Chase Allgood
By Andrew Greif, The Oregonian/OregonLive
At this time a year ago there was buzz around Oregon State. Decision-makers connected to the program suggested the Beavers had what it took to end the 2017 season in a much different place than they began.
They were dead on — just in a way no one would have expected last summer.
Instead of turning the corner under coach Gary Andersen and finishing with the program’s first winning record since 2013, Andersen ejected from Corvallis on Oct. 9 after “mutually parting ways” with the university. OSU, which stumbled out of the gate with troubling nonconference performances, eventually staggered to a 1-11 record.
Enter Jonathan Smith. The former Oregon State QB who went from walk-on to miracle worker as a player was hired from Washington in December to lead the Beavers through another rebuild.
The Oregonian/OregonLive’s 2018 Pac-12 football preview continues today with the last of our Pac-12 North division installments: Oregon State.
1. Last season recap
That preseason positivity came into question after a 31-point opening loss to Colorado State and a three-point win over Portland State, a game the Vikings had a chance to tie at the end of regulation.
After losses to Minnesota, Washington State, Washington and USC by an average of 31.5 points, and the departure of Andersen, an energized Beavers team nearly beat Colorado, 36-33, in the first game under interim coach Cory Hall. OSU outgained Stanford and led by eight points in the final minute of the third quarter before the Cardinal scored the game-winning touchdown with 20 seconds left in regulation for a 15-14 win.
The final four weeks were all blowouts: to Cal by 14, Arizona by 21, Arizona State by 16 and Oregon by 59. The Beavers were outscored 516-248 on the season. Smith, Washington's offensive coordinator, was hired as coach Nov. 29.
Chase Allgood
Tight end Noah Togiai led OSU in receiving in 2017.
2. Superlatives
Leading returning rusher: Artavis Pierce, 323 yards (4.8 per carry) with one touchdown, for 26.9 yards per game.
Leading returning passer: Jake Luton, 853 yards on 61.5 percent passing with four touchdowns and four interceptions in four games (all starts) before suffering a season-ending thoracic spine fracture.
Leading returning receiver: Tight end Noah Togiai, whose 34 catches for 461 yards both led OSU. He also had two touchdown catches.
Leading returning tackler: Safety David Morris, whose 75 total tackles were second-most on the team. Inside linebacker Jonathan Willis is back after tying for the team lead with six tackles for loss.
Leading returning defensive back: Either Morris or fellow safety Jalen Moore, whose 75 stops tied for second on the team. Moore's three pass breakups tied for second-most on the team.
Chase Allgood
Jake Luton throws in April.
3. Returning all-conference players
Morris earned honorable mention honors.
4. Key losses
Running back Ryan Nall led OSU with 810 rushing yards and 1,050 all-purpose yards. Quarterback Darrel Garretson started the final eight games after Luton’s injury and completed 57.9 percent of his passes for 1,465 touchdowns, eight interceptions and six touchdowns. Linebacker Manase Hungalu earned honorable mention all-conference honors while recording a team-high 97 tackles (six for loss and a team-best two interceptions. Defensive backs Brandon Arnold and Kyle White combined for 46 tackles and two interceptions. Running back Thomas Tyner’s 297 rushing yards were third-most on the team and he scored three touchdowns.
Timothy Gonzelez
Oregon State running back Ryan Nall landed with the Chicago Bears following the NFL draft.
5. Breakout candidates
Offensively, sophomores receiver Isaiah Hodgins and running back Calvin Tyler. Hodgins started six games as a freshman with 31 catches for 275 yards. His touchdown catch against Portland State was the game-winner and allowed OSU to eke out its lone victory. The 5-foot-8, 193-pound Tyler averaged 20.2 yards per kickoff return.
Defensively, watch outside linebacker Kee Whetzel (26 tackles as a redshirt freshman last season), or safeties Jalen Moore and David Morris. Their presence in the secondary is a team strength (see, No. 6).
Chase Allgood
Calvin Tyler played in eight games as a freshman, running three times for 11 yards and returning nine kickoffs for an average of 20.2 yards.
