Oregon

How did new Oregon State quarterback Maalik Murphy perform in the spring game?

Published

9 months ago

April 20, 2025

How did new Oregon State quarterback Maalik Murphy perform in the spring game?

CORVALLIS — Even if it was a miss, it was a sign of progress.

New Oregon State quarterback Maalik Murphy took a deep shot on the very first play of Saturday’s spring game, overthrowing a wide open Darrius Clemons on a would-be touchdown.

While Murphy wants it back, knowing he has the touch to finish those plays off, the Beavers are encouraged. After a 2024 season of mostly subpar quarterback play with limited downfield success, they can actually draw up those explosive plays now given the Duke transfer Murphy’s arm talent.

Execution is expected to come with time.

“The competitive part of you wishes you hit more of those vertical throws,” OSU offensive coordinator Ryan Gunderson said. “That has been a major point of emphasis for us this spring. There was some good stuff on offense last year, but we were not explosive. We need to hit bigger shots down the field, we need to win, we need to break tackles on long runs just every now and then to be more explosive.”

Murphy was efficient and showcased quick decision-making on short and intermediate throws, particularly up the middle of the field. He took and missed a few other deep shots, and eventually connected with a wide-open Cooper Jensen for a 30-yard touchdown — the only trip to paydirt on the day for the Beavers’ offense as Murphy faced constant pressure behind a banged-up offensive line.

Murphy also utilized his legs, finding gaps to scamper for a pair of quarterback keepers in the second quarter. That won’t likely be a regular thing for the 6-5 Murphy in the fall, particularly with fleet-footed Gabarri Johnson expected to contribute on the ground as the presumptive backup quarterback, but it was a good wrinkle for the Beavers to test regardless.

“Gabarri has had a heck of a spring, and Gabarri is going to play,” OSU head coach Trent Bray said. “Whether he’s QB1 or not, we’ve got two really great quarterbacks who can both be in the game — even at the same time. We’ve got a lot of ways to utilize them, which is exciting in how our playbook can grow with the two of them.”

Murphy’s leadership in the spring was mentioned by both Bray and Gunderson as a positive. His success last season at Duke — including a 9-3 record, nearly 3,000 yards and 26 touchdowns to 12 interceptions — appears to have created a foundation of confidence as well.

But it’s a calm confidence, Gunderson explained.

“As you guys can tell with Maalik, big smile, good mood, but when you’re in that huddle, it matters. He is super competitive,” Gunderson said. “He’s got a great personality and great leadership ability, which I thought was an issue for us on offense (last year). I don’t want to be the leader for us on offense. We want to be player-led, and he’s got a spirit about that.”

Murphy acknowledged that the spring game wasn’t perfect, and spoke more about his misses than his hits. He expressed a desire to keep putting in extra work with his new receivers to build a rapport this summer, throwing at night on their own time after completing required work in the weight room.

The line to get autographs and photos with Murphy stretched more than 20 yards on Saturday, even as most players, family and fans had already cleared the field. He made time for each person with an air of humility and kindness, his family looking on while wearing orange and black No. 6 jerseys.

The offense is still a work in progress, but the starting point for OSU’s quarterback position feels much further along and on more solid ground with Murphy.

“Everything takes reps, and of course as spring goes on, I’ve gotten more and more reps,” Murphy said. “I feel like I’ve gotten better, the people around me have gotten better, and the whole offense has gotten better. These last two practices have been our best practices of the spring. Today wasn’t perfect, but we did a lot of good things, and I’m excited for what we can do this fall.”

— Ryan Clarke covers college sports for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach him at RClarke@Oregonian.com or on Twitter/X: @RyanTClarke. Find him on Bluesky: @ryantclarke.bsky.social.

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Oregon

Auburn signs former Oregon State QB Tristan Ti’a

Published

5 hours ago

January 12, 2026

Press Room

Auburn signs former Oregon State QB Tristan Ti’a

Auburn’s quarterback room gained another piece out of the transfer portal on Sunday, and is now up to four scholarship players.

The latest signee is Oregon State transfer Tristan Ti’a, a source confirmed to AL.com. He comes to Auburn after spending one season with the Beavers, and will likely fill the backup quarterback role at Auburn behind Byrum Brown.

Ti’a was a backup during his freshman season at Oregon State, playing in three games. In that time, he completed 37 of his 53 passes for 385 yards with three passing touchdowns and two interceptions.

