BOISE In Oregon State’s record book, the 2024 season record of 5-7 won’t be remembered as anything special.
Some Beavers left Friday’s regular season finale against No. 11 Boise State with a memorable experience.
Anthony Hankerson, who finished the season with 1,082 yards, rushed for 110 yards in a 34-18 loss. It marks Oregon State’s 19th 1,000-yard season and their 18th-best season overall.
In the second quarter, Hankerson, a junior who transferred from Colorado the previous winter, also ran 83 yards for a touchdown. It is the longest run since Ryan Nall’s 89-yard touchdown against Washington State in 2016 and tied for seventh longest at Oregon State.
Trent Walker’s season total rose to 81 after he caught five passes. Walker has caught more passes in a season than just six Beavers.
Hankerson and Walker have one thing in common: they arrived at Oregon State in search of a chance. They all cashed in.
Hankerson wanted to become an all-down back when he left Colorado. With 27 pass receptions and 232 carries this season, he was OSU’s most prolific running back. Since Jermar Jefferson in 2018, no Oregon State running back has amassed as many touches as this one (259).
He is a gifted musician. He works quite hard. He simply grinds. He is tough. He just keeps fighting despite having bruises on both shoulders and his ankle. Regarding Hankerson, OSU coach Trent Bray remarked, “He’s just the guy you’re looking for.”
Hankerson is pleased with his 1,000-yard performance. All he can say is that he wishes the situation had been different.
We have not prevailed. It’s not the same. According to Hankerson, the sensation is different.
At Colorado, Hankerson almost doubled his two-season total of running yards.
There seems to be a lot of meat left on the bone. But unquestionably better than the previous two years of college. Hankerson stated, “I’m going to use that and improve my game a lot next season.”
Hankerson’s season-best play came late in the second quarter of the 2024 finale, when he ran 83 yards for a score after busting off the right side.
Hankerson made a pretty good play call.
According to Hankerson, the offensive line became large and had excellent push, so I simply concealed behind them and struck it. However, it wasn’t a straightforward sprint to the finish line. About 15 yards from the end zone, Hankerson had to break and dodge tackles in order to score.
According to Hankerson, there was never any question. You simply need to accentuate that finish once you break that far and you notice some males coming. It’s definitely a fantastic thing to record.
Hankerson claims that he has finished using the transfer portal. Next season, he will be back at Oregon State.
It was quite the teaser this year. We’re going to have a big year next year, Hankerson stated.
Hankerson’s 15 running touchdowns this season tied him with Steven Jackson (2002) for sixth place all-time at OSU, which is another remarkable achievement.
Walker’s tale is that of a walk-on who became the Beavers’ top receiver and a scholarship player. After catching 81 passes for 901 yards during his first three years at OSU, the Beaverton High graduate had five grabs for 66 yards. Walker’s two greatest games were against San Jose State, when he caught 11 passes for 151 yards, and against Washington State, where he caught 12 passes for 136 yards.
Walker left the game with a lower leg injury early in the fourth quarter against Boise State, ending his day.
Walker was described by Bray as a self-made man who rose to become one of our finest players, if not the best.
This season, there are two additional historical pieces:
At 37 yards, Everett Hayes made his 35th career field goal, ranking third in Oregon State history.
Joshua Gray, an offensive lineman, began his 56th game in his career. That’s a record from school.
The contact information for Nick Daschel is 360-607-4824, [email protected], or @nickdaschel.
Your support is essential to our journalism. Sign up for OregonLive.com now.
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!
