Oregon State Spring Analysis: Outside Linebackers
Spring Football is in the books for Oregon State, and BeaversEdge.com was live in Corvallis for not only the spring game but also all of the spring practices.
Senior writer Brenden Slaughter is going position by position to break down where the Beavers stand heading into the 2017 season.
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Who's Gone?
The outside linebacking core did not lose a player to graduation, but did lose a player to a position change.
Titus Failauga, SR
Failauga started his career at defensive end in the Mike Riley era, before becoming a hybrid lineman/linebacker under Gary Andersen for the last two seasons. With growing depth at the position, Failauga is moving back to defensive end, marking his second position change in two years. Despite losing Failauga, who I believe has one of the quickest first steps on the team, the OSU outside linebackers should be one of the best in the Pac-12 in 2017.
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Who's Back?
Adam Soesman, JR
Bright Ugwoegbu, JR
Shemar Smith, SO
Shemiah Unatoa-Whitson, SO
Joah Robinett, SO
Kee Whetzel, FR
Hamilcar Rashed, FR
Spring Analysis
Coming into spring, one of the biggest question marks for the OSU defense was how were they going to improve on rushing the passer. The Beavers ranked dead last in sacks in the Pac-12 for the last two seasons, and it has hurt their success as a defense. Since OSU has struggled to get pressure with their down lineman, the responsibility has fallen on the linebacking corps. Guys like Bright Ugwoegbu stepped up last season in terms of reaching the QB, but now more guys have to bring down the QB. Guys that showed initial promise have to take the next step. Joah Robinett, Shemar Smith, Kee Whetzel and Hamilcar Rashed are all guys that I anticipate having a big fall camp and pushing for starting roles.
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