Oregon
OPINION: JaMarcus Shephard was Oregon State’s First Choice, and the Right Choice
A week ago – after former Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst backed out, North Dakota State head coach Tim Polasek signed a lucrative extension, Jim L. Mora agreed to take the reins at Colorado State, and Montana State head coach Brent Vigen elected to stay in Bozeman – fans across Beaver Nation wondered who would lead their program. I wondered too.
Now that the dust has settled – JaMarcus Shephard is the head coach of the Oregon State Beavers’ football program – I owe an apology to Scott Barnes and his search committee.
They got their guy. I now believe he was their first choice all along, and I’ll offer three reasons why.
Shephard satisfied Oregon State’s top priority: a strong character
I have previously written about the off-field failings of the Trent Bray era: student-athletes were arrested following domestic violence allegations, or caught driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Both the Oregon State campus & Corvallis community lost trust in its football team. Enter JaMarcus Shephard. “As we moved forward through the process and narrowed down to JaMarcus,” explained Oregon State athletic director Scott Barnes in yesterday’s press conference, “I made several calls to friends and colleagues in the industry…and as I talked to them about JaMarcus, they leaned in hard on the person he was rather than the accomplishments he had.”
Barnes later shared a letter he received from Shephard’s middle school PE teacher, Joan Augenbaugh: “I want to reach out and congratulate you on the hiring of one of the most amazing students I’ve ever had in my thirty-three years of teaching. I had JaMarcus when I first started my teaching career. He has that joy about him, always the smile. I am happy, so happy for him, he has always worked so hard for everything he has and everything he has achieved. ”
For her part, Oregon State president Jayathi Murthy appeared similarly spirited by the hire. Only months removed from Oregon State’s associated student body prodding her about Trent Bray’s no-comment comment on troubled cornerback Exodus Ayers, she told the assembled crowd how excited she was for next September’s home opener. She’s not even a football fan!
I believe Shephard – who used his time yesterday to emphasize the importance of academic excellence & embracing Oregon State’s campus culture – has the bona fides to clean up a wayward program.
MORE: State of the Beavs: JaMarcus Shephard’s First Days At Oregon State
Shephard satisfied Oregon State’s second-highest priority: a skilled recruiter
Fired Oregon State head coach Trent Bray had a glaring weakness: recruiting. Back in May, Lake Oswego running back LaMarcus Bell – arguably the best prep in the Beaver State – wanted to visit other schools. Instead of acquiescing, Oregon State forced his hand, scrubbing a scholarship offer and previously scheduled official visit. Bell signed with Utah earlier today.
A similar story played out with California corner Donovan Dunmore, an Oregon State commit who crossed Bray’s invisible line after an official visit to Wisconsin earlier this season. Today, Dunmore marked his commitment to Camp Randall in ink.
Bell, Dunmore, and Fresno four-star quarterback Deagan Rose highlight a hit parade of 7 different de-commitments from Oregon State’s signing class. Now, consider JaMarcus Shephard. At blue-chip Alabama the past two seasons, and a Washington program that reached the College Football Playoff national championship game two years ago, he worked tirelessly to build relationships with players. His head coach Kalen DeBoer explained this week that “He’s a guy that pours everything into this program, and he’s poured everything into me. It’s something that our players know and feel, known Shep since really 2014, and you can’t help but be excited for someone who gets to run their own program.”
Shephard played a part in building two of the sport’s best teams. Now he’ll pitch talented student-athletes on spending their Saturdays at Reser Stadium.
For added measure, Shephard flashes incredible charisma
Trent Bray struggled in front of the microphones. I’m reminded of a difficult exchange with OregonLive.com columnist Bill Oram, who – in a moment of frustration – asked the head coach point blank “Do you still believe you’re the right coach to lead this program?”
Oram, for his part, borrowed the microphone during the question/answer session that capped yesterday’s presser. When he spoke, Oregon State athletic director Scott Barnes scowled. Flanked beside Barnes’ left shoulder, JaMarcus Shephard quite literally turned his other cheek, then smiled, and eagerly listened to what the once-confrontational columnist had to say. Oregon State’s new head coach has a way with people: his portion of the press conference ran for nearly an hour, and included heartfelt thanks addressed by name to his daughters, wife, and son, plus a platoon of Oregon State alumni, boosters, and decision-makers in attendance. After addressing so many questions that Oregon State assistant athletic director Hank Hager cut him off – Shephard walked off to the side and huddled up a private media scrum for even more questions.
