In the off-season, the Oregon State Beavers officially learned what they had anticipated for months – that the program would have to replace runner star Jermar Jefferson after he declared himself for the NFL draft.
Oregon State is set to return to junior runner BJ Baylor and recently hired Jefferson High School star Damir Collins, but he did not have a ball carrier on the squad that accumulated 150 yards on the ground at the college level last season.
Until this week.
On Tuesday, Deshaun Fenwick, transferred from running back from South Carolina, announced his engagement with the Beavers on Instagram:
“I really like the system,” he said. “We sit and look at him, and it looks like a system in which I can stand out – in terms of the people around me … the quarterback, the offensive line. When I was watching the movie with the coaches, I could say that Jermar is a very good back, first of all. But, secondly, I thought that the pieces he was playing successfully were played in which I could also be successful. ”
Last season, the second year of 6 feet -1 and 220 pounds ran for 297 yards and a touchdown, averaging 5.5 yards per load.
The second year, which should be eligible next season, has three years to play three.
Fenwick, originally from Bradenton, Fla., Was a three-star contender for 247Sports in the 2018 class, ranked as the nation’s 15th runner-up overall.
He is the second SEC transfer that Oregon State added to the list this offseason, joining Georgia’s wide receiver, Makiya Tongue.
In December, Oregon State signed its smallest recruiting class in the history of the modern program – eight promises – and looked set to add several potential transfer portals in the off-season.
With two already folded on the offensive side of the ball, the Beavers may soon turn to defense for additional plug-and-play help.
– Andrew Nemec | [email protected] | @AndrewNemec