From the OSU Communications Department
CORVALLIS, Ore. – Oregon State stayed true to its convictions while assembling the 25-man 2017 football recruiting class unveiled on Wednesday by third-year head coach Gary Andersen.
"We stuck with who we are," Andersen said in describing what he calls an honest recruiting process. "We didn't try to pretend to be something we're not. We are Corvallis. We are Oregon State University.
"We are a college town, and we're darn proud of that. Our kids can come in here and be tied to the community, to Beaver Nation, and to the student body.
"This is going to be a family environment. You are going to be involved in the community. It's not your choice. We show that to our recruits and it hits them in the face, either 'Yep, that's something I want to be part of.' or 'Nope, that's not what I want to be part of.'
"We share that message clear and early because it's important. If you want to be in a big city, that's OK, but that's not us."
The complete class features six offensive linemen; five wide receivers; four safeties; three cornerbacks; two quarterbacks, running backs and defensive linemen, and one linebacker. Three have already enrolled in school.
Andersen said OSU met its three major objectives:
"We recruited some high, high-level kids," who also had offers from numerous other Pac-12 and Power 5-conference schools, Andersen added. "We won many of those battles.
"Did we win them all? No. If you win them all you are not recruiting the right guys. But it was good to see us get into fights that went down to the wire, to see other [schools] attack our guys, and to be able to hold people off and to keep swinging to the end with some of the young men we didn't get.
"I'm proud of our staff. We team-recruited, which is vital with what we believe in. Our staff did a great job of continually identifying prospects as we went through the process," helping OSU find and sign Texas "special" running backs Benjamin "BJ" Baylor and Calvin Tyler to fill a late-emerging hole at that position.
OSU signed three Oregonians: Safety David Morris and offensive lineman Josh Bowcut of Sherwood High School, and Central Catholic offensive lineman Travis Mackay. Morris was the Oregon 6A Player of the Year, a first-team all-state safety and a second-team all-state running back.
"He's as tough as they come," and rebuffed offers from many other schools after initially committing to OSU, Andersen said of Morris. "His family is all-in. He's believed in us and in this university."
Several of the signees have family ties to OSU. Hawaiian inside linebacker Kesi Ah-Hoy's older sister, Camilla, played volleyball at OSU from 2006-2009 and was an Everyday Champion. Former OSU safety Al Afalava is his first cousin.
Baylor's cousin is former OSU soccer great Khiry Shelton, now with New York City FC in MLS. His is also related to OSU football greats James and Jacquizz Rodgers, who are his mother's cousins.
Andersen also cited the major, positive impact the ongoing $42 million Valley Football Center renovation/expansion project and the Beyond Football program had on recruiting.
"The new [VFC] was big for us," he said. "It's not complete yet, but parents, families and kids could see what it will be. They walked in here and saw there is a true drive to be great.
"Beyond Football has been unbelievable the last two years. It allows us to put kids in position to be successful past football. It's a huge part of our recruiting."
Three junior college players signed during the December period. Quarterback Jake Luton of Ventura (Calif.) College, a native of Marysville, Wash., is already enrolled in school. Defensive tackle Craig Evans of Arizona Western, a native of Sun Prairie, Wisc., and offensive lineman Justin Sattelmaier of Palomar (Calif.) College and Temecula, Calif., will enroll for spring term.
Each was named a JuCo Top 100 players by the Scout.com recruiting service. Evans also played at Michigan State; Luton played at Idaho and Sattelmaier played at Western Oregon before transferring to their respective JCs.
Also, high school senior wide receivers Isaiah Hodgins of Walnut Creek, Calif., and Kolby Taylor of Chandler, Ariz., graduated early and enrolled at OSU in January for the winter term.
Hodgins is a four-star recruit from Berean Christian High School in Walnut Creek. Taylor played at Chandler High and is the son of Keith Taylor, a defensive back for nine years in the NFL with Washington, New Orleans and Indianapolis.
Andersen described the recent recruiting cycle as a "tremendous, tremendous process."
"You have to say a lot of thank-yous when you get to this spot," he added. "It's not just the coaching staff. Everybody is involved," inside and outside the athletic department.
"I can't say I'm glad it's over, because I love recruiting. But we are close to spring ball."
OSU returns 57 lettermen with a combined 285 career starts from a 2016 team that finished on a two-game winning streak and 4-8 overall. Spring practice begins Feb. 17; the annual Spring Game is March 18 at Reser Stadium.
The Beavers open the 2017 football season with two home games for the first time since 2013. They host Portland State on Sept. 2 and Minnesota on Sept. 9 at Reser Stadium.
The six-game home schedule also includes dates with defending Pac-12 champion Washington (Sept. 30); reigning South Division champion Colorado (Oct. 14); Stanford (Oct. 26) and Arizona State (Nov. 18). The Beavers play at Washington State (Sept. 16); Colorado State (Sept. 23); USC (Oct. 7); California (Nov. 4); Arizona (Nov. 11) and Oregon (Nov. 24) in the 121st edition of the Civil War.