Years ago, I remember interviewing the recently fired Jonathan Smith before a fundraising event at the Rogue Valley Country Club in Medford. As soon as the mic stopped recording, Jonathan sprinted away to go play some holes. I don’t blame him – the view of the Siskiyou Mountains helps shape one of the prettiest courses in America – but the contrast between Shephard and his predeccesors is stark. After media members were finally finished with their questions yesterday, JaMarcus Shephard stayed behind for hugs & handshakes.
Like I said on BlueSky yesterday: Beaver Nation, you got your guy. Sorry it took me so long to figure out.
More Reading Material From Oregon State Beavers On SI
BLUE RIVER, Ore. (KATU) — The founder of a former disaster relief nonprofit is being sued for allegedly diverting nearly $837,000 in donations and grants for personal gain.
Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield filed the lawsuit Thursday against the founder and executive director of Cascade Relief Team (CRT), Marcus Brooks. In the complaint, Rayfield calls CRT “a sham.”
Brooks is accused of stealing donations and government grants meant for disaster relief following wildfires and flooding in 2020, and using it for personal expenses including casino visits, travel, vehicles, and more.
CRT was founded in 2020 and was hired for cleanup and relief services following the Labor Day Wildfires that burned over 1 million acres across Oregon.
In Blue River, an unincorporated community in the McKenzie River Valley, the 2020 Holiday Farm Fire destroyed nearly 800 homes and burned more than 173,000 acres.
I am angry that my community was taken advantage of
Just months after the fire, long-time Blue River resident Melanie Stanley said CRT stepped in and promised help to the community.
“For us, it was…like a savior at that point,” Stanley said.
Stanley was the manager for the Blue River Resource Center and worked for Brooks to help facilitate recovery efforts. She said CRT operations slowly became questionable.
“None of us knew the level at which all of this stuff that finally came out was at,” Stanley said. “We knew that there was some stuff that had started to look hinky or feel hinky, or there was just some lack of communication that was happening. There were some other things that were happening, and so we just all were kind of guarded.”
In fall of 2023 the nonprofit was reported to have run out of money, and Brooks allegedly fired staff without disclosing the organization’s financial conditions and did not notify donors or beneficiaries. Stanley was one of those people fired.
The state now claims the funds that were meant to go towards communities like Blue River, never made it out of Brooks’ hands, including donations given by Blue River neighbors.
“I am angry that my community was taken advantage of, and I am angry that they now have to worry about trusting when something else happens, because we know something else is going to happen,” Stanley said. “We hope to God it’s never anything as big or as bad as what has happened, but you know, we also have learned that groups like Locals Helping Locals…they are our foundation, and they are because they’re us.”
The state is seeking to recover the money, permanently bar Brooks from serving in a leadership role at a charitable organization and dissolve the nonprofit.
Stanley said Brooks’ actions have tainted reputations.
“We as a community and as the people from the community who helped kind of put all of these things together, we did what was asked of us,” Stanley said. “We did help clean things, and we did help get things to provide, you know, more progress and get things moving forward, and we did good work, and so I just really hope that this is not overshadowed.”
According to Stanley, Blue River’s recovery now stands at 50%.
“We will be very picky from here on out about who and what groups gets let in to help with anything,” Stanley said. “And sadly, it may be to our detriment, but he did more damage now, as far as reputations go, and for that I’m angry. I’m very angry.”
The Oregon Ducks have been progressing through the class of 2027 with hopes of landing some of their top target’s commitment on both the offense and the defense.
With many names left on the board, the Ducks have started to receive some great news, including some news from someone they have been targeting since they offered back in January of 2025.
Darius Johnson Releases His Top Four Schools
One of the Ducks top targets’ in the 2027 class at the cornerback position is Darius Johnson. Johnson recently released his top schools with Hayes Fawcett, as he is entering a crucial part of his recruitment. The four schools he has listed at the top include the California Golden Bears, Michigan Wolverines, UCLA Bruins, and the Oregon Ducks.
Johnson is one of the better cornerbacks in the country. He currently ranks as the nation’s No. 178 prospect in the country, No. 20 player at the position, and the No. 14 player in the state of California, according to Rivals. Landing his commitment would be major for any of the schools, as he is someone who could see the field early due to his size, and his growing ability to lockdown a side of the field all by himself.
More About Darius Johnson
Johnson currently measures in at 6-1 and 155 pounds, and will be someone who continues to add weight through his high school program, and will eventually have the chance to really improve his frame when he gets to college. As of now, each of the four schools has a solid chance to win its recruiting battle, but there seems to be a clear leader at this moment.
