Under Cover Orange

1. Tony Wilson, LB, Salem, OR

2. Jacquizz Rodgers, RB, Rosenberg, TX

3. Jovan Stevenson, RB, Tucson, AZ

4. Kevan Walker, CB, Arcadia, CA

5. Jordan Bishop, WR, Salem, OR

6. Colin Kelly, OT, Kelso, WA

7. Kenyan Parker, RB/WR, Burnaby, BC

8. Ben Terry, DE, Mission Viejo, CA

9. Geno Munoz, WR, Tacoma, WA

10. Collin Lyons-Pena, OG, Fair Oaks, CA

11. Ryan Katz, QB, Santa Monica, CA

12. Simi Kuli, DE, Torrance, CA

13. Kameron Krebs, S, Kahuku, HI

14. Viliamu Nau, OT, Walnut, CA

15. Anthony Siilata, TE/OL/DL , Kahuku, HI

…are players who enrolled late (greyshirts), taking a grayshirt, so that they will begin their OSU tenure with this year’s recruiting class.
Those players are:

Una Smiley-

Smiley joins the Beavers after being shot on a trip to visit another school recruiting him. Doctors were unsure if he would play again, OSU promised to honor their scholarship offer if he recovered. Doctors have now clear him to play. He comes to OSU from Palomar college. Una is a 6′6″ 280 OT, who will be one of many new faces to help fill the holes in the depleted OSU offensive line. He was touted by some as one of the best offensive tackle prospects in the junior college system at the time of his recruitment.

Taylor Henry-

Henry’s letter of intent didn’t come until after signing day last year. He is an athletic defensive end out of Hollywood, CA who is known mostly for his quick first step. He will eventually be a part of that defensive line rotation that the Beavers are known for.

Castro Masaniai-

Masaniai is a 6′3″, 245 lb. defensive end whose coach says that he hasn’t even come close to reaching his potential, and can play several positions at the collegiate level. There were times in high school when Casto took played over 100 snaps in a game.

Jesse Fifita-

Jesse is a 6′3″, 275 lb. defensive tackle who flew under the radar due to a knee injury two games into his senior season. Now fully rehabbed, a year and a half later Fifita is ready to join the Beaver defense.

Rory Ross-

Ross is a 6′4.5″ 300 lb offensive lineman. A year ago Ross weighed 50 pounds lighter, but has spent the last year bulking up in preparation for his pac-10 career. Of note is Ross’ 6′8″ wingspan and at 300lbs, his ability to dunk a basketball. Apparently coach Cav always asks Rory about it when he calls.

Anthony Watkins-

OSU is bringing in the multi-faceted Burien athlete with the option for him to play where he best fits. Watkins sizes up at 6′2″ 200 lbs. with a 4.45 40 time. Watkins will likely play safety for the Beavers.

Josh LaGrone-

A 6′1″ 180 lb. cornerback out of Nevada was his league’s Player of the Year his senior year in high school. Lagrone clocks a 4.44 40 time.

Colby Prince-

Colby is a 6′5″ 220 lb. tight end out of Albany. Prince played free safety and wide receiver in high school, and chose the Beavers over the Ducks because he felt like OSU had the family atmosphere that he was looking for. Sounds like a smart kid.

Marcus Perry-

Perry was ranked as the #7 longsnapper in the country. Perry also played middle linbacker in high school, and carries a 4.6 GPA out of high school.

Kevin Pankey-

6′5″ 255 lb Pankey has great feet and agility for a big man according to Coach Cav. Kevin’s brother Keith also committed to the Beavs.

Kaulin Krebs-

Krebs committed two years ago to OSU and then went on his LDS mission. His brother Kameron committed to the Beavers this fall. Krebs was the QB for a primarily rush offense in high school. The Beavers loved his versatility.

That’s the greyshirt update for 2007. Stay tuned tomorrow as the Signing Day arrives in Corvallis and the 2007 recruiting class becomes official.

ESPN released an article this week providing an overview of the Pac-10 recruiting classes. Billy Tucker fails to break out of the same old media perspective in this analysis.

Anyone who does there homework will see that the Beavers have never performed when it came to consistently recruiting a top-25 recruiting class, yet somehow we have consistently been finishing in the top-25 at year end. Could it be that players rankings are largely affected by the list of schools that have offered? How is it that the Texas Offensive Player of the Year is only given three stars by Scout and Rivals? He may be only 5′6″ yet somehow he chalked up more than 7,000 yards in his high school career and brought with him his fair share of Touchdowns (more than 20 in his senior year).

I’ve been asked by many friends and acquaintances about this “poor” Beaver recruiting class, and had people disagree with my praise for this year’s class, but I will stand by my claim. In his appraisal of the Beavers, Tucker can’t find one player that he thinks will see the field in 2008. For starters we just landed the #1 ranked junior college prospect in El Camino College’s Simi Kuli. He will likely start, or be the first off the bench for the second toughest defense in the nation.

