We all knew that Jonathan Smith could leave Corvallis, but no one was sure he would. With Smith officially off to Michigan State, the Oregon State Beavers must find a new coach and try to keep their roster intact.
Which of their players will enter the transfer portal? We look at the top departure candidates.
Oregon State Players Who Could Enter the Transfer Portal
DJ Uiagalelei, QB
The former Clemson transfer came to Corvallis and Oregon State to get a fresh start, and we saw glimpses of a new DJ Uiagalelei at times. A junior, Uiagalelei could hit the portal again.
It depends on who comes into Oregon State, but Uiagalelei could put his name in the portal to test the waters. Gaging interest isn’t a bad thing, and he definitely has an attractive skill set that many teams would want.
Jonathan Smith needs an upgrade at quarterback with his new school, and Uiagalelei could be a transition player until Smith and his staff can find a quarterback of the future. Uiagalelei threw for 2,638 yards and 21 touchdowns in his first regular season with the Beavers.
Damien Martinez, RB
This was a possibility even if Smith stayed. Damien Martinez is one of the best running backs in college football, and the Oregon State star would be highly touted if he entered the transfer portal.
A physical back, Martinez has been the tone-setter for the Beavers’ offense in his two seasons with the team. In 2023, he rushed for 1,185 yards and 9 touchdowns, career numbers in both categories. He’d be a good fit at Michigan State, but Smith and the Spartans would have to work hard to get him to East Lansing.
Silas Bolden, WR
A versatile weapon who can be electric in multiple facets of the game. Bolden’s an undersized receiver, but he’s a big weapon in the slot. Like Martinez, he’d be a valuable commodity many teams want in the portal.
His speed makes him dangerous in the open field, and that comes as a receiver and a returner. He averaged 14.1 yards per catch, 23.1 yards per kick return, and 42.5 yards per punt return for the Beavers this season.
Joshua Gray, OT
While Taliese Fuaga has become a ikely first-round pick, Joshua Gray also has a future in the NFL. It just comes down to his draft stock and what he wants to do for his future.
He’s a solid tackle who can elevate the offensive line, and the multiyear starter for the Beavers would get plenty of attention in the transfer portal.
Jermod McCoy, CB
It’s tough to find quality freshmen in the transfer portal, but Jermod McCoy would be highly coveted if he decided to enter. He produced 31 tackles, 7 passes defended, and 2 interceptions in his first year of college football.
At 6’0″ and 180 pounds, he brings good size with a solid skillset to his new team. He could follow the coach who recruited him out of high school, but it wouldn’t surprise me to see him entertain other schools as well.
Other Players on Portal Watch:
- Aidan Chiles, QB
- Jack Velling, TE
- Jermaine Terry II, TE
- Easton Mascarenas-Arnold, LB