Three weeks into Oregon State’s fall camp, the defense is starting to look like the side of the ball that can carry some real momentum into the season opener.
Under first-year head coach JaMarcus Shephard, the Beavers have spent camp trying to leave behind the mess of a 2-10 season, and defensive coordinator Mike MacIntyre has made the tone pretty clear from the jump: be physical, communicate, and compete. The whole unit has taken steps, but a few players have stood out enough to push themselves into breakout territory.
The loudest buzz has surrounded Kai Wheaton, the true freshman corner from Allen, Texas. MacIntyre has been especially high on him, saying he "doesn't blink," and that kind of quick recovery matters at corner, where a freshman is going to get tested.
"He's a really good football player," MacIntyre said. "He might get beat on something; he comes back and just plays. He comes from a great program in Allen, Texas, so I really like his mental toughness, and he's a big, long corner."
That praise has been echoed inside the room, too. Trey Glasper called Wheaton a "natural playmaker," while TJ Crandall has said Wheaton already carries himself like an older player. For a cornerback group that lost its top two tacklers from last season, Wheaton looking ready this early is a major camp storyline.
Glasper himself is also making noise. He may not be a brand-new name, but the version showing up in camp looks upgraded. The conference’s top true freshman corner two years ago spent the offseason adding what he called "body armor" to help cut down on nagging injuries, and the added size is showing.
"For me, getting bigger was essential because last year I played pretty light," Glasper said. "It's been great."
He’s also focused on keeping his head on his own assignment instead of getting swept up in the chaos of game day, which he sees as an important step in his development. Put that together with the added strength, and Glasper looks like a corner who can steady a young secondary.
Another corner pushing for a role is Isaiah Houi, the transfer from Eastern Illinois who arrived as the marquee addition in the room. His production at his previous stop gives Oregon State plenty to like: 60 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, an interception and 11 pass breakups in a breakout 2025 season, when he earned Honorable Mention All-OVC-Big South honors. That 11-pass-breakup total was tied for seventh in program single-season history.
The move from FCS to the Pac-12 is never automatic, but Houi has the experience and ball skills to challenge for a starting spot right away. With Oregon State replacing its top two corners from a year ago, he’s firmly in the mix for Week 1.
On the linebacker level, Jabari Odoemenem has worked his way into the starting conversation. The Duquesne transfer by way of Maine has impressed MacIntyre on both ends of the spectrum.
"He has all the dimensions," MacIntyre said. "He's 6-2, he's 230-something, he's strong, he's powerful, he's flexible, he's very bright, and he has played a lot of football. He has all the attributes of a Division I linebacker, and he's really tough."
Odoemenem has also embraced the kind of versatility coaches love, saying he’s willing to help wherever the staff needs him - offense, defense, or special teams. In a linebacker room that includes co-defensive coordinator Cort Dennison shaping the group, his aggressiveness in coverage and physical traits make him a real Week 1 possibility.
Up front, Tevita Pome'e has become one of the clearest examples of the mentality MacIntyre wants from this defense. He’s leaned hard into the attack-first approach on the defensive line and said he’s no longer judging his work by the stat sheet. Instead, he talks about his ""1/11th"-doing his part so the other 10 can do theirs.
"It kind of has that mentality of attack," Pome'e said. "Being able to attack and create a new line of scrimmage-that's what I really like about it."
With added strength this offseason, Pome'e has emerged as one of the more vocal leaders on a line trying to define the identity of the team. He’s also been quick to point out the early buy-in from newcomers like Daniel Matagi, a sign that the group is starting to build chemistry at the right time.
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