Oregon State may finally have a tight end room built to matter in the passing game, and Eric Olsen looks like one of the names to watch.
That possibility has been on Mitch Dahlen’s mind since fall camp opened. The offensive coordinator said the group has real depth and hinted the Beavers may need to get creative to keep everyone involved.
"The tight end room is so deep," Dahlen said to the media during an availability at OSU's fall camp. "We're gonna have to get 'em on the field as many ways as possible, in 12 personnel and maybe even 13 if we have to."
Olsen arrived in Corvallis with momentum after a big year at Utah Tech. In 2025, he caught 51 passes for 566 yards, giving the Trail Blazers one of their more reliable receiving threats.
He had several standout outings along the way, including a 107-yard game against Central Arkansas and a six-catch performance in a close loss to UC Davis. He finished the season with four games of more than 50 receiving yards.
Now stepping into the FBS for his final season of eligibility, Olsen has spent the offseason trying to make himself harder to move and harder to miss. He said he was "living in the weight room" while adding ten pounds of muscle.
"Putting on weight as a tight end is really important because you're down there with guys who are going to outweigh you," Olsen said in an interview at the beginning of fall camp. "Having that extra size helps you to be able to keep your base and stay solid. The tight ends are going to be utilized a lot in this offense, and that's not only in the passing game, it's in the run-blocking game as well."
The numbers from last season came at a lower level, but the fit is obvious enough: Oregon State wants tight ends involved, and Olsen has already shown he can produce as a receiver. Alongside Central Michigan transfer DeCorion Temple and senior Gabe Milbourn, he gives the Beavers a group that could turn into one of the more interesting pieces of the offense this fall.
Olsen noticed that opportunity quickly after arriving.
"It's electric," Olsen said during an interview back in the spring. "It's everything that you wanna be part of in an offense, I mean the tight ends are super involved, and there's a big role for everybody."
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