Oregon State’s players spent the week making one thing clear: UTEP has their attention.
As Saturday’s matchup approaches, the Beavers have been blunt about the kind of test the Miners bring. The common thread in the comments from left tackle Jacob Anderson, running back AJ Newberry, linebacker Jarrel Comer and defensive tackle Jacob Schuster was respect - and plenty of it - for a UTEP team that leans on its ground game and keeps defenses moving.
UTEP is averaging more than 140 rushing yards per game, and Oregon State’s players know that number comes with a style that can wear on an opponent. Schuster said the Miners use a lot of motion and movement on offense and like to pull, which makes them a group the Beavers will have to stay disciplined against.
“They do a lot of motioning. They do a lot of movement on their offense.
They like to pull. They're a very explosive team, so we just got to contain them and do our jobs.”
The running game starts with Tavorus Jones, who drew a direct mention from Schuster. Oregon State sees him as a fast back who gets downhill quickly, while the quarterback adds another layer to what UTEP can do with the ball.
“He's very fast. He likes to hit the hole.
The quarterback works well with him. The quarterback obviously knows how to run the ball too, so we got to keep him inside and do our jobs.”
Schuster added that the quarterback’s ability to move is another factor Oregon State has keyed on.
“I mean, he's an athlete. He's an athlete.
He can move in and out of the pocket, find those lanes and get outside and make us work. So we've got to do our job and finish.”
Anderson’s comments were shorter, but the message matched the rest of the room. Asked about UTEP’s defensive front, he kept it simple.
“They work very hard, so I'm excited to play them.”
Newberry said his own film study starts with the big picture before he digs into individual position groups. He said he wants to understand how a defense responds overall before narrowing his focus to the line, linebackers and secondary.
“On the defensive line, well, we're not too deep into it right now. I like to get a full overview of the whole defense first.
Like that's just me personally how I watch film. Like, I want to see how their full defense is adjusting to certain motions, or how they run to the ball, or how they do certain things first before I go into breaking it down.
Then I'll go in and I watch straight (defensive) line, then I go linebackers, then I'll go secondary.”
When it came to the bigger mindset for facing UTEP, Newberry said the approach has to stay consistent no matter the opponent.
“I think the main thing is just treating every opponent like you got to respect everybody you play. Respect all, fear none.
So, you're going in basically like you're playing the number one team in the country every week. Like you're going to get every team's best every single week that you play.
So, why not put the mindset thatyou're going against one of the top teams in the country, and you want to beat that top team every time. So when you go in playing like you're playing against one of the top teams, then it just forces you to play better and you want to come out with that win even more.”
In Other News...
Oregon State Found An Unexpected Pass Rush Piece In Jarrel Comer
Jarrel Comer has become one of the more intriguing developments in Oregon States front seven, a player whose path to a starting outside linebacker job took a circuitous route through junior college football in California after his early days on the game had long since faded. Once on campus, the Beavers saw enough athleticism and growth to trust him in a bigger role, and he has rewarded that belief by becoming part of the teams pass rush plan while working alongside Takari Hickle.
What makes Comers rise especially notable is how quickly he has fit into a position that asks for both urgency and discipline. He has put together 10 tackles so far this season, a sign that his impact has gone beyond the occasional pressure package and into every-down responsibility. For Oregon State, finding another dependable edge presence is no small thing, and Comer is suddenly one of the names worth watching whenever the Beavers need to disrupt a quarterback. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon State Just Added Another High-Upside Piece Fans Will Notice
Oregon States recruiting momentum got another boost with the commitment of Emmanuel Ahamefule, a 6-foot-9 power forward from Great Britain who attends Archbishop Riordan High School in San Francisco. Justin Joyner and his staff have been pitching a program built around development, and Ahamefule said the plan presented by the Beavers stood out to him as he weighed where to take the next step.
For Oregon State, the appeal is obvious: Ahamefule brings defensive value and the kind of versatility that can travel well as he grows into his game. He is already viewed as a high-upside addition, and his enthusiasm about joining the Beavers gives Joyner another young piece to sell to future recruits looking for a clear path forward in Corvallis. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon State Fans Have Several Big 12 Games Worth Watching Closely
The Big 12 slate this weekend gives Oregon State fans plenty of games worth monitoring, even if the Beavers are on the outside looking in. The conference schedule is loaded with matchups that could ripple through the rankings and playoff picture, and the league preview points to a full day of television windows, records, and storylines from around the country.
One of the more intriguing spots on the board comes in Morgantown, where an unbeaten West Virginia team will be tested in a late-afternoon national TV window. Elsewhere, a few familiar names will be off the field entirely, with Arizona State, BYU and Kansas all on bye, leaving the standings to be shaped by the teams still playing and the ones trying to keep their momentum alive. [Read more 🡒]