CORVALLIS, Ore. – Oregon State stayed true to its convictions while assembling the 25-man 2017 football recruiting class unveiled on Wednesday by third-year head coach Gary Andersen.
"We stuck with who we are," Andersen said in describing what he calls an honest recruiting process. "We didn't try to pretend to be something we're not. We are Corvallis. We are Oregon State University.
"We are a college town, and we're darn proud of that. Our kids can come in here and be tied to the community, to Beaver Nation, and to the student body.
"This is going to be a family environment. You are going to be involved in the community. It's not your choice. We show that to our recruits and it hits them in the face, either 'Yep, that's something I want to be part of.' or 'Nope, that's not what I want to be part of.'
"We share that message clear and early because it's important. If you want to be in a big city, that's OK, but that's not us."
The complete class features six offensive linemen; five wide receivers; four safeties; three cornerbacks; two quarterbacks, running backs and defensive linemen, and one linebacker. Three have already enrolled in school.
Andersen said OSU met its three major objectives:
- To add taller, stronger and faster defensive backs.
- To create more competition at wide receiver.
- To add offensive linemen and replenish a group that lost three veteran starters.
"We recruited some high, high-level kids," who also had offers from numerous other Pac-12 and Power 5-conference schools, Andersen added. "We won many of those battles.
"Did we win them all? No. If you win them all you are not recruiting the right guys. But it was good to see us get into fights that went down to the wire, to see other [schools] attack our guys, and to be able to hold people off and to keep swinging to the end with some of the young men we didn't get.
"I'm proud of our staff. We team-recruited, which is vital with what we believe in. Our staff did a great job of continually identifying prospects as we went through the process," helping OSU find and sign Texas "special" running backs Benjamin "BJ" Baylor and Calvin Tyler to fill a late-emerging hole at that position.
OSU signed three Oregonians: Safety David Morris and offensive lineman Josh Bowcut of Sherwood High School, and Central Catholic offensive lineman Travis Mackay. Morris was the Oregon 6A Player of the Year, a first-team all-state safety and a second-team all-state running back.
"He's as tough as they come," and rebuffed offers from many other schools after initially committing to OSU, Andersen said of Morris. "His family is all-in. He's believed in us and in this university."
Several of the signees have family ties to OSU. Hawaiian inside linebacker Kesi Ah-Hoy's older sister, Camilla, played volleyball at OSU from 2006-2009 and was an Everyday Champion. Former OSU safety Al Afalava is his first cousin.
Baylor's cousin is former OSU soccer great Khiry Shelton, now with New York City FC in MLS. His is also related to OSU football greats James and Jacquizz Rodgers, who are his mother's cousins.
Andersen also cited the major, positive impact the ongoing $42 million Valley Football Center renovation/expansion project and the Beyond Football program had on recruiting.
"The new [VFC] was big for us," he said. "It's not complete yet, but parents, families and kids could see what it will be. They walked in here and saw there is a true drive to be great.
"Beyond Football has been unbelievable the last two years. It allows us to put kids in position to be successful past football. It's a huge part of our recruiting."
Three junior college players signed during the December period. Quarterback Jake Luton of Ventura (Calif.) College, a native of Marysville, Wash., is already enrolled in school. Defensive tackle Craig Evans of Arizona Western, a native of Sun Prairie, Wisc., and offensive lineman Justin Sattelmaier of Palomar (Calif.) College and Temecula, Calif., will enroll for spring term.
Each was named a JuCo Top 100 players by the Scout.com recruiting service. Evans also played at Michigan State; Luton played at Idaho and Sattelmaier played at Western Oregon before transferring to their respective JCs.
Also, high school senior wide receivers Isaiah Hodgins of Walnut Creek, Calif., and Kolby Taylor of Chandler, Ariz., graduated early and enrolled at OSU in January for the winter term.
Hodgins is a four-star recruit from Berean Christian High School in Walnut Creek. Taylor played at Chandler High and is the son of Keith Taylor, a defensive back for nine years in the NFL with Washington, New Orleans and Indianapolis.
Andersen described the recent recruiting cycle as a "tremendous, tremendous process."
"You have to say a lot of thank-yous when you get to this spot," he added. "It's not just the coaching staff. Everybody is involved," inside and outside the athletic department.
"I can't say I'm glad it's over, because I love recruiting. But we are close to spring ball."
OSU returns 57 lettermen with a combined 285 career starts from a 2016 team that finished on a two-game winning streak and 4-8 overall. Spring practice begins Feb. 17; the annual Spring Game is March 18 at Reser Stadium.
The Beavers open the 2017 football season with two home games for the first time since 2013. They host Portland State on Sept. 2 and Minnesota on Sept. 9 at Reser Stadium.
The six-game home schedule also includes dates with defending Pac-12 champion Washington (Sept. 30); reigning South Division champion Colorado (Oct. 14); Stanford (Oct. 26) and Arizona State (Nov. 18). The Beavers play at Washington State (Sept. 16); Colorado State (Sept. 23); USC (Oct. 7); California (Nov. 4); Arizona (Nov. 11) and Oregon (Nov. 24) in the 121st edition of the Civil War.
