A first look at Bray’s Beavers: As expected, there is work to do
Head coach Trent Bray addresses the media after Oregon State's “Spring Showcase” scrimmage, which ended spring practice for the Beavers
CORVALLIS — Public scrimmages to end spring practice — however you label them — rarely reap revelations.
Oregon State’s latest version, dubbed the “Spring Showcase,” went off Saturday in undramatic fashion.
Beaver Nation’s first look at the Trent Bray era of football didn’t reveal a whole lot about how the first season outside the Pac-12 will go for the team of choice. But at least it was a look, seen by a few thousand hearty fans on a pleasant spring afternoon.
Bray divvied up his roster, putting the majority of his projected starters on the Black squad, and had an actual game. So naturally the Orange side won the 60-minute scrimmage (first half stop clock; second half running clock) 10-7.
There weren’t enough healthy offensive linemen to supply both squads, so the “meats” who could go played for both sides.
Many regulars were held out of action. The ones I noticed on the sidelines were quarterback Ben Gulbranson, O-linemen Josh Gray, Tyler Morano and Luka Vincic, receivers Jimmy Valsin and Darrius Clemons, defensive lineman Takari Hickle and defensive backs Tyrice Ivy, Skyler Thomas and Alton Julian.
No question, the defense dominated. Part of that was to be expected. Keith Heyward runs a similar defense to that of Bray when he was Jonathan Smith’s D-coordinator. Ryan Gunderson’s offense — with considerable Chip Kelly influence — is different than the one employed by his predecessor, Brian Lindgren.
Offensive coordinator Ryan Gunderson surveys the action during Saturday’s scrimmage at Reser Stadium
“With the transition to the new offense, and since the defensive system is very similar to what it has been here in the past, (the defense is) naturally going to be ahead,” Bray said.
Here’s what I saw:
• Four quarterbacks were given extensive action — transfers Gevani McCoy (Idaho) and Gabarri Johnson (Missouri), holdover scholarship player Travis Throckmorton and holdover walk-on Dom Montiel. In order of appearance, fans saw McCoy, Montiel, Johnson and Throckmorton.
Quarterback Gevani McCoy (7) takes snap on pass play during Oregon State’s scrimmage, which marked the end of spring ball
McCoy and Johnson will be competing with Gulbranson for the starting job when August camp rolls around. I offer some kudos to Montiel, at 6-2 and 210 bigger than any of the other QBs in uniform Saturday. No stats were kept (or at least provided to the media), but the sophomore from Marshfield High had some nice pass plays, including one for 28 yards to 6-4, 230-pound junior tight end Bryce Caufield, who bobbled the ball but once he secured it rambled nicely downfield. Montiel hit another tight end, veteran Jermaine Terry, for 18 yards and a first down, and raced 13 yards on a quarterback draw as he moved the Orange unit down for the game-winning touchdown.
McCoy, 6-foot and 180, and Johnson, listed at 5-11 and 190 but appearing smaller, can both really run. Johnson, in particular, had some excellent gainer on scrambles. McCoy had one of the best reads of the day on the Black squad’s only touchdown drive. Reading a blitz, he dumped off a screen pass to running back Anthony Hankerson, who took it 19 yards to the 5-yard line. McCoy then found Trent Walker in the end zone for a score on the next play.
But in general, McCoy and Johnson were not impressive throwing the ball. No vertical passes were completed by any of the QBs.
“We had a couple of opportunities to hit an explosive pass,” Bray said. “We just have to convert on them. There were some throws we had that we have to make.”
On McCoy and Johnson specifically: “They made some plays with their legs, which was good to see. The offense will slow down for them once they understand their reads better. They will play faster.”
My guess is, Gulbranson will have a leg up in the passing game as they enter the competition. I still think McCoy will wind up the starter in the opener against Idaho State.
• Damien Martinez be damned, Hankerson and Jam Griffin should fill the bill adequately at running back.
Hankerson, Jacquizz Rodgers-like at 5-8 and 205, had a couple of nice runs the few times he was provided daylight. Griffin, the Georgia Tech-Oregon State-Ole Miss-Oregon State vagabond, broke one for 31 yards. Both are capable if they get the blocking.
“Offensively, there was some good run stuff,” Bray said. “We have two really good backs. I’m excited to continue to watch them and watch the O-line grow, especially when we get Josh Gray back and some of those pieces.”
The 6-4, 305-pound Gray, still rehabbing from a late-season ankle injury, is the one returning starter on the offensive front. Only two projected 2024 starters played Saturday — 6-2, 305-pound junior transfer Van Wells (Colorado) at center and 6-4, 290-pound junior Grant Starck at tackle. Another Colorado transfer, 6-10, 315-pound senior Gerad Christian-Lichtenhan, will not arrive in Corvallis until the summer. He is ticketed to start at tackle. That leaves O-line coach Kyle Devan to find another starter from among the dozen or so prospects on campus, or perhaps through the transfer portal.
The starting receiver spots seem an open competition. Clemons, the 6-3, 215-pound junior transfer from Michigan by way of Westview High, is a strong candidate. Others include the 6-2, 195-pound Valsin, 6-1, 210-pound sophomore transfer Jamal East (College of San Mateo), Walker, redshirt freshman Zach Card, and juniors Jeremiah Noga and Trevor Pope.
• Heyward’s defense has a chance to be good. Unsolicited, Bray singled out a pair of DB transfers — 6-4, 205-pound sophomore Jaheim Patterson from Kilgore (Texas) JC and 6-1, 200-pound junior Amerion York from Foothill JC in Los Altos, Calif. — for making “some nice hits stopping the run.”
I noticed linebacker Melvyn Jordan, a 5-11, 225-pound sophomore, in coverage. John Miller, a 6-1, 225-pound junior, intercepted a tipped pass by McCoy and returned it 10 yards to set up the Orange touchdown. Tygee Hill, a 6-2, 295-pound sophomore transfer D-lineman from LSU, knocked down a Throckmorton pass.
“We saw some guys fly around,” Bray said.
The secondary could wind up being the strength of the team. Seventh-year senior cornerback Jaden Robinson anchors the group, which includes several others with game experience — Ivy, Thomas, Julian, Joe Swen, Noble Thomas and Jack Kane. Patterson and York add size and physicality, and another transfer, 5-10, 175-pound redshirt freshman Sal Vadrawale (California), fits in somewhere.
Smith finally built depth on his defensive line last season, but it’s thin there again. Hill and 6-4, 280-pound senior transfer Nick Norris (Northern Colorado) look like players, but D-line coach Ilaisa Tuiaki needs help.
Squad spirit appears good. There is some promising youth that must be developed. Bray seems to have a good young staff that enjoys each other and appreciates being at Oregon State. Those are all good things as Trent — for now the ultimate loyal Beaver — learns what it takes to be a head coach.
“It’s a lot of new,” Bray told reporters.
New coach. New staff. New system. Lots of new players. New conference, if you consider the Beavers pseudo-members of the Mountain West for the next two seasons.
And new expectations. We’re all still finding out about that, too.
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