CORVALLIS — Plenty has changed about the Oregon State football program over the past eight months; both on and off the field.
But, as the Beavers kicked off the 2024 season with their first day of fall camp Wednesday at Prothro Field, first-year head coach Trent Bray was adamant that the expectations for his program haven’t changed despite a tumultuous offseason that featured a mass exodus of player and coaching talent.
“The physical talent is here. From a size, strength, speed standpoint, it’s here — we can win the games we need to win with the talent we have here,” Bray said. “Now, it’s just gonna be about how fast we can come together. How fast can these guys play?”
Bray was elevated as OSU’s head coach in November following Jonathan Smith’s departure to Michigan State. He served as the Beavers’ defensive coordinator for three years under Smith and now will be tasked with sustaining one of the more successful stints in program history. The Beavers went 8-5 last season, 10-3 in 2022 and ended both seasons inside the top 25 of the College Football Playoff year-end rankings.
With the Aug. 31 season-opener against Idaho State exactly one month away, Bray and the Beavers began fall practices under sunny Corvallis skies on Wednesday.
Fall practices will be open to reporters and photographers throughout camp, but reporting on injuries, formations and players who missed practice is prohibited by OSU officials. With that in mind, here are some notes and takeaways from the Beavers’ first practice of the 2024 season.
Oregon State quarterback battle takes shape
It’s no secret that the Beavers are in search of a new starting signal-caller following the offseason departures of DJ Uiagalelei and Aidan Chiles.
If Wednesday’s practice was any indicator, a name that is familiar to many Oregon State fans might be the early frontrunner to lock down the job.
Ben Gulbranson, a fifth-year junior who started eight games for OSU in 2022, looked the sharpest of the Beavers’ quarterbacks by a wide margin on the first day of camp. Gulbranson completed several deep, explosive throws — including a long touchdown to Trent Walker and a well-placed shot to Jhae Drummer in triple coverage.
“We know who (Gulbranson) is; he’s a great leader, a great teammate,” Bray said. “He just does everything you ask. Looking forward to seeing how he continues to progress.”
Gulbranson is competing for the starting job with Idaho transfer Gevani McCoy and Missouri transfer Gabarri Johnson, among others.
“It’s really going to be the consistency of running the offense and making good decisions,” Bray said of what he will be looking for from his quarterbacks throughout fall camp. “Who can do that on a day in and day out basis is really what we’re looking for.”
OSU revamps receiver room
For all the departures Oregon State saw up and down its roster throughout the offseason, it scored a few notable victories in the receiver department. Bray retained a respected assistant in longtime receivers coach Kefense Hynson and bolstered the position by adding former Michigan standout Darrius Clemons and four-star signee Jordan Anderson.
But the four receivers from last year’s squad who saw the most playing time (Silas Bolden, Anthony Gould, Jesiah Irish and Rweha Munyagi Jr.) have departed the program. In that sense, there will be plenty of playing time up for grabs in 2024.
Clemons, a 6-foot-3 wideout, failed to carve out a consistent role during his two seasons with the Wolverines. But he was a highly touted prospect coming out of Westview High School in Portland as a senior in the 2022 class and has the chance to be a go-to deep threat during his debut season with the Beavers.
“From a teammates standpoint, he’s just a natural leader,” Bray said. “He just brings that. The football part has yet to be seen because he’s only practiced today; he didn’t practice all spring. But, from a leadership standpoint, his work ethic, how much he studies — he’s always in the building — he brings a ton.”
Joshua Gray’s position switch for Beavers
Joshua Gray, arguably Oregon State’s top returning player from last year’s squad, was full-go during Wednesday’s practice and is in the midst of a position transition.
Gray has started at left tackle for the Beavers each of the last four seasons and is a three-time second-team all-conference selection. Despite generating plenty of NFL buzz last offseason, he put his professional career on hold and opted to return to Corvallis for a fifth year.
But, he has made the move to the interior offensive line and will spend fall camp repping at left guard and center.
“He wants to move inside, especially for his opportunity at the next level,” Bray said. “He’ll play guard and center for us and work that to make him more valuable at that next level. That will be learning a lot of new things about the inside position as we go through fall camp.”
According to Pro Football Focus, Gray allowed just seven quarterback hurries last season — the fourth-fewest in the Pac-12 among offensive linemen who played regularly. On Wednesday he was the last Oregon State offensive lineman to leave the practice field and was seen putting in extra work on the blocking sleds as Bray spoke with reporters.
“It will be easy for him,” Bray said of Gray making the move to the interior. “Coach (Jim Michalczik) did a great job all the time of teaching those guys all five (offensive line) spots. Coach (Kyle DeVan) does the same thing. So, that transition is not that tough. But it will take a little work physically.”
Jarrid Denney covers high school sports and Oregon State for the Statesman Journal. He can be reached at JDenney@salem.gannett.com or on X @jarrid_denney
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