Oregon State’s cornerback room is back in a holding pattern heading into Saturday’s matchup with San Diego State.
Isaiah Houi is listed as questionable on OSU’s availability report Thursday. Houi has started the last two games for the Beavers and has put up 12 tackles, including one for loss, along with three pass breakups. If he can’t go, Oregon State would be left with three scholarship cornerbacks: TJ Crandall, Trey Glasper and Blake Thompson.
The Beavers have already been preparing for that possibility. Safety Sailasa Vadrawale III has worked at corner during practice over the past two weeks as a backup plan. That move would help ease the strain on the depth chart, especially with Oregon State in a better spot at deep safety thanks to Drake Vickers, Jaheim Patterson and Xander Chisholm in the rotation and Harlem Howard back from injury.
OSU is also monitoring left tackle Josiah Timoteo, who is dealing with a foot issue, and receiver Xayvion Noland, who remain questionable.
Four Beavers are out: inside linebacker Kord Shaw (unspecified), interior offensive lineman Carter Guillaume (foot), cornerback Kai Wheaton (wrist) and safety RJ Whitten (unspecified).
San Diego State, meanwhile, still has 35 players listed on its availability report. Leading receiver Nate Acevedo slipped from questionable on Wednesday to doubtful on Thursday, while fellow receiver Donovan Brown moved from probable to questionable. Tight end Jackson Ford and offensive lineman Mikey Watkins were upgraded from questionable to probable, and linebacker Aaron Tasin, who has not played, went from doubtful to out.
Oregon State (3-2, 1-0 Pac-12) and San Diego State (2-3, 1-0) meet Saturday, Oct. 10, at Reser Stadium in Corvallis. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m.
PT. The Beavers are 13.5-point favorites.
The game will air on USA, with radio coverage on KEX 1190 in Portland and KEJO 1240 and 93.7 in Corvallis.
In Other News...
Oregon State Has A Chance To Turn This Homecoming Into Something Bigger
Oregon State gets a familiar kind of chance this week, coming home after back-to-back road wins and a solid start to its Pac-12 schedule. The Beavers are 3-2 overall after opening conference play with a win over Colorado State, and head coach JaMarcus Shephard has made no secret of how much he welcomes the return to Corvallis after a stretch spent away from home.
San Diego State arrives at 2-3, bringing a defense that still has to be accounted for, especially with Djibril Abdou Rahman on the roster. For Oregon State, though, the broader interest goes beyond just the matchup. Freshman wide receiver Jesse Legree has already drawn attention with his place on the Biletnikoff Award watch list, a sign that the Beavers may have more than one reason to believe this homecoming could become something bigger. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon State Could Catch San Diego State At The Perfect Time
Oregon State heads into its matchup with San Diego State with a chance to catch the Aztecs at an awkward moment. The roster is being thinned by injuries, the defense is still adjusting after losing most of its starters from last season, and the offensive side has not found much easy rhythm either. Quarterback Jayden Denegal has dealt with mechanical issues and a dip in confidence, which only adds pressure on a group already trying to settle in around him.
There is still some presence on the other side of the ball, especially with edge rusher Djibril Rahman emerging as a defensive leader, but the broader picture is one of uncertainty for San Diego State. For Oregon State, that matters because a team with this much instability can be vulnerable early, especially if the Beavers are able to push pace and make the Aztecs sort through problems on both offense and defense before they find any footing. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon State Backfield May Be Finding Its Edge At The Right Time
Oregon States recent win over Colorado State gave the Beavers something to build on, and a pair of players who spoke with local media this week offered a glimpse into why the backfield may be settling in at the right time. Cornell Hatcher pointed to steady improvement in the running back room, while Drake Vickers talked about his long road back to the field and what it has meant to be part of the rotation again.
As the Beavers turn their attention to San Diego State, the conversation around the backfield is about more than just one good performance. Hatchers comments suggested a unit trying to sharpen its approach after an uneven start, and Vickers return adds another layer of depth and resilience to a group that is trying to find its edge when the schedule starts to tighten. [Read more 🡒]