The leader for the Ducks target seems to be the Michigan Wolverines, who have the only scheduled official visit at this moment. It seems likely that the talented prospect will schedule his other official visits sooner rather than later now that he has officially cut down his list. If the Ducks want to land his commitment, they will need to get him on an official visit because they are likely trailing at this point.
What If He Committed to Oregon Today?
If he were to commit to the Ducks today, he would be the ninth commitment for the Ducks in the class of 2027. He would also be the third cornerback commit for the Ducks in the class of 2027, which is a position they have been recruiting heavily. The cornerbacks the Ducks have at this moment are four-star Ai’King Hall from the state of Alabama and four-star Josiah Molden from the state of Oregon.
Some of their other commits at this moment include four-star EDGE Rashad Streets, four-star defensive linemen Zane Rowe, and four-star EDGE Cameron Pritchett. This class is shaping up to be another top-five class if the pieces continue to fall into place for Oregon coach Dan Lanning and his staff.
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Oregon tight end Jamari Johnson, after an impressive 2025 season with the Ducks, now becomes the leader at his position following the departure of star Kenyon Sadiq to the NFL.
With an Oregon offense set to return several top stars and bring in two talents at the tight end position, Johnson looks to not only improve as a leader but build off his impressive 2025 season, in which he recorded 32 receptions for 510 yards and three touchdowns.
Here’s everything Johnson had to say during his media appearance following Oregon’s scrimmage on Saturday, with the spring game on the horizon.
Everything Tight End Jamari Johnson Said After Spring Scrimmage
What He Learned From Playing With Tight End Kenyon Sadiq:
“So many, but one is training. Everybody in this facility harps on it, and it’s just a standard here. It’s like him from last year, that man strained his guts out almost every play. I just feel like I got to do the exact same thing or even more to uphold the standard.”
Stepping Up At Tight End:
“It just changed because obviously Kenyon leaving somebody has to step up and be a leader in the room, and me being one of the older guys, it just happens to be me. I just accepted that role, and I actually kind of like it, getting these young guys going, getting them in the playbook and getting them used to college football.”
Participating Again In Spring Practice:
“It feels good coming back. Feels like I have something to prove for me personally, I feel like I haven’t really done anything in college football. I feel like this year is that year for me to show everybody what I’m about.”
On Tight Ends Kendre Harrison and Andrew Olesh:
“Both good dudes, they both got that dog in them. Andrew, he came from Penn State. He’s been coming along well, getting in the playbook. Kendre, he’s a big, tall guy, getting in the playbook too. They’ve been getting after it, man. It’s been good taking them under my wing. Hopefully, we just get going this year.”
Goals and Expectations Ahead of Spring Game:
“I’ll say one expectation that we really try to harp on in the room is just going 100 percent. That’s with your effort, that’s with knowing the plays and just giving it your all. A goal is just to get in that endzone. That’s one of the goals for the tight end room right there.”
Why He Returned to Oregon:
“Like I said earlier, to me, I felt like I haven’t really done anything in college football. That was one of the reasons, and another is I wouldn’t say I’m not ready for the NFL, but like that’s pretty much what I’m getting at, is just like I have a lot of stuff to work on that’s within footwork and hand placement, block in the run game, and route details. Getting to the right depth and just touching up everything I can so when I get to the NFL, there’s none of those problems, it’s just the big problems I have to fix.”
How Reps Helped Him Improve:
“It really helped me. Last year, we ran a lot of twelve personnel at the end of the season because we had a couple of injuries, but that really helped me. This year, I feel like I’m coming in rolling off the ground. It’s just so much more fluent, and those reps really helped me with the playbook. Playbook is way easier now, and I’m getting a good feel for it.”
His Leadership Traits:
“I like to get the guys going. I have a real voice on the field, and if y’all hear me on the field, I get the guys going. I wouldn’t say I’m a vocal leader, but I lead by example. Vocal leader, probably something I need to work on.”
On New Offensive Coordinator Drew Mehringer:
“It’s been different. They’re two different people, coach (Will) Stein and coach Drew. My guy’s getting us going. I’m excited for this season.”
Supporting Dakorien Moore At Track Meet:
“Yesterday, that touched my heart, man. Just all of us going out there, and it wasn’t even just for Dakorien. It was really for Oregon. It was just more for Dakorien because we see him every day. That really touched my heart, and the connection is just unbelievable. I don’t think many people are doing that for their teammates.”
Quarterback Dante Moore’s Growth:
“That guy has his head on his shoulders at all times. He’s been growing consistently, but it’s a couple of different things. I probably can’t name them right now, but he’s been having his head on his shoulders. He’s just been on the climb.”
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