Oregon State Beavers new staff making recruiting in-roads

Andrew Nemec December 2, 2025 @ 10:46 AM

Oregon State Beavers coach JaMarcus Shephard hasn't even announced his complete coaching staff yet, but the group is already making in-roads.   According to multiple sources, Oregon State coaches are doing serious legwork in the region in an attempt to uncover a few hidden gems in the 2026 recruiting cycle.   With Signing Day less than 24 hours away, it's going to be difficult to build any serious momentum, but it's a good sign that the staff is working to try to change the trajectory in Corvallis.   It should be noted that the Beavers currently don't boast a single in-state scholarship commitment and the remainder of Trent Bray's recruiting class ranks No. 126 nationally, according to <a href="https://247sports.com/">247Sports</a>.   That's 0 top-500 recruits, 2 top-1,250 recruits and just three pledges in the top-1,600.   Unacceptable.    The lack of in-state success is particularly troubling, as Oregon State, at one point in the cycle, had commitments from arguably two of the top three in-state players.   They also had major interest from from several of the top-15 prospects.   But since that time, Oregon State has struggled on the field and Bray's staff handled individual recruitments poorly, leading to key decommitments and soured relationships.   It is truly shocking to see Oregon State without a single in-state pledge, especially when so many prospects would potentially fit their needs: Lakeridge defensive end [player_tooltip player_id='769915' first='Noah' last='Tishendorf'] (West Virginia), Lake Oswego quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='402409' first='Hudson' last='Kurland'] (Washington State), Mountainside quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1232699' first='Cade' last='Mitchell'] (New Mexico), Tualatin offensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1110967' first='Connor' last='LaGrow'] (Boise State), Jesuit athlete [player_tooltip player_id='770006' first='Joe' last='Stimpson'] (Nevada), Philomath athlete [player_tooltip player_id='914278' first='CD' last='Nuno'] (Boise State), former Baker athlete Rasean Jones (Boise State), Central Catholic linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='402406' first='Donnie' last='Vercher III'] (UC Davis) and Beaverton wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='769925' first='Oliver' last='Luebkert'] (Eastern Washington).    The walk-on situation, pre-Shephard, was equally grim - with multiple preferred walk-on targets complaining that they were invited to games, provided with a ticket, but were not introduced to the coaches, provided food or treated like anything other than another face in the crowd.    It was a ticket only.    And, according to some, a waste of time.    That tone will almost certainly change quickly under Shephard, as his staff has already worked diligently to create in-state in-roads.   While it would be too much to ask them to stack commitments ahead of Wednesday's early signing period, I'm hearing the attention to detail of the staff - new to the area - is already far surpassing Bray's crew.   That's great news, and should carry over into the 2027 cycle.   Fixing in-state recruiting won't be accomplished in a matter of days, but the early sighs from Shephard's staff are extremely encouraging.

Oregon State Beavers coach JaMarcus Shephard hasn't even announced his complete coaching staff yet, but the group is already making in-roads.