Fall Camp Countdown: Most Valuable Players For 2016 - #8 Treston Decoud

The #8 spot on our "Fall Camp Countdown" list goes to #14 in the Beavers' game-day program, senior cornerback Treston Decoud.

By The_Coach Jul 29, 2016, 5:15am PDT

With only 8 days left until Oregon State starts fall camp, we are counting down by previewing the 25 most valuable football players that will help lead the Beavers to a successful 2016 season. We'll count-down by highlighting a new player each day until fall camp starts. To follow-up from yesterday's selection of senior safety Devin Chappell, today's pick goes to senior cornerback Treston Decoud.

#8 Treston Decoud - Cornerback

A 6' 3", 200 pounder out of Covington, Louisiana, Decoud may look more like an outside linebacker than a cornerback and it's his overpowering size, great athleticism and veteran leadership, that will be relied on some heavily for Oregon State in 2016 at the cornerback position. Of the ten cornerbacks listed on the Beavers Fall Camp depth chart, seven were underclassmen, meaning Decoud will have to both play and act like a senior to bring along a young yet talented defensive group.

Decoud finished the 2015 season with 50 total tackles (31 solo, 19 assisted) in ten games for the Beavers, including a season-high nine tackles in the Civil War. He also contributed 3.5 tackles for loss, one sack and 5 pass breakups. The now-senior did all of this after working through one of the scariest moments of the Beavers 2015 season, when he found himself motionless on the field in the second quarter of a game against Colorado after making a tackle. Decoud eventually had to be carted off the field but he returned to action less than a month later against California, after sitting out games against Utah and UCLA.

The concern for Decoud, especially after a nightmarish injury like the one he went through last season, is obviously his health first and foremost. While Decoud will need to remain on the field to be a viable contributor for this team, the also relative lack of proven depth behind him on the roster makes his abilities at the cornerback spot extremely valuable. Without Decoud, some of the new approaches to this Oregon State defense simply won't work. Decoud is expected to be a shut-down corner type of player for the Beavers, while sophomore right cornerback Dwayne Williams, may be the more targeted of the two defensive backs.

Our "Fall Camp Countdown" continues tomorrow with the #7 Most Valuable Player for the Beavers in 2016.

The List So Far:

#8: Treston Decoud (CB)

#9: Devin Chappell (S)

#10: Gavin Andrews (RG)

#11: Titus Failauga (OLB)

#12: Paul Lucas (R-Back)

#13: Baker Pritchard (DE)

#14: Bright Ugwoebu (LB)

#15: Noah Togiai (H-Back)

#16: Sumner Houston (NT)

#17: Kalani Vakameilalo (DT)