Oregon State’s defensive line got a bigger, heavier look over the summer, and the Beavers believe the two junior college additions can make an immediate difference.
Lolani Finau and Cameron Hewitt arrived in Corvallis on back-to-back days in June, giving Oregon State an older interior line with added bulk and game experience. Defensive coordinator Mike MacIntyre said the pair can help right away.
“They’re able to come in and help us,” MacIntyre said. “They give us good size and good power.”
Finau brings production along with the frame. The 6-foot-3, 285-pound tackle posted 21 tackles, including four for loss, at El Camino College last season.
He also added 3.5 sacks and a fumble recovery. Coach JaMarcus Shephard described the junior as “very strong” and “violent” for a true defensive tackle.
Hewitt is even bigger. Listed at 6-foot-2 and 320 pounds, he arrived with the expectation of working as a nose tackle and is the second-heaviest defensive lineman on the roster behind Jacob Schuster. He can handle two gaps, which gives Oregon State another anchor in the middle.
“He’s going to be someone that’s going to allow us to really be able to hold up on our defensive line,” Shephard said. “That was the one thing I was really concerned about after spring, is some of the girth and mass. We got some guys like Daniel Matagi who’s a technician, who can play multiple gaps quickly but sometimes you need a guy who can anchor down in there.”
Hewitt played at Mississippi Gulf Coast as a freshman and finished that season with 10 tackles. His strength has already caught the attention of teammates, including Matagi, who made The Athletic’s annual Freak List after a max bench press over 500 pounds and a back squat of 630 pounds.
“I’d say he’s just as strong or stronger than I am in some cases,” Matagi said.
The Beavers plan to use Finau and Hewitt at both tackle spots, and their presence has become even more valuable in fall camp with reserves Tiger Black and Jesse Myers limited for several practices.
“Those guys have been very, very important to what we think we can do going into the future,” Shephard said.
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