Oregon State University’s football team’s first practice for the 2024 season was on July 31.
Despite the team being in helmets and shorts, the session was an energetic start to the new season under the direction of head coach Trent Bray.
“I was really impressed with how they came together over the summer, especially because a lot of those guys just met each other in December. So I was very impressed with how the team’s come together so far,” Bray said.
Bray highlighted several names including Ben Gulbranson, Darrius Clemons, and Joshua Gray who’s been an integral part of the team for four seasons.
Further elaborating on Darrius Clemons and his potential, Bray praised his leadership.
“From a teammate standpoint, he’s just a natural leader. The football part has yet to be seen because he’s only practiced a day, didn’t practice all spring, but from a leadership standpoint, his work ethic, how much he studies, he’s always in the building—he brings a ton.” Bray said.
Bray also talked about Joshua Gray’s transition from playing tackle to taking on an interior line role. Gray, who previously played tackle, is shifting to guard and center to strengthen his prospects for the next level. During fall camp, he’ll focus on learning the skills needed for these new positions to increase his value and versatility.
“Oh, it’ll be easy for him. Coach Michalczik did a great job of teaching those guys all five spots, and Coach DeVan does the same thing. So that transition is not that tough, but it will take a little work at physically doing it.” Bray said, in optimism about addressing Gray’s transition.
Looking ahead, Bray is confident that the team possesses the physical attributes required for success, including size, strength, and speed.
With the current roster, he believes they are capable of winning key games. The most important factor will be how fast they can come together and adjust to playing at a high tempo and with intensity, which has been a strength in recent years.
As the Beavers move forward, their preseason will include additional practices in full pads, with the season opener scheduled for August 31 at Reser Stadium against the Idaho State Bengals.