2007 Oregon State Spring Football Preview

The strength of the Oregon State defense is its front seven, where a host of veterans are back to lead one of the most experienced units in the Pac-10.

OSU WR Sammie Stroughter during the Sun Bowl. Photo: OSU Athletics

CORVALLIS - When last we saw the Oregon State football team there were tears of joy, hugs, and other arrays of emotions after the Beavers thrilling come from behind victory over Missouri at the 2006 Sun Bowl.

When the team returns to the field in April it will be back to business for a club that returns 61 lettermen and 17 starters as it aims for the program’s fifth bowl game in six years.

“At just about every position we have built depth that is the foundation for this season and future ones,” seventh-year head coach Mike Riley said. “We need to solidify a couple of positions, particularly quarterback, but even there I have a lot of confidence in the players we have competing for the starting job.”

For Oregon State, spring practice begins April 2nd with the culmination on April 28th with the annual session-ending scrimmage at Reser Stadium.

POSITION-BY-POSITION OUTLOOK

OFFENSE

Quarterback

Without a doubt the biggest question mark for 2007 is at quarterback, where the team will have a new starter for the first time since the opener of the ’05 season. Riley and company will be looking to replace Sun Bowl MVP Matt Moore after he led the team to eight victories in the last nine games, including wins over nationally ranked USC and Hawaii.

Sophomores Sean Canfield and Lyle Moevao figure to be competing this spring. Canfield played in eight games last season as a reserve, completing 28 of 45 pass attempts for 335 yards and two touchdowns. He possesses a strong arm, similar to former three-year starter Derek Anderson (2002-04), but with more mobility.

“Sean certainly possesses a lot of qualities you look for in a quarterback,” Riley said. “The key is to get him repetitions and make him feel comfortable with the offense and the personnel around him. He will be a very good quarterback before his career is over.”

Moevao impressed the coaches in practice last season during his redshirt year and while outsiders have penciled in Canfield for the starting job, it’s not that clear.

“The quarterback job is open,” Riley said prior to spring practice. “Moevao has some physical abilities and a competitive fire that make him an intriguing possibility. We wouldn’t have brought Lyle into the program if we didn’t think he had a chance to make significant contributions.”

Senior Ryan Gunderson, who has one start during his career, is also in the mix. Also on the roster are redshirt-freshmen Brennan Sim, the son of a former Beaver standout player (Tim Sim), and incoming freshman Jake Gelakoska.

Running Back

He’ll be a Doak Walker Award candidate as he enters the season as one of the top running backs in the nation – he is senior “do it all” back Yvenson Bernard. Bernard has a legitimate chance to finish his career in the top-10 all-time in the Pac-10 for rushing joining the likes of former Beaver greats Ken Simonton and Steven Jackson, and other conference standouts like Ricky Bell, Anthony Davis and Gaston Green to name a few.

“Yvenson has really been the heart and sole of the offense over the last two seasons,” Riley said. “We have been able to do a lot of things because of his ability as a runner, receiver and his overlooked blocking. He is one of the best players I have ever coached.”

Bernard, a 2006 Pac-10 First Team selection, enters the year with 2,648 career rushing yards and 611 career receiving yards. He has visited the end zone 27 times.

When Bernard needs a break the team turns to senior back Clinton Polk. Polk started one game last season and he made it special as he rushed for 100 yards in the upset of No. 3 USC, spelling the injured Bernard.

Sophomore Tony Carrasco has also seen action at times and look for incoming freshmen Ryan McCants from Corona, Calif., and Ahmed Mokhtar of Santa Ana, Calif., to possibly make an impact this fall.

Sophomore Micah Strickland and senior Andy Stewart are also talented backs who see action in the two-back set or “H” back roles.

Receivers

The starting quarterback will have the luxury of gunning the ball to three returning starters at receiver. The group is led by senior postseason honors candidate Sammie Stroughter.

Stroughter was an Associated Press third team All-American as a multipurpose player as he doubles as an ultra dangerous punt returner. He led the Pac-10 last season with a 92.4 yards per game receiving average and against Washington had 223 yards. As a punt returner he broke the school record with three for touchdowns, including a memorable 70-yard score in the victory over USC. He also set up the game-winning touchdown in the Sun Bowl with a nifty return. His 15.7 per return average was the third-best in the nation as he concluded the year as one of three finalists for the Randy Moss Return Man of the Year.

