Rashaad Reynolds is having a good offseason.
Oregon State football team strength coach Bryan Miller shared with me some of the football players who are making significant strides in the offseason.
He’s the best source for this since he sees and works with the players more than the coaches during the offseason.
CB Jordan Poyer and CB Rashaad Reynolds have stood out, Miller said said. “Their strength has improved and they physically look impressive,” Miller said. “They are also vocal leaders.”
Others Miller said have made significant strides are next season’s starting TE Colby Prince, RB Terron Ward and walk-on reserve OL Jake Welch, who squatted 410 pounds 10 times.
“He’s a very young player who has already shattered most of our strength numbers,” Miller said.
I asked specifically how the OL is doing, since the key to any success after two losing seasons is how they block. Returning starter Josh Andrews and reserve Michael Beaton have done well.
Returning starting DEs Scott Crichton and Dylan Wynn lead the way for the DL. Up-and-comers who are doing well are DE Desmond Collins and DT Andrew Seumalo, who is expected to start.
“(Seumalo) is as solid as a rock,” Miller said. “I’m really proud of him. He was 230 pounds as redshirt. Now he’s 290 and will be 295 in the fall.”
23 comments
mike says:
Feb 23, 2012
Way to go.
After training today, please gather your teammates and tell them that the next person to embarrass their team and their school is going to get their butt kicked.
bob says:
Feb 23, 2012
Good update Cliff, and I agree with Mike. If Reynolds and Poyer are vocal leaders, then they need to vocalize, and tell their teammates to behave, and represent the University, fans and alums with class and dignity. Perhaps they are ahead of us and already have?
oneoldbeav says:
Feb 23, 2012
Thanks for the report, Cliff. Since you specifically asked about the O line and didn’t mention Michael Phillipp what are we to assume about his condition?
I’ll echo bob and Mike above on the value of guys like Poyer stepping up and holding their teammates accountable to a higher standard than has recently been in the news.
RenoNVbeavr says:
Feb 23, 2012
I see a rise in leadership this season. I see Poyer (and Reynolds) really being the leaders on D, as well as Wynn and Crighton. That is an excellent foundation to build on. Jake Welch??? Never heard of the guy.
angry says:
Feb 23, 2012
Great. We finally graduate all the walk-on OL, and they want to put another guy there…
shane says:
Feb 23, 2012
while yes he’s a walk on he was originally committed to airforce but decided to join the beavers instead…but he’s a big strong boy…and cliff was simply stating that he has been one of the best workers in the weight room
haterade says:
Feb 23, 2012
angry doesn’t want your reasoning and logic. he wants stuff to hate.
Jack says:
Feb 23, 2012
Example?
Your irrational assumption can only lead to one conclusion by your own parameters.
Ariz says:
Feb 23, 2012
Haterade said the same thing I was thinking. All teams have walk-ons. The fact that one of ours is breaking records in the weight room is very interesting and intriguing. The fact that a guy is a walk on doesnt mean he’s a bad player. How he plays on the field means he’s a bad (or good) player.
Angry just wants to complain so he found a negative in something positive.
The “logic” is that a rising tide floats all boats, the team is only as strong as its weakest link, reserves pressuring starters gets starters to practice harder—all of which are positives.
Jack says:
Feb 23, 2012
A rising tide raises all boats… and floods the houses of the people who can’t afford boats or houses on the hill.
The recent history of walk-on o-line play at OSU has been even a mediocre one. Logic would imply that history repeats itself.
I disagree because I believe the underlying conditions with Welch (and David Vieru… who went to DT?) are vastly different than those who shall remain unnamed.
Jack says:
Feb 23, 2012
Yeah, I think we can lay off Jake. He probably should have been more highly recruited in the first place. But he’s the type of walk-on we should have been getting in the first place. I’ll take an all-state OG who played at 6’2″, 300# and was a top athlete at two other sports in high school over the 220# extreme projects graduation finally took off our hands.
haterade says:
Feb 23, 2012
oh, so you ended up agreeing that ragging on welch is a mistake? make up your mind.
Jack says:
Feb 23, 2012
This was posted before your hate was up.
Jack says:
Feb 23, 2012
*should say at the same time.
Tagup says:
Feb 23, 2012
Walk ons like anything else are a hit and miss proposition….but I see no problem giving a qualified player a shot…….Sometimes a Mike Hass type gets into the lineup.
Jack says:
Feb 23, 2012
I noticed Collins was listed as a DE. There were mixed reports last year that he was a DT as well. Is the DE placement a solid report?
And I’ve heard Roman Sapolu is doing some good work as well. Any news on him?
Cliff Kirkpatrick says:
Feb 23, 2012
Has been listed as a DE since last year. He probably took some reps in both areas, especially on the scout team.
Other guys might be doing good work. I asked who really stood out. Miller can’t list everyone, just the guys really standing out.
ObjCritic says:
Feb 23, 2012
410 lbs X 10 reps? Is that all? No wonder he didn’t get any scholarship offers….
That’s a ridiculous amount of weight for a young human to move that many times. Hope he has an explosive step and a mean streak.
Tagup says:
Feb 23, 2012
410lbs. X 10…I guess he could hold on extra points…..
ObjCritic says:
Feb 23, 2012
Be nice if he had to hold for 10 extra points a game….
Rhino66 says:
Feb 23, 2012
A little history on Jake Welch
3 star from Mark Morris High School class of 2010 Lonvgiew Wa. 4 year Academic letter winner 6″ 3″ 315 lbs 5.2- 40 ( recorded at the 2009 U-Dub rising star camp and at the Air Force Academy.) 28″ vertical recorded at the U-Dub camp. Voted OL MVP at the 2009 Oregon Nike pro camp. 4 year Letterman in football and wrestling ,2 years in track. 2009 Greater St. Helen’s League Defensive player of the year. 2009 The Daily News All Area Offensive Player of the year. 2010 state heavy weight wrestling champion ( undefeated season). Spent one year at the Air Force prep school promoted to squadron leader in the first quarter. Starting right guard on the prep school 2010 team which had the best season record ever. Too big to fly, did not want to sit in an office all day, decided to leave the Academy and transfer to OSU which is where he always wanted to play.
Jack says:
Feb 24, 2012
I was wondering where he spent the 2010-11 academic year. I didn’t know he attended Air Academy.
You left out that he was 2A All-State O-line and Honorable Mention D-line in 2009.
sdbeav says:
Feb 24, 2012
How did we miss this … the great and beloved J. Smith now employed by the Smurfs?
http://voices.idahostatesman.com/2012/01/19/ccripe/boise_state_announces_hiring_qbs_coach_jonathan_smith