RECRUITING: Oregon State's QB Depth Problem
It's the most important position in football, and arguably the most important position in any team sport: quarterback.
It's also a glaring position of need in Corvallis for 2025
Things look fine on the surface. Duke transfer Maalik Murphy has the starting job all but assured - deservedly so - after throwing for a Duke school record for touchdowns in a season. Gabarri Johnson will fill in admirably as his backup, and may once again see select snaps in designed packages. Unfortunately, depth behind them is concerning.
What about Ben Gulbranson? Reportedly, he's not enrolled on campus. What about Gevani McCoy? Transferred to Texas State. Dom Montiel? Transferred to NAIA Southern Oregon.
Right now the Beavers' projected third-string quarterback is freshman Kallen Gutridge, a former three-star recruit from Wilsonville HS south of Portland.
There remains hope that Tristan T'ia, Pleasanton (CA) 4* QB and projected hard commit to Oregon State according to 247Sports, will enroll early, but T'ia has not yet signed his national letter of intent (NLI).
No matter who wins the third-string spot, neither Gutridge nor T'ia will enter 2025 with any Division I reps. They've never played a down at quarterback.
Football is not merely a contact sport, it is a collision sport. Injuries are a part of the game. If Maalik Murphy goes down, and Gabarri Johnson isn't ready for a big step up, the Beavers need a deep depth chart behind them. Right now they don't have it.
Here's to hoping Trent Bray finds it, and he finds it soon.
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Matt fell in love with radio during his college days at Oregon Tech, and pursued a nine year career in sports broadcasting with Klamath Falls' and Medford's highest-rated sports radio stations. He currently lives in McMinnville wine country and is excited to talk about the Beavers again.