 2022 season. But the competition has become a three-way battle with Idaho transfer Gevani McCoy and Missouri transfer Gabarri Johnson also in the mix. Johnson has yet to play in a game, but McCoy was a first-team all-Big Sky selection and a Walter Payton Award finalist last season.
Skill spots
The loss of Martinez and Bolden means the Beavers need to find replacements for their leading rusher and leading pass catcher. Anthony Hankerson, a transfer from Colorado, and Jam Griffin, who two years ago rushed for 488 yards for the Beavers, are the likeliest to take the carries in the backfield. Michigan transfer Darrius Clemons, Trent Walker, Jeremiah Noga and freshman Malachi Durant all have a chance to be big contributors in the pass game.
Build the dam
Bray has given up his duties as defensive coordinator, handing those off to Keith Heyward. But if the Beavers are going to be successful, they’ll again need to be stingy on defense.
The Beavers have a couple of standouts in the secondary with the return of Jaden Robinson and the addition of Liberty transfer Kobe Singleton. Linebacker could also be a strength for Oregon State with the duo of Isaiah Chisom and Melvin Jordan on the inside.
But the defensive line is a major question. The Beavers are counting on big seasons from Semisi Saluni and Jacob Schuster to make up for some major losses, highlighted by Sione Lolohea’s transfer to Florida State.
The schedule
The Beavers open with Idaho State before a challenging three-week stretch at San Diego State, home for rival Oregon and hosting Purdue. The Beavers will also face former conference foe California in a nonconference game, and the final three weeks will be a challenge playing at Air Force, hosting Washington State and closing the regular season at Boise State.