He’s the third and likely final transfer quarterback to sign with Auburn since the portal opened on Jan. 2, joining Brown and former USF third-string quarterback Locklan Hewlett. Incoming freshman Rhys Brush will also be in the quarterback room next season.

With Ti’a signing, Auburn is now up to 22 incoming transfers. The portal will remain open until Jan. 16. Keep up with all of Auburn’s incoming and outgoing transfers here.

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Oregon

Oregon outside linebacker Blake Purchase to enter transfer portal

Published

17 hours ago

January 11, 2026

Press Room

Oregon outside linebacker Blake Purchase to enter transfer portal

Oregon is losing a second edge defender to transfer.

Blake Purchase will enter the transfer portal, he announced via X. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

“I want to start by thanking God for this journey and everything that has come with it,” Purchase told DenverSportsMedia.com. “Thank you to my family for the continued love and support they have given me. I’m forever grateful for these past three seasons at the University of Oregon. The lessons l’ve learned here will stay with me for a lifetime. Thank you to all the coaches who poured into me and helped me grow as both a person and a player. And to my teammates – the bonds we built are forever. You are my brothers for life.”

The 6-foot-3, 245-pound Purchase had 32 tackles (4.5 for loss) with two sacks, one interception and one pass breakup this season. His 352 snaps on defense ranked 14th for UO this season.

Purchase had two tackles while redshirting last season and five tackles as a true freshman in 2023.

A four-star recruit out of Cherry Creek (Colorado) High School, Purchase was the No. 294 overall prospect and No. 34 edge defender in the class of 2023 in the 247Sports Composite.

Purchase will be the sixteenth scholarship player to transfer from UO this offseason, joining defensive backs Jahlil Florence, Dakoda Fields, Solomon Davis, Sione Laulea, Kingston Lopa and Daylen Austin, receivers Justius Lowe and Kyler Kasper, quarterbacks Austin Novosad and Luke Moga, offensive lineman Lipe Moala and running backs Jay Harris, Makhi Hughes and Jayden Limar. Oregon has 79 projected scholarship players in 2026.

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Oregon

Oregon State men slip up down stretch of competitive matchup with Portland

Published

1 day ago

January 11, 2026

Press Room

Oregon State men slip up down stretch of competitive matchup with Portland

Despite a strong start and competitive effort for much of the night, Oregon State men’s basketball fell apart down the stretch of a 82-76 loss to University of Portland on Saturday night at Chiles Center.

A corner three-pointer by Mikah Ballew buried the Beavers (9-10, 2-4 WCC), putting Portland up 78-70 with just 1:10 remaining.

The Pilots (9-10, 2-4 WCC) had four players in double figures: Cameron Williams with 23, Jermaine Webb Balsinger and Joel Foxwell with 18 apiece, and Ballew with 16.

The Beavers were led by Olavi Suutela with 19 points and Johan Munch with 14. Dez White, Josiah Lake II and Yaak Yaak each had 10, and OSU out-shot the Pilots — 47% to 43% — but untimely turnovers and missed shots hurt them in the second half.

OSU came out hot, taking a 18-8 lead early in the first half including 12 points from Suutela. It got up to 24-15 before the Pilots mounted a response.

Turnovers and miscommunication by the Beavers on offense led to a 8-0 run by Portland. OSU clung to its lead for a while, but Portland took its first at 31-30 late in the first half.

The Pilots carried a 39-38 lead into the break.

Coming out of the half, after some back and forth, the Beavers went on an 11-1 run — fueled by the scoring and defensive effort of Suutela, and inside play of Noah Amenhauser — to take a 54-45 advantage at the 13:11 mark.

Turnovers reared their ugly head once again for the Beavers, though, and a pair of jumpers by Joel Foxwell cut the OSU lead down to 56-53.

Portland retook the lead, 57-56, with 10 minutes remaining. With an increased energy on both ends of the floor and OSU missing open shots, the Pilots led 66-63 with six minutes remaining and never relinquished it.

Portland’s defense smothered OSU in the halfcourt, and Wayne Tinkle’s side couldn’t find an easy basket, settling often for one-on-one opportunities rather than consistent and meaningful ball movement. Portland led, 71-68, with 3:19 to go.

Trailing by nine, Lake II hit a three-pointer to cut it to six with five seconds left. Too little, too late for the Beavers as they slipped back below .500.

Next game: Oregon State (9-10, 2-4 WCC) vs. LMU (11-7, 2-3 WCC)