‘It needed a boost’: Oregon State coach Trent Bray believes he’s upgraded Beaver coaching staff in recruiting

New Oregon State football coach Trent Bray speaks at his introductory news conference on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023, in Corvallis. The Beavers promoted Bray from defensive coordinator to head coach.

When Oregon State football coach Trent Bray set out to assemble his first assistant coaching staff in December, two important pillars drove his thinking.

First, Bray wanted a staff that excelled in developing talent. He didn’t want to become a program beholden to the transfer portal because of massive roster turnover each year. Develop freshmen and young players so they’re ready when someone leaves.

That was the Oregon State way during Jonathan Smith’s tenure from 2018-23.

Second, find coaches who are relentless recruiters. Bray felt this was an area of OSU’s coaching staff in need of improvement.

“It needed a boost. Especially in certain positions,” Bray said Wednesday, the first day of the national regular signing period.

The former remains to be seen, as Bray’s 10-man coaching staff, plus grad assistants and analysts won’t conduct their first practice until March 5, the first of 15 spring practices. But there’s some evidence as to recruiting. Most of Bray’s staff has been busy for two months recruiting and mining the transfer portal to replenish a roster decimated by Smith’s departure and a large senior class.

“They’ve got to be great coaches but also good at recruiting. I feel we’ve got that,” Bray said. “As a staff from top to bottom, this is the best I’ve felt about that. As coaches and recruiters, it’s probably better than any staff I’ve been on. I feel real good about their energy and effort. They’re aggressive about recruiting just like they are coaching.”

Wednesday’s signing day revealed few surprises, as most of OSU’s newcomers either signed during the early period in December, or transferred to the school in January in time for winter quarter. Fifteen of the planned 17 scholarship transfers are already on campus; Colorado offensive lineman Gerad Christian-Lichtenhan and Houston defensive lineman Amipeleasi Langi are wrapping up classes at their school and will join the Beavers at the start of spring quarter.

Oregon State signed three high school seniors Wednesday, including two receivers. The latest signees are receivers Malachi Durant and Eddie Freauff and offensive lineman Jayden Tuia.

Durant is the most familiar name of the group. Committed to OSU since June, the Seattle native was one of the most buzz-worthy recruits of this signing class. But Durant – who had 75 receptions for 1,301 yards and 20 touchdowns as a senior at Graham Kapowsin High – opted to sit out the early signing period to make sure Oregon State was what he wanted. He kept his word by signing Wednesday.

“A guy that could potentially help us early,” Bray said.

Freauff, who was born in Uganda and attends Crook County High, gives the Beavers’ receiving group some coveted size at 6-foot-4.

“A big, long athlete. Raw, but has elite measurables. A guy that can come in to this place, then develop and turn into a really good player down the road,” Bray said of Freauff.

Tuia came into the picture late. The Pocatello, Idaho lineman blossomed as a senior. Bray said Tuia shot up in size and weight this past fall.

“One of those late bloomers, kind of a lot like (Taliese Fuaga), how he came into his own late in the process. Chance to be a really good player,” Bray said.

Between transfers, JC transfers, high school signees and preferred walk-ons, Oregon State could have about 40 new players on its roster by August. Bray felt his staff reloaded, and in some cases, improved at most positions. When asked which position group he felt OSU had its best upgrade, Bray thought for a moment and said defensive secondary.

“The amount of talent and the size and the length, I’m real happy with what we’ve been able to do in the back end,” Bray said.

There’s been much discussion throughout college football about the early and regular signing period, the two transfer portal windows and how some of it collides with the new 12-team College Football Playoff and bowl season. Bray didn’t see a need to change the signing periods, but does believe the transfer portal windows need fixing. The second transfer portal window opens shortly after spring practices end.

“It is messed up right now. There’s got to be one window,” Bray said. “The two-window deal, just as far as trying to manage a roster and develop players … I mean, you go through spring ball and spend a ton on the amount of reps on guys and they could just take off. You don’t know who is on your roster until the summer. That’s not good for student-athlete’s development or schools that are trying to build a team.”

—Nick Daschel | @nickdaschel

MORE BEAVERS COVERAGE

©2024 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit oregonlive.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.