CORVALLIS - Oregon State found a useful answer in a place it needed one, and Gyriece Goodman has made the move count.
After spending the past two seasons as an undersized outside linebacker who rarely saw the field, Goodman shifted into a nickel safety role this offseason and has given the Beavers a noticeable lift on defense. He added seven pounds over the summer and is now listed at 6-foot-2 and 212 pounds, a better fit for a spot that had become a need for Oregon State.
Defensive coordinator Mike MacIntyre said Goodman’s athleticism stood out in the spring and helped trigger the change.
“His maturation process has been phenomenal and his work ethic and playing in space,” MacIntyre said. “Now his ability to blitz and his speed off the edge, (against UTEP) you saw him be able to do all that.”
The results have shown up even though Goodman has dealt with a broken left hand suffered before the season. He has produced his best stretch since arriving at Oregon State, recording 19 tackles, one sack and two pass breakups.
His sack on the final play of the first half against UTEP stood out, knocking out any chance of a field goal attempt and possibly more if EJ Colson Jr. had gotten the throw away.
“Immediately when he changed positions we could see that our defense had gotten better because of it,” Oregon State coach JaMarcus Shephard said. “Extremely rewarding for him, but something that we expected and do expect from Gyriece because he has been that kind of player from the time that we got here all the way up until this point. ... Obviously that was probably his most complete game as a player.”
Goodman said the move did not feel like a major adjustment, pointing out that he had already played nickel at Garden City Community College. In 2023 there, he totaled 59 tackles, 12.5 for loss, 2.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and three pass breakups.
Still, the switch came with real demands. Nickel is a key position in the defense, and Goodman had to absorb a new playbook and new terminology while learning the role.
For Oregon State, the timing worked. The defense needed a new starting nickel, and Goodman had the versatility to step in.
“Gyriece is a warrior in the weight room,” Shephard said. “In spring when we went through our fourth quarter drills he competed his rear end off the entire time. I’m excited that he’s reaping the rewards of all the hard work that he’s put in.”
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