Oregon State Opens 2007 Football Season Friday

A total of 17 full-time starters and 59 lettermen are expected to be in attendance for the opening of camp.

Photo courtesy: OSU Athletics

CORVALLIS, Ore. - Friday marks the opening of the 2007 college football season for Oregon State as the Beavers and Arizona are the first of the 10 conference teams to open camp -- only eight other schools in the nation begin earlier.

OSU’s 12-game season opens Thurs., Aug. 30 in one of its most difficult season openers in recent years as it hosts the Utah Utes of the Mountain West Conference.

“THE FEVER”: Oregon State’s 2007 tickets campaign has been widely successful and already the third-most season passes have been sold in one year -- 23,347 as of July 30 -- approximately 1,000 more than last year’s final total.

The record is 24,347 in 2001.

JG: Oregon State will honor the late Jim Gilstrap with a “JG” sticker on its helmets.

Gilstrap was the football coordinator of support services and was the former offensive line and running backs coach. He died July 19 from medical complications at the age of 65.

WHO’S BACK? A total of 17 full-time starters and 59 lettermen are expected to be in attendance for the opening of camp.

Here is a closer look at the returning starters:

OFFENSE:

SE -- Sammie Stroughter, Sr. 14 starts; ‘06 3rd Team AP All-American; ‘06 2nd Team All-Pac-10 (WR, PR); 10th at OSU for career receiving yards with 1,351 and could finish in the top-5 at OSU all-time; OSU record holder for punt returns for touchdowns in a season (3); academic standout.

SLOT -- Brandon Powers, Sr. 13 starts; possession receiver; 3rd on the team last season for receptions (39); 41 career receptions; academic standout.

LG -- Jeremy Perry, Jr. 23 starts; ‘06 Pac-10 First Team; Outland and Lombardi Awards candidate in ‘07; ‘05 Co-Pac-10 Freshman of the Year; held out of most spring practice drills due to rehabilitating from a knee injury suffered in final regular season game of ‘06.

C -- Kyle DeVan, Sr. 25 straight starts; ‘06 Pac-10 Second Team; ESPN All-Mayday team; ‘07 Rimington Trophy candidate; academic standout.

RG -- Roy Schuening, Sr. team-leading 37 straight starts; ‘06 Pac-10 Honorable Mention; 12th best guard in NCAA according Sporting News.

RT -- Andy Levitre, Jr. 13 career starts, 10 in ‘06; ‘06 Pac-10 Honorable Mention; academic standout.

TB -- Yvenson Bernard, Sr. 24 starts; ‘06 Pac-10 First Team; ‘07 leading returning rusher in Pac-10; 3rd at OSU for career rushing yards (2,648) -- has legitimate chance to finish 2nd; 25 career rushing tds; ‘06 team’s second-leading receiver (43 recep.).

PK -- Alexis Serna, Sr. Groza Award candidate -- winner in ‘05; OSU’s 2nd career leading scorer (292 pts); ‘06 Pac-10 Second Team; OSU record 62 career field goals -- active leader in the NCAA entering ‘07.

Other Offensive Starters:

FL -- Anthony Brown, Sr. 29 career starts, including first 10 in ‘06; scored 3 tds on 21 receps; formerly known as Anthony Wheat-Brown.

QB -- Ryan Gunderson, Sr., 1 career start; 10 career appearances.

LG -- Adam Speer, Jr., 1 career start; started the Sun Bowl.

DEFENSE:

RT -- Curtis Coker, Sr. 13 starts; 19 tackles, two sacks, two fumble recoveries.

RE -- Jeff Van Orsow, Sr. 25 straight starts; deflected J.D. Booty’s 2-pt conv. att in 33-31 win over USC; 6th in ‘06 for team tackles (48); 94 career tackles...’06 Pac-10 Honorable Mention; ‘07 Lott Trophy candidate.

SLB -- Derrick Doggett, Sr. 19 career starts; ‘06 Pac-10 Second Team; 2nd on the team for tackles (87) in ‘06; 14.5 TFLs in ‘06, 5th in Pac-10; 142 career tackles; 3 ints, 2 returned for tds; ‘07 Bronko Nagurski Award candidate.

MLB -- Alan Darlin, Sr. 13 starts; 90 career tackles; tied OSU record with four fumble recoveries; 6th in the Pac-10 for TFLs (12.5).

WLB -- Joey LaRocque, Sr. 14 starts; team-leader for tackles (98), 10th in Pac-10; 10 tackles in one game twice.

LC -- Keenan Lewis, Jr. 24 starts; 2nd on the team with 8 brkups; physical; academic standout.

FS -- Al Afalava, Jr. 13 starts; hard-hitter; 35 tackles; 67 career tackles.

RC -- Brandon Hughes, Jr. 19 starts; 76 career tackles.

P -- Kyle Loomis, So. 14 starts; 7th in the Pac-10 with 41.3 average; 46.2 avg over last 5 games.

Other Defensive Starters:

FS -- Bryan Payton, Jr. 5 starts; 5th at OSU for tackles (50); 2 ints in ‘06; potential starter at SS.

