Oregon State had no trouble spreading the ball around in its 52-17 win over Montana, and that depth is exactly what makes Saturday night’s trip to El Paso worth watching. Head coach JaMarcus Shephard clearly wants his offense to keep everybody involved, and the Beavers’ quarterbacks hit nine different targets against the Grizzlies. With that in mind, there are a few names that stand out as the matchup with UTEP approaches.
One of the most interesting is true freshman Garrison, who made the most of his 14 touches last Saturday night. It’s hard to draw sweeping conclusions from second-half snaps in a blowout, but Shephard did single him out afterward for the way he leaned into contact and kept his pads low. That kind of usage suggests Garrison may be moving himself into the mix at halfback, even if the rotation is still taking shape.
Aeryn Hampton is already carving out a major role in the passing game. The Alabama transfer has become a reliable option for Braden Atkinson, ranking second on the team with 14 catches through the first three games.
Against Montana, the sophomore turned in 94 receiving yards and a touchdown, and a lot of his grabs have moved the chains. With Jesse Legree drawing double teams, Hampton’s workload looks ready to keep climbing.
On the other side of the ball, senior defensive back Vickers looks like a player who has taken a real step forward. The coaching staff had pointed to his offseason progress, and the early returns back that up.
He was active all over the field against Montana, finishing with five solo tackles and assisting on three more. Against a UTEP offense that leans on the run, that kind of tackling ability in space could matter plenty.
Aj Newberry is another piece worth tracking after a strong showing last weekend. The senior Vandy transfer had been quieter in Oregon State’s first two games against Houston and Texas Tech, when the Beavers’ offensive line was outmatched.
But with more room to work against Montana, he looked far more comfortable, rushing for 45 yards on seven carries and adding several first-down catches out of the backfield. That versatility gives Mitch Dahlen’s offense more ways to attack, and Newberry should be in line for another busy night against the Miners.
In Other News...
Oregon State Faces One Concern It Can't Afford On The Road
Oregon State heads to UTEP still chasing its first win under coach Jamarcus Shephard, and the Beavers know the margin for error shrinks quickly in a road setting. The matchup puts a premium on balance on offense and on the kind of steady special teams work that can keep a game from turning sideways before the fourth quarter ever arrives.
Shephard has already flagged special teams as an area that has been uneven, a concern that stands out even more after the punt trouble late against Montana. And with UTEP likely to lean on creative pressure, disguised coverages and even the occasional trick look to unsettle the Beavers, Oregon States ability to stay composed and clean could end up being one of the defining factors of the night. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon States First Road Test Could Expose A Big UTEP Problem
Oregon States first road trip of the season lands Saturday at 6 p.m. in the Sun Bowl, where the Beavers will get a closer look at a UTEP team still trying to settle in under coach Scotty Walden. A Q&A with UTEP beat reporter Bret Bloomquist painted a picture of a program in transition, with quarterback EJ Colson facing growing pains and running back Tavorus Jones still needing to be featured more consistently as the Miners sort out what they want their offense to be.
Bloomquist also pointed to the chess match on the other side of the ball, where UTEP will have to decide how much attention to devote to Oregon States Jesse Legree and the rest of the Beaver attack. The matchup comes with the kind of uncertainty that can make an early road game tricky, and it has enough moving parts that even a game that looks manageable on paper still carries some tension before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma State Faces A Road Test That Could Expose Everything
Oklahoma State heads into its Big 12 opener with a road trip that should tell plenty about where the Cowboys stand early in conference play. West Virginia brings a physical identity that starts with the run game and is amplified by quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr., while the Mountaineers also have shown they can get after opposing passers and force offenses to stay on schedule.
For Oklahoma State, that means the challenge is as much about discipline as it is about talent. The Cowboys defense will need to slow the ground game and avoid giving West Virginia easy momentum, while the offense has to be efficient enough to make the Mountaineers pay when they overcommit. There is room to create chances, though, because West Virginia has also been prone to giving up explosive plays, and that could end up being the swing factor if Oklahoma State can hold up long enough to find them. [Read more 🡒]