Oregon State opens camp in Bend
Football is finally here, at least in the High Desert.
The Oregon State Beavers football team descended upon Summit High School in Bend, Oregon, on Friday for the first of five practices. Players had to contend with temperatures in the 90’s and a drastic rise in elevation--more than 3,000 feet--but they hit the field hard and never quit working. Offense and defense alike provided talking points during the 20-minute open period, with quarterback Darell Garretson quickly becoming the center of attention.
Additional Day 1 insight in The Lodge
Despite battling some low snaps from a new center, Garretson kept the offense moving and hit multiple targets throughout the afternoon. The new starting quarterback displayed poise, accuracy, and arm strength during his time on the field, with only one truly bad pass leaving his arm. To be fair, this overthrow appeared to be a miscommunication between Garretson and freshman tight end Tuli Wily-Matagi.
Head coach Gary Andersen was asked about his new quarterback’s leadership during the media availability, and Andersen was very straightforward in his analysis.
“Darell was doing a good job leading, and I think Marcus (McMaryion) was too. Even Mason, at his young age, came around and just has more feel, more of a settleness to him.”
Offense may have been the focus of the day, but the defense wasn’t forgotten. The Beavers have a very young defensive line, now under Andersen’s control, and the coach is keeping them ready for action. Kalani Vakameilalo was very active on the afternoon, to the point where he timed the snap perfectly and beat the left tackle around the edge. This was a solid sign for the sophomore from Hawaii as he tries to help the Beavers rank higher than 106th in sacks. The defensive line forced some errors from their offensive counterparts throughout the day, including an egregious false start from senior Bobby Keenan.
When asked about the defensive line and any possible stars in the unit, Andersen was understandably evasive.
“Uh...no, not really, not yet,” said Andersen. “And probably to be honest with you, if I did right now, I wouldn’t tell you I did anyway. I would hold that card for a little bit. They're a group that has worked hard, and we’ve got a long ways to go with that group, but there’s talent.”
The Beavers continue practice on Saturday from 10:15 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., which will be open to the public. Coach Andersen hopes that the residents of Bend and the surrounding areas will make a point to come see his team prepare for the upcoming season.
“You know, I just hope that the people wanna see the Beavs, get a chance to come see the Beavs right here in Bend.”