Update as of Saturday, April 27:
Anthony Gould was the second Beaver taken off the board with the 142nd pick in the fifth round by the Indianapolis Colts. A bit undersized at 5-foot-8, his speed makes up for it, tied for running the fastest 10-yard split from the receiver class with Xavier Worthy, showing his quick jump off the line.
In 2023, Gould caught 44 passes for 718 yards and two touchdowns for the Beavers, while averaging over 16 yards per reception. Gould is great when it comes to man on man matchups, winning the majority en route to being an elite deep-ball threat for the Beavers since 2021.
He also can be used in the return game. He led the nation in yards per punt return in 2022, and returned two to the house, being named an All-American that year at the position.
Kitan Oladapo was drafted by the Green Bay Packers who got him with the 169th pick in the fifth round. Oladapo is a big playmaker on the defensive side of the ball, totaling 15.5 tackles for loss over his career.
He has been one of the biggest parts of the OSU defense in recent years, not allowing a single touchdown pass during his 2023 season. He also accumulated a career high in passes defended, as well as interceptions this past year. At 6-foot-2, 216 pounds, the Packers look to add to their secondary depth in the draft.
Original Story:
Every year the National Football League draft scoops up the best college players in hopes of bettering their team to win the coveted Lombardi Trophy.
The Beavers haven’t been known for producing top tier talent in the past, but this year Taliese Fuaga was drafted by the New Orleans Saints with the 14 pick, the highest Beaver to get drafted since Terry Baker over 60 years ago.
When Fuaga got the phone call, his reaction was just as anyone would expect, confused.
“I kinda jumped up and I looked at my agent and was kinda staring at him and was like, ‘do I answer this’, and was like ‘yah you answer it, what are you talking about?’” Fuaga said in his Saints interview. “So I answered the phone, and it’s kinda hard because I’m not the biggest guy at showing my emotions, but it’s hard to hold back after you get a call like that.”
Fuaga, a strapping 6-foot-6 325 pounds from Tacoma, Washington, ran a 5.13 second 40-yard dash at this year’s combine and excelled in all intangible statistics. During his tenure as a Beav, Fuaga played more than 1,500 snaps only allowing one sack. With this selection in this year’s draft, Fuaga becomes the fourth Oregon state player selected in the first round in the common draft era which began in 1967.
The former All-Pac-12 First Team phenom is likely to thrive and become an all-pro during his tenure as a member of the New Orleans Saints. Fuaga anchored an offensive line that helped OSU average nearly 5 yards per carry and almost 170 yards per game
“I played at a young age, like kindergarten, first grade, and my dad just threw us in with the fourth graders. You know I’d get beat up as a kid, but this definitely helped toughen me up and learn how to play with a little more grit,” Fuaga said after being drafted in his first Saints interview.
The draft continues Friday with Rounds two and three beginning at 4 p.m. PDT. 13 Beavs are still in the pool.