“Sammie is a terrific story; here is a guy that wasn’t highly recruited who has become one of the most gifted athletes in the Pac-10,” Riley said. “He, much like Bernard, gives us options that stretch opposing defenses. Sammie is an outstanding route-runner, has terrific hands and has great awareness on the field. He really is the total package as a receiver and special teams player.”

While Stroughter excels at split end, seniors Brandon Powers and Anthony Wheat-Brown have become stalwarts at slotback and flanker. When you consider the top athletes in the program, both Powers and Wheat-Brown are at the top of the list. Powers has developed into a possession receiver who can make the big catches and Wheat-Brown is a physical player who has demonstrated his ability as a downfield blocker and receiver.

“Those two young men really came into their own last year,” Riley stated. “The play of Brandon and Anthony, particularly the last half of the season or so, enabled us to move the ball around and create seems in the defenses.”

Look for junior Chris Johnson to continue to push for playing time as he demonstrated last season why he will be a major contributor in 2007. Junior Shane Morales, sophomore Casey Kjos and redshirt freshman Kyle Brown also figure to get a lot of reps in the spring.

Tight End

The program lost one of its best tight ends ever in Joe Newton, but a youthful group of talented individuals has Beaver coaches and fans confident that they will be able to make up for the loss of the imposing Newton.

Four players appear to be in the running for starting duties – sophomores Howard Croom and John Reese both played last season as true freshmen. Redshirt freshman Gabe Miller came to the program with a lot of promise, but has been slowed by an Achilles injury, and redshirt freshman Brady Camp figures to be in the mix.

“Joe was certainly a terrific player and we benefited greatly from his leadership and ability, but I really like what we have in terms of young players at this position,” Riley explained. “I’m very comfortable with the players at this position and we are in a great shape for this season and in the future at tight end.”

Offensive Line

Oregon State was the only team in the conference last season to have all five starters earn postseason All-Pac-10 honors. The team returns four of those five starters which is one of the reasons having a first-year starter under center is not quite the concern that it could be.

“We don’t win 10 games last season without the play of the line,” Riley said emphatically. “We don’t go for two points in the Sun Bowl, and Matt, Sammie and Yvenson don’t post the numbers they did.”

The anchor of the line is center Kyle DeVan, who returns to start for his third consecutive year. Junior left guard Jeremy Perry is already considered one of the best at his position in the conference, evident by his first team All-Pac-10 honor last season and Pac-10 Co-Freshman of the Year accolade in 2005. Senior right guard Roy Schuening has started 37 consecutive games and was the lead blocker in the two-point conversion in the Sun Bowl. Junior right tackle Andy Levitre took over the starting duties early last season after a season-ending injury to Josh Linehan.

Junior Tavita Thompson is among the candidates to fill the one open position at left tackle. Also look for sophomore Gregg Peat, redshirt freshman Ryan Pohl and incoming junior college transfers Michael Cole and Jon Ioane to contribute.

DEFENSE

The strength of the Oregon State defense is its front seven, where a host of veterans are back to lead one of the most experienced units in the Pac-10.

Defensive Line

While Oregon State lost two starters to graduation, the team returns a wealth of experience, including seven seniors.

Senior Jeff Van Orsow is one of the quickest ends in the league and will be among the top lineman for 2007. Van Orsow led the linemen last season for tackles with 48 and will be forever mentioned in Beaver lore with his deflection of John David-Booty’s two-point conversion in the waning seconds of OSU’s 33-31 win at Reser Stadium.

“Jeff will be one of the leaders of the team,” Riley said. “He has made tremendous strides in this program and has developed into an outstanding player.”

Senior Dorian Smith, who saw considerable action in his first season in the program last year, will likely be the starter at left end after ranking among the national leaders for sacks with nine. Senior Naymon Frank, who will either play end or tackles and junior Victor Butler, one of the quickest defenders on the team, will be in the rotation. Junior college transfer Sioeli Nau is also expected to be an impact player.

Seniors Curtis Coker, William `Akau’ola Vea and Gerard Lee, Jeff Kruskamp and junior Pernnell Booth are among the veterans at tackle. Coker has the most starts at 13 games, with the other three all playing significant roles in 2006. Junior college transfer Latu Moala is also expected to be a contributor.

“We lost a very good player in Ben Siegert, but I still feel we have a lot of talent at tackle,” Riley said. “The amount of experience we have at both tackle and end gives us an opportunity to be as good or better than last season.”

