- A few weeks back, we learned that former Oregon State Beavers receiver Jordan Villamin would be signing with The Alliance of American Football: a new spring pro league kicking off this coming February. On Monday, we learned of the second former Beaver player to join the league and, funnily enough, the same team as Villamin down in Phoenix. Connor Hamlett played tight end for the Beavs from 2011 to 2014 with 104 career catches for over 1,000 yards and ten touchdowns. He had short stints in the NFL with Jacksonville, Philly, New Orleans, Cleveland, and Dallas injury issues hampered him. Most recently, he was coaching tight ends at Meadowdale High School in Washington.
One HUNDRED more players join the Alliance rosters. Check out who signed with your team by visiting https://t.co/xJlgyDdv3U #JoinTheAlliance pic.twitter.com/hIariHcW7U
— AAF (@TheAAF) August 20, 2018
- With injuries piling up for skill position players on this year’s football team, we’re all pretty anxious to see what happens. One guy that may have to step up sooner than I think most of us expected is 5’6” wideout Arex “Champ” Flemings. Kerry Eggers of the Portland Tribune published an interesting profile on the redshirt freshman over the weekend.
Beavers hope big things come in small package from redshirt freshman WR Champ Flemings, battling for playing time as @BeaverFootball prepare for Sept. 1 opener at Ohio State #GoBeavs https://t.co/y9W2cr9nWg
— kerry eggers (@kerryeggers) August 20, 2018
On that note, with the defensive secondary being especially short due to injuries, there is a chance that we will see some of OSU’s receivers playing two ways in this early part of the season.
Due to multiple injuries in the secondary @BeaverFootball has had to use a pair of wide receivers at defensive back, but they say come gameday whoever is healthy will be ready to play #GoBeavs pic.twitter.com/rri0DoBj1Y
— Ronald Clark (@JournalistClark) August 20, 2018
- In other college football news, the 2018 preseason AP Poll was released Monday morning. To all of our not-at-all-genuine surprise, Oregon State did not receive any votes. Four Pac-12 schools cracked the top 25, all of which are Oregon State opponents. Washington is ranked sixth, Stanford is 13th, USC is 15th, and Oregon is 24th. Utah also received 60 votes. Ohio State, who the Beavs open up against in less than two weeks, are ranked fifth.
BREAKING: No. 1 @AlabamaFTBL tops preseason AP Top 25 for third consecutive year, a feat done only once before; @ClemsonFB is No. 2, followed by @FootballUGA, @BadgerFootball and @OhioStateFB. See the full poll: https://t.co/jfkE4ZQ5Ce pic.twitter.com/JDiE6VLaxK
— AP Top 25 (@AP_Top25) August 20, 2018
- In sadder news, former Oregon State linebacker Keith Pankey (now a police officer in Springfield, OR) is in critical condition at OHSU Hospital after discovery of a heart murmur and a broken valve in his heart, which preceded a heart attack. There is a GoFundMe set up to help with medical expenses. Keep him in your thoughts and donate if you can.
Attention!!!! BEAVER NATION! Please read and consider! Keith is one of the most kind people ever! He’d never ask for anything! This was hard to read..https://t.co/5xhDNwUjpM
— Coach Doc V (@JamesDockery31) August 17, 2018
- To end this thing on a happy note, here are a couple notes from Oregon State baseball land. Zak Taylor, AKA “Future First Ballot WCL Hall of Famer”, won his third straight summer league championship with the Corvallis Knights last week.
Hell of a year for baseball in Corvallis, eh? Congrats on 3 consecutive @WCLBaseball titles @Taylor_Zak! #GoBeavs https://t.co/dwuYtzk40A
— Building The Dam (@BuildingTheDam) August 17, 2018
Finally, as the Little League World Series continues, the Mets stopped by Williamsport, PA where the later stage games are being played and Michael Conforto gave away some of his gear to some of the young sluggers. I may or may not have been cutting some onions watching that.
Day made. #LittleLeagueClassic #LLWS pic.twitter.com/UGUtdE7KSf
— New York Mets (@Mets) August 19, 2018
ICYMI
- Oregon State Football: Most Valuable Player Countdown - # 5 Artavis Pierce
- BTD’s Best All-Time Basketball Player: #2 Steve Johnson v. #7 Gary Payton II (Black Bracket)
- Oregon State Football: Most Valuable Player Countdown - #6 Noah Togiai
- Sunday Poll: Oregon State More Likely To Have A 2,000-Yard Passer or 1,000-Yard Rusher/Receiver in 2018?
- Projecting the Depth Chart vs. Ohio State