Oregon State football: Beavers couldn’t care less about Florida’s player defections, Joshua Gray back in 2023

The thrill on Florida message boards is all about recruiting and what’s out there to the Gators within the switch portal.

The Las Vegas Bowl and Oregon State? That’s a subject? A number of provide ideas, however for most of the Gator keyboard warriors, it’s all about 2023.

Most would like to neglect the Dec. 17 sport in Las Vegas. The Gators are a multitude. Florida completed the common season an untidy 6-6, then got here the actual hits: myriad gamers bolting for the switch portal or declaring for the 2023 NFL Draft.

Amongst transfers, draft-bound and gamers booted from this system, the Gators might be down some two dozen gamers from their 2022 roster. It’s unclear as to what number of will likely be out, as Florida coach Billy Napier mentioned Thursday as much as 5 gamers within the switch portal plan to take part within the sport. Undoubtedly out are Florida’s high two quarterbacks, together with starter Anthony Richardson.

One Florida media web site projected the Gators may have a Las Vegas Bowl roster of 61 gamers.

The Las Vegas Bowl hasn’t turn out to be one-sided on paper – Florida nonetheless has loads of 4-star expertise amongst its reserves – however the betting line is getting a bit lopsided. OSU is 10½-point favourite, greater than a landing increased than the opening line of 4.

Oregon State, in the meantime, is coming off a 9-3 common season capped by a 38-34 win over rival Oregon. If the Beavers win the Las Vegas Bowl, it provides OSU a 10-win season for simply the third time in program historical past.

Some Beaver followers fear that Florida isn’t a worthy opponent as a result of its personnel-weakened state. That OSU gained’t get the nationwide “respect” it deserves ought to it beat the Gators.

The Beavers? It’s Florida. They don’t care who exhibits up. They’re taking part in a program from the SEC, extensively thought to be the most effective within the land. Convey ‘em on.

“Whoever traces up out there’s who we have now to go beat,” OSU working again Isaiah Newell mentioned. “We don’t actually fear about what they’ve received occurring.”

Linebacker Jack Colletto appears at Florida’s two-deep and doesn’t see a lot distinction.

“They’ve received a number of expertise. The subsequent man up isn’t going to be that huge of a drop off from the man taking part in earlier than,” Colletto mentioned. “It’s going to be a four-quarter sport.”

Oregon State coach Jonathan Smith mentioned his coaches pays heavy consideration to Florida’s scheme reasonably than who’s on the sector. Smith mentioned they assume whoever performs for the Gators is an effective participant given this system’s fame.

“They do what they do, and do it effectively. They’ve received good gamers who make explosive performs, good working sport. They create a number of points for you defensively with their movement,” Smith mentioned. “We’ve received rather a lot to organize for.”

Grey again in 2023: Scratch Oregon State left deal with Joshua Grey off the checklist of Beavers eyeing the 2023 NFL draft. The fourth-year sophomore mentioned Thursday he’s returning for his junior season.

“I’m one hundred pc, I’ll be again,” Grey mentioned.

That’s an unlimited increase, as Grey figures as one in every of OSU’s high gamers subsequent season on both aspect of the ball. Grey earned second-team all-Pac-12 offensive line honors this season, and is a three-time all-conference choice. The 6-foot-4, 288-pound Grey has began 32 consecutive video games.

What occurs in Vegas: Oregon State arrives in Las Vegas on Monday afternoon, giving the Beavers almost a full week to expertise one in every of America’s most notable leisure cities.

Smith didn’t appear involved about turning his crew free in Las Vegas for every week, because the Beavers are veteran-ladened with many leaders. Nonetheless, it’s Vegas and these are 18 and 20 and 22-year olds.

“It’s completely different than Corvallis, that’s for positive,” Colletto mentioned.

Colletto, who’s 24, believes like Smith, that the crew’s maturity will carry the day in a city of temptations. For Colletto, it’s extra about alternative than having a superb time.

“That’s the bowl I needed. To play an SEC crew, the timing, the placement and every little thing,” Colletto mentioned. “Earlier than the season, my dad’s like, I must see you play in Vegas. He meant the Pac-12 championship, however this one other good venue and nice stadium.”

–Nick Daschel | ndaschel@oregonian.com | @nickdaschel