Even other beaver fans have questioned this class, likely because this year’s 15 commits to date, pail in comparison to the 34 athletes who signed last year. But Beaver Nation needs to remember that the star rating system is an effort to measure talent, but has not bearing on what happens in college, and Coach Riley has done a great job with the recruits that he has brought in to Oregon State and has an eye for talent that other programs (LSU, Michigan, Floria, Texas, USC, etc. etc. etc.) may not be after.

My guess is that there weren’t a lot of programs looking for receivers in Canada, yet coach Riley inks a guy with a 4.33 40 time. You can’t convince me that the Beavers aren’t going to make great use of that speed (see Sammie Stroughter, James Rodgers). So resist the temptation to fall in line with the rest of the world who, with their shallow minds and inability to think for themselves, throws the Beavers under the bus because they only measure the stars in a recruiting class- this class will demonstrate its athletic ability on the field, like many other OSU classes. That’s our niche’ in the recuiting market and we play it well.

There are few days left in the college football recruiting year and Coach Riley and his staff have been working hard to fill out their list of incoming players. Reports came out today that OSu landed the #1 rated JUCO player in the country according to Rivals.com. In addition to 6′4″, 270 DE Simi Kuli the Beavers have also received commitments from thirteen other players. Rivals and Scout are currently both reporting these same players.

Here is a list and short bio on each player and their recruitment:

WR- Jordan Bishop: West Salem senior Jordan Bishop is being touted as one of the more under-rated receivers in the state, since his video was released so late, and apparently West ened up running the ball a lot more this year, but late in his recruitment interest picked up including offers and visits to both Portland State and Idaho. The Beavers are looking at a potential greyshirt situation with Bishop, although his hesitation, and lack of many other receiver commitments may mean a redshirt possibility. Sources close to Bishop are saying that he would really love the opportunity to glean from Stroughter.

OL- Colin Kelly: Before Bishop, a commitment was picked up from Colin Kelly of Kelso, WA. Kelly played tight end in high school and could end up playing tight end, D-end, H-back, or on the O-line for the Beavers. It came down to OSU and WSU. Kelly committed after his official visit with the Beavers.

WR/RB- Kenyan Parker- In a very creative recruiting move, the Beavers went to Canada to pick up this speedster (clocked at 4.3 in the 40m). Parker is listed as a RB but will likely play receiver for the Beavs. Parker came close to commiting on his official but it took a follow up in-home from the OSU coaches to get the deal done.

S- Kameron Krebs- Perennial powerhouse Kahuku H.S. in Hawaii is becoming a major pipeline to Corvallis. Although Krebs moved to California he is originally from Kahuku and will likely graduate in Hawaii. Krebs older brother Kaulin is returning from his mission to join the Beaver in the QB ranks this year. Kameron will likely forego his mission to begin playing at OSU with his brother from the start.

DT- Stephen Paea- Another JC D-lineman for the Beavers. Paea comes from Snow College in Utah and will have 3 to play 3 for the Beavers. Paea also had offers from Texas A&M, Utah, and BYU. Stephen has already signed his LOI with the Beavers.

MLB- Tony Wilson- Another Salem-native will come in for the Beavers next year to play linebacker. Wilson impressed coaches at the OSU camp this summer and committed to OSU in early November.

RB- Jacquizz Rodgers- There may be more buzz around this player than any other single recruit in recent history. “Quizz” is the younger brother of freshman wide receiver James Rodgers who scored the winning TD in Autzen to help the Beavers break the decade long home winning streak in the Civil War. Jacquizz rushed for over 7,000 yards in his high school career, including over 1,700 yards and 21 TDs this season. Rodgers will come in and compete early for the RB spot that is left vacant by Yvenson Bernard.

RB- Jovan Stevenson- Jovan is a versatile running back from Arizona with a 4.5 40 time. Jovan committed early in the process, having never visited OSU. He will also add to the list of names competing to replace Bernard next year. His versatility will suit him well.

WR- Geno Munoz- Another big get for the Beavers this year is Washingon WR Geno Munoz. At 6.0 and with a 40 time slightly above 4.5, this Tacoma receiver will add a lot of depth to the young, talented Beaver receiving core.

QB- Ryan Katz- Katz, teammate of Cameron Collins (one of Oregon State’s recruits from a year ago), is widely respected for his ability to throw and run. This could be the future starting QB of Oregon State football, probably not next year, but maybe soon.

OG- Colin Lyons-Pena- This athletic 6′4″ 295 pound offensive lineman was the first high school commitment for OSU this year.

RB- Jeremy Francis- Francis was a very early commit to the Beavers, so early that though other teams continued to show interest (Ole Miss, KSU, etc) Francis had to make it clear that he was serious. He joins 2 other teammates from his El Camino College team in Corvallis next year. Jeremy signed his LOI in December.

OG- Brent McNeil- 6′3″ 295 lb. Brent McNeil, also from El Camino College, joins the beavers on a depleted offensive line next year. Brent was the first OSU commit of the year. He signed his LOI in December.

Stay tuned in the upcoming days to see who the Beavers add to this year’s class of recruits. Go Beavers!