Chase Allgood
The 6-foot-4, 200-pound sophomore receiver Isaiah Hodgins (17) showed flashes of potential last season and could be a breakout player in 2018.
6. A strength
Though Arnold and White are gone in the secondary the presence of Moore and Morris is key for new position coach Greg Burns and defensive coordinator Tim Tibesar. In addition to that pair of safeties there are veteran corners to help the defensive backs in Xavier Crawford (17 career starts), Dwayne Williams (11 starts), Shawn Wilson and Jay Irvine. Depth must be improved here, however.
Chase Allgood
Jalen Moore (33) is a vital component of Oregon State's secondary.
7. A weakness
The Beavers will be thin at numerous positions during this transition season under Smith but especially so in the trenches. Isaac Garcia, a redshirt freshman end who could be in line for backup snaps, is a converted outside linebacker, while fellow end Lamone Williams was hurt throughout spring. Jeromy Reichner, who could be a fall starter, only arrived this year after a community college transfer. On the offensive line four starters are back from a unit that struggled to run the ball in 2017, ranking ninth in the conference in rushing offense. Those starters include left guard Gus Lavaka, who earned all-conference honors from Athlon in 2016 and remains a sturdy option, and left tackle Blake Brandel, who has started 24 games the past two seasons.
Chase Allgood
Defensive tackle Elu Aydon has 37 tackles in 22 career games, making him one of OSU's most experienced options up front.
8. 2018 recruiting ranking
Oregon State’s 25-man class ranked 67th nationally and last in the conference. The highest-rated recruit, according to 247Sports’ composite ranking, is three-star running back Jermar Jefferson and JUCO quarterback Jack Colletto, who played in high school in Camas, Washington.
Chase Allgood
9. Coaching changes
Jonathan Smith's hiring means a wave of new assistants.
They include secondary coach Greg Burns, running backs coach Michael Pitre, offensive line coach Jim Michalczik, offensive coordinator/QBs coach Brian Lindgren, defensive coordinator Tim Tibesar, linebackers coach Trent Bray, special teams coach Jake Cookus, receivers coach Kefense Hynson and defensive line coach Legi Suiaunoa. Former OSU head coach Mike Riley was named assistant head coach and given the responsibility of coaching tight ends but in June left to coach a new San Antonio team as part of a new professional spring league and it remains unclear whether he will hold any consultancy role with OSU moving forward. In addition former Beavers great James Rodgers is OSU’s director of player development.
Chase Allgood
Defensive coordinator Tim Tibesar was Wisconsin's outside linebackers coach the past three seasons. He has previously been a defensive coordinator with North Dakota (2004-05), Kansas State (2007-08) the Montreal Alouettes of the CFL (2011) and Purdue (2012).
10. Schedule (all times PT)
Sept. 1 at Ohio State (9 a.m., ABC)
Sept. 8 vs. Southern Utah (5 p.m., Pac-12 Networks)
Sept. 15 at Nevada (4 p.m., ESPN3)
Sept. 22 vs. Arizona
Sept. 29 at Arizona State
Oct. 6 vs. Washington State
Oct. 20 vs. Cal
Oct. 27 at Colorado
Nov. 3 vs. USC
Nov. 10 at Stanford
Nov. 17 at Washington
Nov. 23 vs. Oregon (1 p.m., FS1)
Chase Allgood
Jalen Moore (left) and Timmy Hernandez. Hernandez, a senior wideout, has started 16 games over the past two seasons and has 49 career catches for 598 yards and four touchdowns.
Pac-12 previews
Catch up with our previous 2018 previews of the Pac-12 football season:
Stanford: Is a second straight North crown in Cardinal's sights?
Cal: Hope returns in Berkeley after Wilcox's first season
Washington: Could opening game springboard Huskies into CFP discussion?
Washington State: How much will Cougars' turnover impact program?
Oregon: Can Ducks take advantage with their promising defense, QB and schedule?
Josh Lefkowitz
Up next
Monday: Chip Kelly's UCLA Bruins begin our Pac-12 South previews.
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