CB -- Gerard Lawson, Sr. 4 starts; key special teams contributor and returned a KO 100 yds vs.

Hawaii; could be a safety in ‘07.

DE -- Dorian Smith, Sr. 1 start; 30 tackles in ‘06; 9 QB sacks in ‘06, tied for 4th in Pac-10; 3

sacks in one game twice, including Colt Brennan at Hawai’i.

DE -- Naymon Frank, Sr. 1 start; 10 tackles in ‘06; formerly played off. line.

MLB -- Bryant Cornell, Jr., 1 start; 24 tackles in ‘06; filled in for Alan Darlin at Hawai’i.

WHO’S GONE: The team loses only seven starters and 17 lettermen from the 2006 Sun Bowl championship team, but the seven accounted for 196 career starts.

Here is a closer look:

QB -- Matt Moore -- Sun Bowl MVP after accounting for 5 tds; 5,733 career passing yards in 2 seasons -- 4th-highest in OSU history; set an OSU record with 182 pass attempts without an INT...60.6 completion percentage in 2006 was the best in one season in OSU history...’06 Pac-10 Honorable Mention; signed free agent contract with the Dallas Cowboys.

TE -- Joe Newton -- 3-year starter (24 games); all-time leader for touchdowns by a TE (15); 2 scores in the Sun Bowl and ‘04 Insight Bowl (player of the game); 105 career receptions for 1,308 yards...’06 Pac-10 Honorable Mention; selected to play in Senior Bowl; signed free agent contract with the Seattle Seahawks.

OT-- Adam Koets - 37 career starts; Pac-10 Second Team; selected to play in East-West Game; 6th Round Draft selection of NY Giants.

FL -- Ruben Jackson -- 4 starts at the end of the season; 16 receptions for 337 yards.

LDE -- Joe Lemma -- 35 starts; 67 career tackles; 7 sacks.

LDT -- Ben Siegert -- 39 starts; 86 career tackles; blocked two kicks vs. Oregon in ‘06 -- OSU record; 14.5 career TFLs.

SS -- Sabby Piscitelli -- 37 starts; ‘06 Pac-10 First Team; 50 consecutive games played; 188 career tackles; 28 career pass breakups; tied for 2nd in OSU history for interceptions (15); 2nd Round Draft pick of Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

WHAT TO WATCH: As fall camp progresses most eyes will be on the quarterback position, where senior Ryan Gunderson and sophomores Sean Canfield and Lyle Moevao will compete for the job. Gunderson does have one career start (2005 season finale at UO). If the starter on Aug. 30 is either Canfield or Moevao, it will mark only the fourth quarterback to start at OSU since the beginning of 2002 when Derek Anderson made his debut. Anderson started every game from 2002-04, Matt Moore started 10 of 11 games in 2005 (injury forced him out of ‘05 finale) and all of 2006. There also will be interesting competition at tight end, where four viable candidates will challenge.

AWARDS CANDIDATES: Several Beavers are on the preseason watch lists for national awards (several to be named later).

Here is the list:

Yvenson Bernard (RB) -- Doak Walker Award Jeff Van Orsow

(DE) -- Lott Trophy Derrick Doggett (LB) -- Nagurski Award

Jeremy Perry (OG) -- Lombardi and Outland Awards Kyle DeVan (C) -- Rimington Trophy

RECORDS TO WATCH: Only one prominent OSU career record appears legitimately in jeopardy this year as placekicker Alexis Serna zeros in on the school’s career scoring mark. Serna enters the year with 292 points, trailing only the 366 posted by former running back Ken Simonton (1998-01). Several other Beavers will move up the various charts throughout the year.

WHAT THE “EXPERTS” THINK: Oregon State was selected to finish fifth at the annual Pac-10 Media Day July 26 in Los Angeles.

AUGUST PRACTICE DATES:

Date Time Dress

3rd 2 p.m. Shorts

4th 2 p.m. Shorts

5th 2 p.m. Shells

6th 2 p.m. Shorts

7th 2 p.m. Full Gear

8th 8:30 a.m. Full Gear

6:30 p.m. Shells

9th 2 p.m. Full Gear

10th 8:30 a.m. Full Gear

6:30 p.m. Shells

11th 2 p.m. Full Gear*

12th No Practice

13th 8:30 a.m. Full Gear

6:30 p.m. Shells

14th 2 p.m. Full Gear

15th 8:30 a.m. Full Gear

6:30 p.m. Shells

16th 2 p.m. Full Gear

17th 8:30 a.m. Full Gear

6:30 p.m. Shells

18th 2 p.m. Full Gear*

19th No Practice

20th 2 p.m. Full Gear

21st 2 p.m. Full Gear

22nd 2 p.m. Full Gear

23rd 2 p.m. Full Gear

24th 2 p.m. Full Gear

25th 2 p.m. Full Gear

26th No Practice

27th 6:30 p.m. Shells

28th 6:30 p.m. Full Gear

29th 4:10 p.m. Shoes/Shorts

*Officials Present

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