Rather than recap the specifics of the players who filed their National Letter of Intent today with Oregon St., I thought I'd link to a lengthy rundown the Gazette-Times' Cliff Kirkpatrick compiled, and move on to some analysis of what happened, and what didn't.

The offensive line was a problem the last couple of years for the Beavers, and consequently a primary area of emphasis this season for coach Mike Riley and company, and they brought in 7 recruits, several of whom could push to play right away.

One thing that jumps off the screen is the absence of any defensive linemen, but after bringing in some in 2010, and several more in 2011, Riley felt the number of returning players has them in good shape there. It will need to become a priority next year, given that some of the depth brought in in 2011 were JCs, especially after DT Calvin Tonga was lost late in the process to Colorado St., in what was probably a move for more immediate playing time. Though at 6'4", and 340 lbs., it seems likely he would have come in handy as a run stopper right away for Oregon St.

Generally, Oregon St. got who they were targeting except in one major area, the defensive backfield. The Beavers lost 5 verbal recruits, and 4 were defensive backs. All the defections came after DB coach Keith Heyward headed up I5 to Seattle, taking the same job with the Huskies, as well as a pay raise Oregon St. didn't match. Heyward also took 3 star prospect Cleveland Wallace with him to Washington.

Wallace was the only defensive back whose' defection can be clearly tied to Heyward's departure, as the other 3 all had other factors in their decisions, though Heyward leaving certainly did nothing to not make it easy to head elsewhere. Especially since Riley has not named a replacement, probably because one or more preferred target did not want to leave his current position, and impact his current recruiting group.

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With National Letter of Intent Day now just 2 days away, Oregon St. is seeing what was looking like a deep class at DB thinning out.

Chris Young, a JC DB from Arizona Western Community College in Yuma, AZ, but originally from Auburn, WA, who originally verbally committed to the Beavers last week, apparently decided he likes the dryer weather of the southwest better. After visiting Arizona St. last week, Young announced he's changed his plans, and will become a Sun Devil.

This is a significant loss for Oregon St., as Young is a Junior College All-American and was the National Junior College Athletic Association's Defensive Player of the Year.

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For the third year in a row, Oregon St. women's track coach Kelly Sullivan has a men's team as well, as several members of the Beaver football team take to the track, starting this weekend in Seattle at the UW Invitational.

WRs Markus Wheaton and Brandin Cooks will compete today in the 60 meters, and Obum Gwacham will go in the high jump. Both Wheaton and Gwacham were on last year's team, while Cooks will be making his first start.

"Obum is one of the best high jumpers in the country, despite doing it so little," Sullivan said.

Preliminary heats will run from 2:45 until 5 PM this afternoon.

"I'm excited," Cooks commented. "I can't wait to get to Seattle and see where I'm at in the 60. Markus and I are always racing, now we are going to see who is the fastest."

The UW Invitational, contested in the Dempsey Indoor Arena, the Huskies' football indoor practice facility located behind Alaska Airlines / Hec Edmundson Pavillion, and adjacent to the currently being renovated Husky Stadium, is one of the premier indoor track and field events on the west coach.

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Oregon St. WR/KR James Rodgers, was invited Friday to participate in the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.

The combine, to be held Feb. 22-25, brings together most of the draft prospects in the nation, and it was one of Rodgers' goals after coming back from his season ending knee injury in 2010.

Rodgers is the Beavers' all time leader in career catches, with 222, including 45 in 10 games last year, and also in all-purpose yards, with 6,377.

Oregon St. received their 25th. commitment for the 2012 football recruiting season when Rommel Mageo from Pago Pago, American Samoa verbaled to the Beavers this week.

Here's his video:

Mageo, who is unranked by both Scout.com and Rivals.com, is a 6'2", 225 lb. middle linebacker that Oregon St. is looking at to delay enrollment until winter term 2013.

While Oregon St. isn't over the maximum number of players they can sign, they are headed for being well over the 85 scholarship limit if nearly all of the commits come thru next week with a signed LOI. So there will certainly be some number of delayed enrollments, something that is becoming increasingly common, as many players who redshirt at some point complete their degree during fall term of that 5th. year.

Grey-shirts that start winter term often therefore actually complete their degree in a subsequent fall term.

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Oregon St.has received a verbal commitment for the 2012 football recruiting class from Chris Young from Auburn, WA.

Young, a 6'2", 220 lb. safety, has played the last 2 years at Arizona Western Community College in Yuma, AZ, the same place DT Calvin Tonga, who previously committed to the Beavers, is coming from.

Young is rated a 3 star safety prospect by both Rivals.com and Scout.com, and was named him a Junior College All-American and the National Junior College Athletic Association's Defensive Player of the Year.

Here's his video:

Young was also considering Washington State, Indiana, New Mexico State, Ohio State, Oregon, USC, and Washington.

Young has 3 years in which to play 2 seasons left of his eligibility. Young brings the commit list at the moment to 24 for the Beavers.

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Oregon St. Athletic Director Bob DeCarolis has released the latest of his periodic A.D. Reports, and it doesn't really say much, other than announcing the dates for significant events for season ticket sales.

Online renewals can be made beginning Feb. 1, and 3 weeks later Oregon St. will get around to mailing out the renewal order letters. DeCarolis did not explain why the delay. Existing season ticket holders have to place their order by the end of March.

New orders can't be made until April 23, and new orders where the buyer will know where they are buying seats at begins June 11.

DeCarolis said season ticket prices will increase this season, though DeCarolis said the average price of a ticket will decline. This is due to Oregon St. playing 7 home games instead of 6 for the first time in 6 years, opening with 2 home non-conference games in a year where the Civil War will be in Corvallis. And no inflated price game against USC.

With Oregon coming, it means both participants in the 2012 Rose Bowl will be visiting Reser this fall, with Wisconsin coming Sept. 8. The Badgers' visit will be the first by a Big 10 team in 41 years.

Oregon St. set an average attendance record of 42,420 for years which do not include the Civil War in 2011.

DeCarolis admitted he too was disappointed with the embarrassing 2011 debacle, but since the report is a sales pitch for season ticket sales, expressed optimism for the future, citing the experience gained this past season.

"We have a young team that gained invaluable experience last year. 17 starters and 58 players who played will be back in 2012."

DeCarolis did not bother to detail the price increase, information that could be useful during tax season for planning purposes. Hard to imagine they haven't finalized their price structure already.

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Oregon St. picked up another verbal commitment for their 2012 football recruiting class, after Tyler Hasty from Bellevue, WA, announced he's going to be a Beaver. Hasty made his decision after visiting visited the Corvallis campus last weekend.

Hasty, a 6'0", 180 lb. corner back from Washgington power Bellevue High, played both ways for the Wolverines, who have won 4 consecutive WIAA 3A state championships.

Hasty, whose' father James played in the NFL, is a 3 star recruit according to both Rivals.com and Scout.com.

Here's his highlight video:

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