Add the four JC recruits that signed in December and the 2006 recruiting class balloons to 30 players. The third largest recruiting class in the nation addresses immediate issues on defense while building long term depth on both sides of the ball.
"We hit some areas that are big for us as far as immediate needs," Riley
said. "and then we’ve got some great guys long-term development
possibilities that are exciting."
One of the primary needs was on the defensive line where the current ends
on the team struggled to pressure the quarterback. The team also lost
their two stalwarts in the middle in Sir Henry Anderson and Alvin Smith.
Gerard Lee, Keith Robertson, Dorian Smith all will compete immediately for
playing time with many expecting Lee and Smith to take over starting positions.
Cornerback Coye Francies is also expected to compete for a starting spot.
The strongest area of the '06 class is the linebacking group that is ranked
the 11th best in the nation by Scout.com. Joey LaRocque and Danzell Issac
are expected to take over starting spots and provide leadership on and off the
field while a number of the prep linebackers could try their hand on the
defensive line in the future.
"We’ve added basically Gerard Lee as a defensive tackle there that I think
can impact that position. I think that Dorian Smith and Keith Robertson will add
to the defensive end picture," Riley said. "and I think that Danzel Issac
and Joey LaRocque will impact immediately that linebacker position.
"And then we’ve got some more linebackers that will be part of what I think
will be continued to be called Linebacker U that will add to that picture
there."
Offensively, the Beavers loaded up on tight ends with Gabe Miller, Joe Halahuni, John Reese, and Howard Croom all slated to compete for playing time.
With two seniors at tight end, Miller has an excellent shot at playing early
along with another one of the high school tight ends. Running back Clinton Polk will finally arrive in Corvallis and is expected to play a significant role
in the offense.
"We’re looking at a guy like Gabe Miller who’s a very big recruit for us
because we’re looking at a guy like that physically," Riley said. "We have
some other good guys in that position to go with it that I feel great about."
The offensive line added four for the future in Ryan Pohl, Mau Nomani,
Alex Linnenkohl and
Timi Oshinowo. All of them love to hit and all of them love Mike
Cavanaugh. Athletes James Dockery and Casey Kjos provide the coaches with
great flexibility and could end up on either side of the ball. The Beavers
also added Kyle Loomis who Riley calls, "the best (prep) punter on the west
coast."
Nine home town states are represented with a fifth of the recruits hailing
from Hawaii. Recent successes at OSU by Jeremy Perry and Al Afalava, both who
played high school ball in Hawaii, combined with connections to Hawaii by the
coaching staff keeps the pipeline from the islands strong.
"Mark Banker has done a really good job at restoring what has been a great
tradition at Oregon State with players from Hawaii," Riley said. "We’ve
got a great history there. And Mark started out really as the main guy in
getting that thing going again. That’s the kind of deal that as you get one,
you’ve got the chance to get another one. And we’ve had them come over and have
success."
Riley also praised Mike Cavanaugh's work in Arizona.
"I’m excited about the work that Mike Cavanaugh did in Arizona," Riley said.
"You’ll see a number of guys from Arizona that are on our list (Issac, Polk,
Lee, Hunt, Garer). And that’s a state that we all know is growing. They have
more and more kids down there that are playing. So the more that we can get in
and establish something there, the more it will help in the future, too."
As for those who are going to redshirt and those who are going to not
redshirt, many of those decisions are still up in the air.
"It goes without saying that Gabe [Miller] has a very good opportunity [to
not redshirt], and somebody else will also surface as a freshman that will be
hard to redshirt," Riley said. "And it could be any one of the number of
those guys, but I don’t want to leave anybody out because there are some solid
players there that will come into camp and be physically ready to go."
Spring practice kicks off in just a couple of months on April 3. Stay
tuned to BeaverFootball.com for more information and if have questions, feel
free to stop by the message boards.
If you have a premium account visit the message board throughout the week as
we post the 2006 case files (click
here for example) on each recruit. Also, check out the premium board
for extensive news and notes from OrangeAttack about the recruiting dinner.
The 2006 Recruiting Class
Ranked #42 by Scout.com
Junior College (7)
- Coye Francies CB 6-1/190 Rancho Cordova, Calif. (Cordova/American River
CC)
- Danzel Issac LB 6-3/218 Gainesville, Fla. (Buchholz/Eastern Arizona CC)
- Joey LaRocque LB 6-4/235 Valencia, Calif. (Agoura HS/College of the
Canyons CC)
- Gerard Lee DL 6-3/276 New Orleans, La. (Washington Carver/Scottsdale CC)
- Clinton Polk RB 6-2/220 Phoenix, Ariz. (Desert Vista/Scottsdale CC)
- Keith Robertson DE 6-2/245 Lake Oswego, Ore. (Lake Oswego/Foothill CC)
- Dorian Smith DE 6-3/250 Van Nuys, Calif. (Birmingham/College of the
Desert CC)
High School (20)
- Keo Camat LB 6-3/215 Portland, Ore. (Jesuit)
- Brady Camp TE/DL 6-4/230 Gresham, Ore. (Barlow)
- Howard Croom TE 6-4/232 Long Beach, Calif. (Woodrow Wilson)
- James Dockery S 6-1/160 Palm Desert, Calif. (Palm Desert)
- Geoff Garner OL 6-6/280 Mesa, Ariz. (Mesa)
- Joe Halahuni TE 6-2/220 Orting, Wash. (Orting)
- Tom Hansen LB 6-1/229 Sacramento, Calif. (Sheldon)
- Mitchel Hunt DT 6-3/255 Tempe, Ariz. (Corona Del Sol)
- Casey Kjos WR 6-4/190 Middletown, Ohio (Lakota East)
- Kaulin Krebs QB 6-2/175 Laie, Hawaii (Kahuku)
- Keaton Kristick LB 6-2/227 Phoenix, Ariz. (St. Mary’s)
- Alex Linnenkohl OL 6-2/299 Olympia, Wash. (Capital)
- Mana Lolotai LB 6-0/216 Honolulu, Hawaii (Kamehameha)
- Kyle Loomis P/PK 6-3/185 Roseburg, Ore. (Roseburg)
- Gabe Miller TE 6-3/220 Lake Oswego, Ore. (Lake Oswego)
- Mau Nomani OL 6-4/275 Tigard, Ore. (Tigard)
- Timi Oshinowo OL 6-6/263 Naperville, Ill. (Neuqua Valley)
- Ryan Pohl OL 6-4/250 Honolulu, Hawaii (Kamehameha)
- John Reese TE 6-4/220 Upland, Calif. (Upland)
- Dwight Roberson LB 6-0/208 Ventura, Calif. (Saint Bonaventure)
- Suaesi Tuimaunei S 6-1/185 Laie, Hawaii (Kahuku)
- Devin Unga TE 6-1/201 Laie, Hawaii (Kahuku)
- Kevin Unga DE 6-2/222 Laie, Hawaii (Kahuku)
Hometown States (9)
- Arizona - 4
- California - 8
- Florida - 1
- Hawaii - 6
- Illinois - 1
- Louisiana - 1
- Ohio - 1
- Oregon - 6
- Washington - 2