RB corps looking to etch place in Oregon State history
When running backs coach Telly Lockette looks at the Oregon State backfield, he sees a lot of talent, depth and "wealth." He smiles when thinking about the potential of this unit for the upcoming season.
Based on the pedigree of running backs that the Beavers will trot out on gameday, it’s hard to argue with him. OSU currently has a bevy of running back with elite level skills and extensive division one level experience. In addition to the dynamic trio of Ryan Nall, Artavis Pierce, and Thomas Tyner, the Beavers also boast a solid graduate transfer from TCU in Trevorris Johnson. They are also set up for the future well with freshmen Calvin Tyler and BJ Baylor.
“This is a very deep backfield,” Lockette told BeaversEdge.com. “We've got a lot of guys who can do some good and different things at times. We are honing in on the skills that they can do for us to get to that next level.”
It’s interesting how quickly a narrative can change in life. After the Civil War last season and during spring practices, the Beavers running back stable appeared to be quite thin. Nall and Pierce were still the main workhorses but both of them missed time with injuries at one point last season. The running back who was getting the majority of the carries during spring sessions was former walk on Jaylynn Bailey. While Bailey looked good in practice, the Beavers knew they needed more top line depth.
Luckily for Andersen and the Beavers, two running backs were going to be transferring to Corvallis. One of them was looking for a better situation in his last season, and one was coming out of medical retirement to give football another go around.
After his medical retirement in January of 2016, Tyner found himself doing what he loved more than anything. Fishing and hunting. The soft spoken Aloha High grad left Oregon after having issues with both shoulders and felt that he was at peace with not playing football.
However, somewhere along the line of hunting, fishing, and serving in his community, Tyner began to have some what if’s. He nearly became a lumber broker in Bend before he decided he wanted another go around at football and looked no where else but OSU. He came to Corvallis in the summer and immediately established himself as an overqualified backup to Nall. Tyner’s last college action was against Urban Meyer and Ohio State in the 2015 national championship game as he led the Ducks in rushing yards on the biggest stage of college football.
Now, two and a half years later, he hopes to finish his career off strong with one or possibly two productive seasons in the orange and black where Tyner says, “He’s always wanted to be a Beaver.”
In addition to Tyner, don’t forget about TCU transfer Trevorris Johnson. His arrival and play at OSU has been slightly shoved aside due to Tyner’s arrival, but Johnson has played extremely well in fall camp and especially in OSU’s last scrimmage.
He’s a bruising back with great vision, power, and speed and can compliment all of OSU’s running backs very well.
Last season proved for OSU that you need to have multiple running backs as during the Washington game last season, both Nall and Pierce were out with injuries, leaving Tim Cook as the No. 1 guy on the depth chart.
Andersen has preached that he’s always wanted to have three solid running backs in order to be successful. In the first two years of his tenure, due to injury he hasn’t had that. Now, he arguably has four or five backs who can play big when their number is called.
“The talent is here,” Lockette said. “We just have to come together and be a great oiled machine.”
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With Nall as the No. 1 and Tyner and Pierce as 2A and 2B and Johnson and Tyler behind them, the Beavers could be talking about the deepest group of running backs in the history of OSU football.
One of the groups that is in the discussion in terms of top to bottom depth is the 2001 running back group that included all-time leading rusher Ken Simonton, NFL veteran Steven Jackson, Patrick McCall, and Dwight Wright. Granted, OSU has had better individual total rushing yards in seasons before and after 2001, but in terms of top line talent at the RB position, Simonton and Jackson are right at the top.
Could this group be better than the 2001 squad? Or any other group at OSU? It’s too early to tell, but the potential for something special is certainly there with this group.
“This crew has that potential,” Gary Andersen said. “Potentially it could be a very nice crew, and I expect them to be a very good group. It’s a deep crew that has played well, practiced well, and are much improved at pass protection than years past so I’m excited to see them on the field. In my opinion, there are some special players there, but now we have to get them on the field and do it on Saturdays.”
“We’re all different and we all have a lot to offer,” Tyner said. “It’s a very diverse and unique backfield. There are so many different weapons in this backfield. We’re all excited and we know everyone else is excited for us.”
Pierce echoed what Tyner noted about this group being special, but also added that this group is looking to have some special moments together on the field this season.
“We are going to have some great memories this season,” Pierce said. “All of us are great running backs and each of us has something different to bring to the table.”
Lockette is no stranger to elite level running backs in his coaching tenure, as he coached several big time players at the high school and college level, including Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook and Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman. Lockette knows what next level talent looks like before a player makes it there, and he sees plenty of that talent right here in his own backfield.
“We have some kids that have that next level mentality,” Lockette said. “They want to take that next step and they need to put their best foot forward now because it’s gametime.”
With Nall, Pierce, Tyner, Johnson, Tyler, and Baylor in the fold for the Beavers, the cupboard is well stocked for the future as only Johnson loses eligibility after this season. We expect Tyner to get a sixth season approved by the NCAA after this season.
Time will tell where this group ranks in terms of total success at OSU, but one thing is for sure.
The Beavers are confident that they can etch their names in OSU history as one of the best backfields to ever don the orange and black.
“We want to be one of the best rushing backfields that Oregon State has ever had,” Tyner said with a smile. “We set a goal of doing that is what we want to do. We want to help the team get to where they want to be, but we definitely want to be one of the best backfields that the Beavers have ever had.”