With Oregon State’s spring session set to resume on April 4th, BeaversEdge.com looks at the top performers from the first two weeks. After going 2-10 a season ago in Jonathan Smith’s inaugural campaign, the Beavers are showing signs of growth this spring thanks to an influx of talent in the offseason and familiarity in the various schemes. The second-stint of the Beavers’ spring practice should give a much clearer picture of just how far the team has come as Smith noted that most of the March sessions were mostly laying the groundwork for the April session.

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Let’s keep in mind that this is only based the first two weeks of spring ball, but Jake Luton has looked the part of a veteran, Pac-12 starting caliber quarterback in his sixth and final season. After being granted one more season by the NCAA, Luton has made the most of his opportunities, using the offseason to shed bad weight, add more muscle-mass, and improve his footwork and decision making. Luton’s offseason regiment has shown in March as he’s been the first quarterback to take reps with the first team and during 11-on-11 work. Luton’s said he feels like he’s in the best shape of his life and his prior knowledge and in-game experience with offensive-coordinator Brian Lindgren’s scheme is paying dividends on the field as he looks crisp and sharp executing the offense. There’s certainly a ways to go, and Luton still has to fend off Nebraska transfer Tristan Gebbia if he hopes to win the starting job, but he’s made a strong impression this spring.

The Beavers’ defensive line is trending upwards thanking to added depth and talent in the offseason, but if there’s one player on the defense that’s been particularly impressive building off last season in spring its been Isaac Hodgins. After playing in all 12 games as a freshman a season ago, Hodgins looks bigger, faster, stronger, and more comfortable playing on the defensive line. He’s been an anchor with the first team and has shown increased vocal leadership at times as well. The Beavers need to make tremendous strides on the d-line to be competitive this season and with Hodgins looking like a very solid player in the making, the Beavers figure to have many more playmakers in the trenches.

The former four-star recruit and Nebraska transfer Tyjon Lindsey earns the nod of biggest surprise this spring as his seamless fit into the Beavers’ offense has made it seem like he’s been here for multiple seasons. When a player transfers from one school to another, there’s usually an adjustment period for that player to settle into his new surrounding, become familiar with the playbook, learn his quarterback’s cadences, etc., but Lindsey has made that adjustment period almost minuscule. While he’s been limited this spring with a few minor tweaks, his chemistry with Gebbia (perhaps a given) and Luton has been impressive. He’s all but secured one of the starting spots on offense and after struggling to fit in with the Cornhuskers, Lindsey has found a home in Corvallis. Lindsey is more than just a good player, he’s also a terrific teammate… I think back to when he was one of the first players to come and offer support to cornerback Jaydon Grant when he went down with an injury several weeks ago, and it really shows how much he’s embraced his new teammates. Lindsey’s seamless fit has been a splendid surprise for the Beavers this spring.

One of the most important keys to success for Oregon State’s offense in 2019 is going to be the play of the offensive line. After surrendering 48 sacks a season ago, which was the most in the NCAA, the offensive line has to make strides under Jim Michalczik in year two. While the offensive coaching staff has noted that not all those sacks are on the offensive line (ex: the QB holds onto the ball too long) and that’s definitely an important aspect to factor into the number of sacks, the Beavers need to protect their QB’s with more consistency in year two.

After graduating center Sumner Houston, right-guard Kammy Delp, right-tackle Trent Moore, and “sixth man” Yanni Demogerontas in the offseason, the Beavers’ offensive line vastly different this spring as they break in three new starters. While the left side of the line is set with Blake Brandel and Gus Lavaka, right guard and tackle positions are needing to be filled by newcomers. Arizona grad-transfer Nathan Eldridge is expected to immediately step in at center when he arrives in June, but that’s still several months away and we won’t see him in action until fall camp. The Beavers might already have their answer for the two right side spots as Brandon Kipper has lived up to the pre-spring expectations that he could compete for one of the starting spots on the right side as he’s been with the first team all spring. The other has been Clay Cordasco, who played nine games a season ago and appears poised with Kipper to be the front-runners for the two open spots. The center-spot is a bit of a rotating door until Eldridge arrives, but the right side could be solidified and needs to be in the second half of spring for the Beavers to build some chemistry with a largely new group up front.