Reser’s almost ready, and maybe Aidan Chiles, too
DJ Uiegalelei, the favorite to claim the starting quarterback role in 2023, conducts an interview with Pac-12 Network (courtesy Ron Callan)
CORVALLIS — Most of us watching Oregon State’s Spring Game Saturday at Reser Stadium did so primarily for a look at two things:
Progress on Reser renovation, and new quarterbacks DJ Uiegalelei and Aiden Chiles.
Reser construction is on schedule — perhaps a bit ahead of it — and fans can expect a completed facility when the Beavers open the home portion of their 2023 schedule on Sept. 9 against Cal Davis.
As for the QBs, Uiegalelei and Chiles made their debut on the home turf before the largest Spring Game — they’re calling it the “Spring Showcase” now, but I’ll go retro — crowd in recent memory. There was no official crowd count for Saturday’s affair to conclude spring practice, but estimates were in the 5,000 range on a day when temperatures surprisingly climbed to the low 70s.
A nice crowd of perhaps 5,000 watched Saturday’s Spring Game at Reser Stadium
Incumbent Ben Gulbranson, Uiegaelelei and Chiles split time in the signal-caller role, and there was little doubt Chiles stole the show. Official statistics were not kept, but the 6-3, 195-pound true freshman from Downey, Calif., showed burst with his fleet feet along with a strong arm. Chiles threaded the needle to Silas Bolden in the back of the end zone on a 10-yard pass after a double move, resulting in one of only two touchdowns in a 75-minute scrimmage in which the defense won the day.
Chiles could have had a second TD pass, but his on-target throw was dropped by a streaking Gavin Haines.
True freshman Aidan Chiles provided the best quarterback play on Saturday
“He has the physical talent, but I really like how hard he has worked, diving into the playbook and understanding it,” head coach Jonathan Smith said of Chiles, who enrolled in school early in January. “There is a lot that goes into quarterback play besides throwing the ball. He has shown he has a lot of good qualities. He made a couple of big-time throws today. In last Saturday’s scrimmage, he made some plays. It’s almost expected of him now.”
When I asked junior running back Jam Griffin about Saturday’s quarterback play, he said, “All the QBs did good, but the little freshman, he got out. I like to see the running skills of Aidan. He looked good today.”
I asked the same question to Jaydon Grant, who watched from the sidelines while taking a break from training for next week’s NFL draft.
“I like all three of the guys,” the former Beaver safety said, “but I have to say, the kid impressed me.”
It may be that Chiles, who broke off a 25-yard run on a scramble, is destined for a redshirt year. If that’s the case, it means that Smith and offensive coordinator Brian Lindgren have chosen to go with veterans Gulbranson, the starter for eight games last season, and Uiegaelelei, the celebrated transfer from Clemson.
Chiles got four offensive series and Gulbranson and Uiegaelelei three apiece before the Beavers wrapped up with a couple of extra series from midfield. Gulbranson began with the starters, Uiegaelelei with the 2’s and Chiles with the 3’s.
The coaches later mixed things up on a day when a number of regulars, including three members of the offensive line, tight end Jack Veiling, receivers Anthony Gould and Jesiah Irish, defensive end James Rawls and cornerback Jaden Robinson, sat out the session. Uiegaelelei’s second stint, for instance, was with the starting group.
The 6-4, 250-pound Inland Empire, Calif., native misfired a couple of times and coughed up a deep interception to cornerback Joe Swen, a redshirt freshman from Philadelphia. DJ also had some good throws, including a 20-yard strike to tight end Gabe Milbourn. Uiegaelelei’s best throw came when he rolled right and hit Bolden on a crossing pattern going left.
“He is learning the scheme,” Smith said. “I like the way he has approached it. He is coming in working hard, being a good teammate, not asking for all the limelight. He has put his head down and go. His teammates appreciate that.
“You can see that his comfort level from practice one to 15 has allowed his best qualities to come out. It’s been a nice progression.”
The offense scored its other touchdown on a one-yard Griffin plunge, which was set up by an eight-yard pass from Uiegaelelei to Griffin. Gulbranson didn’t get a lot done during his three possessions, but was victim of a couple of at least a half-dozen drops by OSU receivers on the afternoon.
“(The QBs) did some good stuff moving the ball,” Smith said. “We played well on defense, which we have done throughout the spring. It’s not easy on the quarterbacks. We are mixing the line and the receivers in and out of there, but each of (the QBs) had some solid reps.”
You will see no quotes from any of the quarterbacks here, because Smith didn’t make them available to any of the media except the Pac-12 Network, who interviewed Gulbranson and Uiegaelelei.
Smith isn’t close to naming a starter, a decision that will wait until training camp in August. DJ has to be considered the frontrunner, but it appears the Beavers have three QBs capable of running a Pac-12 offense.
The defense kept the offense out of the end zone on eight of the 10 offensive series that began on the 30-yard line, showing strength up front and surprising skills at the back end.
“We have built a defense that is very competitive — pretty good,” Smith said. “They’re going to be tough to move the ball consistently on, and that’s what you want.”
Smith said the defensive line will be the best in his six years-to-be at the OSU helm. Returnees Rawls, Isaac Hodgins, Joe Golden and Sione Lolohea have been joined by redshirt freshman Takari Hickle and transfer Oluwaseyl Omotosho (Wyoming) to form a deep position group.
“We have so many dudes playing at a high level,” said Hodgins, a sixth-year senior. “Any one of us can go out there and play. We’re going to need a lot of bodies the way we move players in and out.”
The secondary lost starters Grant, Rezjohn Wright and Alex Austin from last year’s team along with promising safety Skyler Thomas, who will miss the upcoming season following ACL knee surgery. But Smith feels good about the group coming back, especially if safety Alton Julian can return from 2022 knee surgery. Cornerbacks include Robinson, Swen and Tyrice Ivy, a 6-3, 200-pound transfer from San Mateo (Calif.) JC. Safeties could feature Julian, Akili Arnold, Ryan Cooper and Kitan Oladapo. One of the safeties would likely swing to nickel back.
“We have some guys with experience there,” Smith said, “and some young talent.”
The strongest position is likely running back, with Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year Damien Martinez — he carried one time Saturday and departed — headlining and Griffin, Deshaun Fenwick and Isaiah Newell all Pac-12-caliber runners.
Tight end looks promising, too, with the addition of California transfer Jermaine Terry and the shifting of veteran linebacker Riley Sharp to the position. Sophomore Veiling and junior Jake Overman played the most of any at that spot a year ago.
The Beavers lost some talent at linebacker but return Easton Mascarena-Arnold and John Miller on the inside and Andrew Chatfield, John McCartan, Ryan Franke and Cory Stover on the outside. Mikayla Tongue has switched from receiver to inside backer and 6-5, 240-pound transfer Nikko Taylor from Hutchinson (Kan.) JC will help with edge rushing from the outside.
There are a couple of positions of concern. The receiver corps is thin and without size, though Bolden, Gould and Irish are burners if vertically challenged. Smith said he feels confident in the kicking/punting game, but I don’t, not after the misses from veteran placekicker Everett Hayes last season and the lackluster punting of redshirt senior Josh Green from Australia on Saturday.
Expectations have changed, and aspirations are higher than they have been in two decades at Oregon State. Smith said Saturday he thinks his players are ready to take another positive step.
“We have some guys who have been around and understand the culture,” he said. “We are mature enough to know it isn’t easy to win. You have to work and put a lot into it, and you have to do it together.
“The way they approach things, they understand how hard it is to win. They are going to attack the preparation and develop chemistry throughout the summer. Can’t wait to get back around them full-time starting in August.”
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