As winter training intensifies and spring practice approaches in less than eight weeks, here are some things you should know about the Oregon State football team:
At least 11 additional players will be added to Oregon State’s 2025 roster through the transfer portal. Beavers coach Trent Bray expected to attract roughly six transfers to meet needs last fall.
What was different?
According to Bray, additional players became available at the positions the Beavers needed, while other positions offered intriguing choices. Additionally, there was interest on both sides. Every transfer had in common a prior relationship between the player and OSU coaches.
Although we weren’t specifically trying to fill any roles, Bray stated that they were interested in us after a man who could improve our football team became available. Compared to previous year, when we were in a bit of a rush, there was greater comfort in knowing who we were bringing in.
Six freshmen from the December signing period, along with all 11, are on campus for the winter quarter.
Picture of a quarterback: This tiny position group will grow over the next few weeks. Gabarri Johnson and Kallen Gutridge, who returned, are joined by Duke transfer Maalik Murphy. Dom Montiel (transfer portal), Gevani McCoy (transfer to Texas State), and Ben Gulbranson (medical school) are no longer there.
Tristan Tia, a senior in high school, will sign with OSU in February. Since you’re going to lose them anyhow, Bray stated that he doesn’t want more than four quarterbacks on scholarship. During the February signing window, Bray intends to add at least one additional walk-on quarterback.
On its second attempt to court the Duke quarterback, OSU was successful in acquiring Murphy. Murphy tried to transfer from Texas a year ago and was pursued by the Beavers. Murphy and Oregon State coaches only had him on campus for a few hours due to weather and missed planes, so it was a hurried visit.
Murphy experienced Oregon State in its entirety this time.
Bray stated, “I believe he was able to see and feel this place that he wasn’t able to a year ago.” I believe he simply felt better about us.
Gulbranson, who started three of the last four games of OSU’s 2024 season, is moving on to the next stage of his life, according to Bray.He claimed that soon after the season, the two spoke.
“I completely understand his desire to focus on his next phase of life and pursue medical school,” Bray added. He has endured a lot and had a fantastic career here. We had a wonderful and constructive talk.
Offensive line: It was crucial to have transfers J.T. Hand (Arizona), Joshua Timoteo (Nevada), and Keyon Cox (Central Florida) prepared to play in Corvallis in January because four starters were graduating. There will be more reinforcements soon. Tyler Morano, a 6-foot-5, 290-pound fifth-year junior who sustained an injury last spring, may play in the second half of spring practice, but he will undoubtedly be back by August, according to Bray. Another junior in his fifth year, Tyler Voltin, started at right guard before tearing his ACL against San Diego State. He hopes to play during preseason camp.
Due to a shortage of players, Dylan Sikorski briefly played defensive line but will be making a full-time return to offensive line in spring.
Receiver/tight end: T Andre Waverly, a 6-4, 225-pound senior from Kamiak High (Wash.), is the newest player added to the 2025 roster. Waverly signed in December but postponed his announcement for the bowl game. He made his pledge public last Saturday at the Navy All-American Bowl.
As a track athlete, Waverly’s game is characterized by speed, as evidenced by his 10.6-second 100-meter run. Waverly is portrayed by Bray as a tight end with versatility and the potential to gain 25 pounds.
You could roam around with him when he was off the ball and engage in heavier settings like 12 personnel. Bray stated, “You want to use him to disperse people and cause mismatches.”
Jimmy Valsin III, a receiver who was hurt during camp last August, is training but is unlikely to make a comeback until preseason camp. With 11 receptions for 154 yards in 2023, Valsin, who is entering his fifth year at OSU, showed some promise.
Fourth-year receiver Jamai East, who missed the 2024 season due to an injury, is also not anticipated until August camp.
Inside linebacker: Makiya Tongue, who has been out for 16 months due to a catastrophic knee injury, may make a comeback this spring. During a game against San Diego State in September 2023, Tonguetore injured his left knee’s meniscus, patella tendon, ACL, and MCL.
According to Bray, Tongue is presently running on the ground. Bray is hopeful that Tongue will be fully operational when spring arrives based on reports he has received. I’ve been informed that it will most likely be the latter part of April.
Andy Alfieri is switching from tight end to outside linebacker on the defensive end. Due to defensive injuries last season, Alfieri, who transferred from California a year earlier as a tight end, played both positions.
Thomas Collins, a defensive tackle, is coming back. This isn’t really new, but a lot of athletes use social media to reconfirm their dedication for the next season. Collins is back, but he’s not one of those players.
Defensive tackle Tygee Hill, who transferred from LSU a year ago but has yet to play, remains with the program. Due to his involvement in a university inquiry, he was not active during the previous season. Hill recently filed a petition for alternative writ of mandamus against OSU s chief of police, asking for a speedy resolution to the matter. The focus of the investigation, which began before the outset of the 2024 season, is unknown.
Defensive end Nick Norris, who sustained a knee injury last August, is expected back this summer.
Special teams: A recent NCAA waiver allowing former junior college players who exhausted their eligibility this school year to participate in 2025 has benefited Oregon State. Outside linebacker Nikko Taylor and safety Tyrice Ivy are back. OSU is eyeing the return of a third qualifier in punter Josh Green. Bray said that Green, who played at Oregon State for five years but also spent one season in junior college, doesn t fall technically into the rule. But Bray adds there is a lot of gray area in waiver ruling, and they re hoping to get clarity on Green s situation within the next week.
Green set an Oregon State single-season record in 2024 with an average punt of 47.2 yards.
The contact information for Nick Daschel is 360-607-4824, [email protected], or @nickdaschel.
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