:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/64770061/usa_today_10391805.0.jpg)
First up, Tight End Noah Togiai has been named to the John Mackey Award Watch List, given to the nation’s best Tight End. Togiai spent the first half of 2018 in walking boots, and then injured his knee in training camp, but recovered to finish with 10 receptions for 77 yards and 3 touchdowns. He also was invaluable as a blocking TE, but seems ready to make a bigger impact as a receiving threat in 2019. The John Mackey Award will be handed out on December 11th.
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13602440/usa_today_11686426.jpg)
Wide Receiver Isaiah Hodgins has been named to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List. The Biletnikoff Award goes to the nation’s best receiver, and Hodgins is definitely ready to compete for that. Last season he led the Beavers with 876 yards and 5 touchdowns, and with more stability at the Quarterback position, could be on pace to finally get the Beavers another 1,000 yard receiving season. The winner of the 2019 Biletnikoff Award will be announced on December 12th.
Former Beaver Point Guard Lamar Hurd has announced that he’s accepted University President Ed Ray’s offer to join the Oregon State Board of Trustees.
Hurd played for the Beavers from 2002 to 2006, and won honors both for his performance on the court and in the classroom. After graduating, he played pro ball in Germany before returning to Oregon to run youth basketball programs. He’s remained close with the university, having been on the committees that hired Craig Robinson and Wayne Tinkle, and has been a broadcast for Fox Sports Northwest, the Pac-12 Network and ESPN, focusing on analysis of Pac-12 College hoops. Since 2016, he has been a television analyst for the Portland Trail Blazers.
Women’s Soccer coach Matt Kagan announced the hiring of Assistant Coach Nick Stirrett today. Stirrett comes to the Beavers from the University of Illinois, where he coached the goalkeepers and helped with recruiting. The moves rounds out Kagan’s staff for his first season with OSU, The season is set to start in just a month, with Oregon State taking on British Columbia on August 18th.