JaMarcus Shephard didn’t hand out any depth-chart gifts on day one of fall camp, but he did leave Oregon State fans with a few reasons to lean in.
The Beavers’ head coach made it clear the quarterback decision is staying locked down for now. The staff won’t start sitting down with players about roles until two weeks before the opener at Houston, so the QB1 answer is still coming later. For the moment, though, Shephard liked what he saw from the group.
“I felt like our quarterbacks were seeing the field really well. They threw some balls that I don't think that they were throwing during spring ball.
And they took the liberty of attacking the defense a little bit more because they threw in some tighter windows. And it was good to see.
It was good to see that they weren't reckless with the ball either. That, to me, is the part that we needed to clean up over the summer.
And it was pretty good today.”
That competition still looks like a three-man race among Maalik Murphy, Braden Atkinson, and Brady Jones, with the first snaps against the Houston Cougars still up for grabs.
Up front, Shephard sounded just as encouraged about an area that has haunted Oregon State for years: the offensive line. Since the Taliese Fuaga era, the Beavers have been searching for a group that can stay healthy, communicate cleanly, and hold up in the trenches. On this first look, Shephard thought the line brought the right kind of edge.
“Today, it looked pretty good. I was very happy to see what we did today.
Now I got to go watch the film and make sure we had a couple of communication errors. But as far as the physicality and toughness, and how they approached their assignments, it was very, very encouraging.”
One player earned especially strong praise: Tyler Voltin.
“I love Tyler Voltin. Period.
If any of you write anything bad about Tyler Voltin, I probably won't answer any more of your questions. I love that guy.
He is an excellent communicator. He's somebody who took my challenges to heart.
I think he lost 35 pounds because one of the first conversations we had, 'You are way too heavy.' He looks like a guy who can go out there and dominate the football game.
I'm just so proud of him. He never missed anything.
His name did not show up on a single list, even while he was banged up. I love the kid.”
The other big jolt came from outside the current roster. Jordan Poyer, the former two-star prospect from Astoria and All-Pro NFL safety, showed up at Reser Stadium and addressed the team before practice got rolling. Shephard said Poyer’s message centered on energy, and on the way it can carry a team.
“Honestly, with our staff, I really put it on their plate to have great energy. Jordan Poyer came in yesterday and spoke to the team.
And he spoke highly about the energy that he felt from his teams in Buffalo and when he was in Cleveland. And that energy really sparked and pushed him to be successful.
And he said he could feel the energy all the way over on the East Coast coming from Corvallis.”
That tone showed up quickly on the field, too. The media’s first look at fall camp practice came with the kind of buzz usually reserved for a later stage of camp, not day one.
Warm-ups had the feel of a mid-season scrimmage, and the intensity matched it. For a fan base that’s been waiting to see that kind of juice again, it was a notable opening beat.
In Other News...
Oregon State Faces One Defining Fall Camp Test
Fall camp has become less about slogans and more about sorting out who Oregon State wants to be this season. Offensive coordinator Mitch Dahlen and defensive coordinator Mike MacIntyre have both spent the opening stretch stressing identity, with Dahlen pointing to effort, quarterback confidence and winning individual matchups, while MacIntyre has focused on restoring a more physical defense and building a group that can hold up from the start.
The bigger challenge for the Beavers is making those ideas show up once the pads keep popping and the reps get longer. MacIntyre has talked about player maturity, simplifying the defensive package and cross-training players at multiple spots, which gives Oregon State some flexibility, but it also puts a premium on how quickly the roster absorbs the details. For a team still defining its edges, fall camp is where the first real answers have to emerge. [Read more 🡒]
Mitch Dahlen Is Building A New Oregon State Identity Fast
Mitch Dahlen has wasted little time putting his stamp on Oregon State as the Beavers first-year offensive coordinator, and the early message is less about schemes than attitude. He is trying to build a culture rooted in respect and toughness, one that changes how this team carries itself every day and how opponents experience it on the field.
The interesting part is how aggressively Dahlen is framing that identity. He has made it clear he wants the Beavers to play with a level of edge that stands out immediately, the kind of physicality that turns heads inside the program and across the league. For a team looking to define itself quickly under a new coordinator, that sort of hard-nosed standard can set a tone well beyond August. [Read more 🡒]