Jameson Powell didn’t wait long to make his mark at Oregon State.
The 5-foot-10 freshman receiver, one of the top names in the Beavers’ last recruiting class, stepped into his debut last week at UTEP and delivered right away: two catches, 20 yards, and an 18-yard touchdown in Oregon State’s win. That score made him the 16th OSU player to catch a pass this season, the fourth true freshman to do it, and the fourth Beaver to record his first career touchdown.
Oregon State coach JaMarcus Shephard said Powell’s game shows up every day in practice, not just on Saturdays.
“His competitive edge that he has, he brings it every single day,” Oregon State coach JaMarcus Shephard said. “He’s got a level of toughness and flair about how he goes about doing the things that he does every single day.”
Powell’s path to Corvallis changed late. He had been committed to Ole Miss before flipping to Oregon State on signing day, joining a receiver class that also included Folsom High School teammate Jayden Padgett.
That connection to Folsom wasn’t random. Shephard and several members of his staff had already built relationships with the school while recruiting quarterback Austin Mack and other players from the California powerhouse during their time at Washington and Alabama.
“You get guys from a good program that when you get into your program, they know what work is like,” offensive coordinator Mitch Dahlen said. “They know what an install is like. ... Scoring a first touchdown is a big deal and for him to do it coming from a great program is awesome.”
Powell dealt with a hamstring injury partway through fall camp, but he’s healthy now and could see his role grow as Pac-12 play begins Saturday at Colorado State.
Shephard said he likes what he sees, but he also wants the freshman to clean up the details.
He praised Powell while also telling him to “line up faster and see the ball snapped” to avoid penalties moving forward.
“He’s a kid we got a lot of trust in,” Shephard said. “He’s a freshman, so you got to keep pushing the things that are details pieces so that he can improve.”
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Jacob Walker Is Giving Oregon State A Real Backcourt Decision
Jacob Walkers path into the college game has already included a quick rise and another fresh start, and that makes him a name Oregon State fans will want to track closely. He began at Sam Houston before transferring to Oklahoma State, where his early work has only added to the sense that he can be more than just a depth option. Coaches and teammates have already given him the kind of trust young guards need, and Walker has been open about how much that has meant to his development.
The real question now is how quickly that momentum turns into a defined backcourt role. Walker has given Oklahoma State a strong look in summer competition, showing the kind of scoring and playmaking that can complicate an already crowded rotation. For a team trying to sort out its guard minutes, his confidence and recent production have created a legitimate decision point, and it will be interesting to see how much responsibility he earns once the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon State Heads Into Pac-12 Play With A Problem It Must Fix Fast
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It is not just a matter of a few costly flags here and there. Oregon State sits near the bottom of the FBS in penalty yards per game, a reminder that this has been a pattern rather than a one-off. The timing makes it especially important, because mistakes like these can swing field position and momentum fast, and the Beavers do not have much margin for that as they move into conference play. [Read more 🡒]
Gyriece Goodman Is Giving Oregon State A Defensive Boost Fans Noticed
Gyriece Goodman has become one of the more noticeable bright spots in Oregon States defense after making a full-time move from outside linebacker to nickel safety during the offseason. He added seven pounds to help with the switch, and the adjustment has shown up in the way hes fitting into the Beavers scheme, using his athleticism and work ethic to carve out a bigger role.
What makes the surge even more impressive is that Goodman has been doing it with a broken left hand. Even so, he is in the middle of his best season, with 19 tackles, a sack and two pass breakups, and coaches have taken notice of the way he has bolstered the defense in a spot where versatility matters. [Read more 🡒]