Linebackers

Without a doubt the strength of the defense will be the returning trio of starters at linebacker – seniors Derrick Doggett, Joey LaRocque and Alan Darlin. The threesome, along with significant reserves, makes this one of the best groups in all of college football.

“We call ourselves the West Coast’s version of `linebacker U’ and this group solidifies that motto,” Riley said. “We have guys who are very quick and physical, and that hinders offenses. If you are an offensive coordinator you have to take into account our linebackers abilities to rush the passer, but yet drop into coverage.”

Doggett is a guy who is simply around the ball at all times. He’s quick enough to cover a receiver or running back out of the backfield, big enough to cover a tight end, and strong enough to fend off a blocking lineman to find the ball carrier. The two-time second team All-Pac-10 backer had three interceptions last season, returning two for scores. He had 87 tackles for the year, including 14.5 for tackles-for-loss.

“Derrick is a very gifted athlete,” Riley said. “He’s quick, has great speed and is tough. He’s along the same lines as some of our guys who are currently playing the position in the NFL.”

LaRocque led the team with 98 tackles and developed into one of the better players at his position through the course of the season. Darlin produced 72 tackles, including 12.5 for loss and five sacks.

The depth at linebacker is impressive as a host of reserves have gained valuable experience. Sophomore Keaton Kristick and juniors Bryant Cornell, Eric Moala Liava'a, Isaiah Cook and Dennis Christopher have also shown the ability to step in and be major factors. Redshirt-freshman Dwight Roberson was impressive last year as a practice squad player and big things are expected from him this season.

Secondary

Strong safety Sabby Piscitelli is no longer around patrolling the backfield, but with the exception of him, the unit returns in tact.

Juniors Keenan Lewis and Brandon Hughes are the returning starters at cornerback, with seniors Coye Francies and Gerard Lawson having plenty of experience there as well. Francies and Lawson are a formidable duo as kickoff returners as well.

“I feel very, very good about the cornerback positions,” Riley said. “Two years ago we were playing true freshmen in this area, now we have four experienced players who can play cover man. A lot of the success we have on defense is due to the experience and depth we have created at the cornerback spots.”

The safety positions are in the hands of senior Daniel Drayton and juniors Al Afalava and Bryan Payton. Drayton has quietly gained experience through playing as a reserve and on special teams. Afalava is one of the hardest hitters on the team and Payton has shown tremendous athleticism. Redshirt-freshman Suaesi Tuimaunei and James Dockery are also ready to make an impact this season.

“We have speed and are very athletic at the safety positions,” Riley said. “I really like the whole makeup of the entire secondary, from top to bottom it might be the best we have had in my tenure at Oregon State.”

Specialists

Is he still at Oregon State? Many might think that when they see senior kicker Alexis Serna on the field this fall. Serna has made 106 consecutive extra point attempts and has 62 career field goals. He won the Groza Award in 2005 and has been a semifinalist the other two years. He will likely break the school record for career scoring and enters the 2007 season with the second-most points among active players in the NCAA with 292.

“There is not much more to say than Alexis is a tremendous weapon and someone we have full confidence in,” Riley said. “He has proven that he is reliable in big games, in bad weather and in hostile stadiums. We take him for granted sometimes.”

Sophomore punter Kyle Loomis made tremendous strides during the course of the season and he looks to have three more solid years in the role.

Schedule

Oregon State has a very challenging schedule in 2007, particularly on the road. The Beavers travel to 2006 bowl participants USC, Arizona State, California, Oregon and Cincinnati. In fact, considering the won-loss records from 2006 the Beavers Pac-10 road schedule is the second most difficult in the league. It’s a schedule that also has 2006 bowl participants Utah and UCLA in Corvallis.

“We definitely have our work cut out for us as the league continues to get better and better from top to bottom,” Riley said. “This football team will get tested every week and that is the exciting part of college football.”

Spring Dates

April 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, 14 (officials), 16, 18, 20, 21 (officials), 23, 25, 28 (Spring Game).

All practices are open and are held at the Truax Indoor Center, the Prothro Footbal Complex or Reser Stadium.

Weekday practices are scheduled for approximately 3:00 PM.

Saturday practice times are at approximately 10:30 AM.

Season Tickets

Season tickets are currently available for the six-game home schedule. To purchase access osubeavers.com, visit the Gill Coliseum Ticket Office or call (800)Go-BEAVS.

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