Anthony Hankerson, Jam Griffin lead Oregon State’s ‘deep’ RB room

Oregon State running back Anthony Hankerson (0) catches a pass during a practice on July 31 in Corvallis.

You could be forgiven for wondering how, exactly, Oregon State will go about rebuilding its rushing attack after an offseason that saw its three most productive running backs exit the program.

All-conference workhorse Damien Martinez racked up 1,185 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground last fall before jumping to Miami by way of the transfer portal in April. Talented sophomore Isaiah Newell hit the portal, too. Deshaun Fenwick, the Beavers’ bruising No. 2 option behind Martinez, has exhausted his eligibility and signed with the New England Patriots following the 2024 NFL Draft.

And yet, there is a sense of optimism surrounding the Beavers’ refurbished running back room this fall. When asked what the greatest strength of Oregon State’s offense is at this point in the year, OSU quarterback Gevani McCoy didn’t hesitate.

“Our tailbacks, for sure,” McCoy said.

While the Beavers’ backfield might not have a superstar akin to Martinez, it is arguably a more well-rounded unit from top to bottom than it was a year ago.

“We’re really deep,” Oregon State running backs coach Thomas Ford said. “We have six guys on the roster and I’d feel comfortable playing any of those guys. I think all of them have a specific skill set.”

Anthony Hankerson and Jam Griffin are expected to get the majority of the carries this fall. Hankerson was a highly touted three-star prospect in the 2022 signing class who spent his first two seasons at Colorado. He ran for 319 yards and one touchdown on 78 carries for the Buffs last year.

Griffin spent his first three seasons at Georgia Tech before transferring to Oregon State in 2022. He played a key role for the Beavers that fall, but opted to transfer to Ole Miss ahead of the 2023 campaign. Griffin hardly…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/anthony-hankerson-jam-griffin-lead-235121306.html

Author : Statesman Journal

Publish date : 2024-08-14 23:51:21

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