Coaches Producing on Oregon State Recruiting Trail

With National Signing Day quickly approaching, all of our attention has been focused on the recruits. But how about the coaches who are tirelessly working to secure the recruits? While recruiting is a big part their job description, a handful of Oregon State coaches have stepped up their game this year to help bring more talent to Corvallis.

Each coach is responsible for a recruiting region. This is especially important early on as they build relationships with high school coaches in specific geographical areas. For example, wide receiver coach Brent Brennan recruits Southern California, from Long Beach and Los Angeles down the coast into Orange County.

He has already begun building the key relationships with coaches in the area and has started getting to know the prospects from the 2014, 2015 and 2016 classes. As the time draws nearer to signing day, position coaches will be pulled in to the recruitment and Coach Riley will be involved as well.

Looking at the 2013 class as it stands today, the Beavers have done a solid job of addressing key needs for the upcoming season as well as building depth for the future. The Oregon State coaches don't seem to recruit based on stars, but rather look to find athletes who fit in with the Oregon State program.

Perhaps no one on staff has done as well on the recruiting trail as defensive line coach Joe Seumalo. He is the lead recruiter for the Inland Empire of California, an area which has been very fertile to the Beavers this year.

Seumalo was the area recruiter on Walter Jones, Victor Bolden, and Jordan Villamin before turning over their recruitment to Brennan. He also addressed needs on the defensive front by securing signees Edwin Delva and Siale Hautau, two junior college defensive tackles expected to arrive in Corvallis this spring.

He also played a part in the commitments of defensive ends Titus Failauga and Lyndon Tulimasealii.

Not to be outdone, defensive coordinator Mark Banker was also productive this year on the recruiting trail. He quietly amassed some nice talent and helped solidify the defensive list of commits.

Banker is responsible for Ventura County and Hawaii, and landed defensive backs Brandon Arnold, Dashon Hunt and Terin Solomon, linebackers Manase Hungalu and Michael Greer, and defensive linemen Titus Failauga and Kyle Peko.

Newcomer to the staff Rod Perry proved to be a valuable addition on the recruiting trail. After a long NFL coaching career, most felt it would take him some time to get adjusted to college recruiting. However he quickly got up to speed and was responsible for landing Hunt, Arnold, junior college transfer Steven Nelson and Corey Lawrence from Oklahoma.

His territory is the Fresno area, and he is still in the running for 4-star cornerback L.J. Moore.

Former Oregon State linebacker turned coach Trent Bray just hit the recruiting trail at the beginning of the year, but is already seeing dividends with Greer and the potential to land Edward Williams and Keishawn Bierria.

Offensive coaches leading the charge include Mike Cavanaugh, Brennan and Chris Brasfield.

Brennan has recruited or had a hand in recruiting five current commitments including wide receivers Victor Bolden, Hunter Jarmon, Walter Jones, and Jordan Villamin. He was also was the area recruiter for lineman Sean Harlow.

Cavanaugh closed on Harlow and also made several trips to American Samoa to recruit Fred Lauina. Being that he is also responsible for Oklahoma, he was the area recruiter for Corey Lawrence and started that relationship as well.

Running back coach Chris Brasfield is also continuing to build relationships in his native Texas, where the Beavers landed three commits, including two impressive looking running backs in Damien Haskins and Lawrence Mattison. Brasfield also recruits Louisiana, where the Beavers hope to land middle linebacker Edward Williams on Wednesday.

Offensive coordiator Danny Langsdorf was quiet on the recruiting trail this year, credited with the late commitment of quarterback Kyle Kempt last weekend.

All in all the coaching staff has put together a solid class, which could be strengthened even further with an additional commitment or two on Signing Day.

As always, stay tuned to BeaverBlitz.com for all of the latest.