Roster Finally Comes Together
In tow with the rest of the Pac-12, Mike Riley has officially released the OSU Beavers depth chart for Nicholls State.
For the most part, there’s not many surprises. The Beavers will feature a fast and dangerous offense, with the majority of their weaknesses at defense.
Here’s a look at OSU’s depth chart for the 2012 season.
Beaver Offense
QB: Sean Mannion, So., 6-5, 212
No surprises here. Unlike last year, there shouldn’t be any confusion as the season goes on.
This isn’t 2011 when Katz was supplanted. Sean Mannion is miles ahead of the competition and could come on as the Beaver’s greatest weapon. Long as he’s healthy, he’s starting all 12 games.
RB: Storm Woods, Fr-RS, 6-0, 202
The biggest question going into the season was who starts in the backfield. Mike Riley hasn’t disappointed with his decision.
Wood, a reshirt freshman last year, was the offensive player of the year for the redshirt squad. Though he’s not the Beaver’s most experienced running back, you could make an argument for him being the most talented.
A compact back in the mold of a Rodgers, Woods is certainly an upgrade entering 2012.
Split End: Markus Wheaton, Sr., 6-1, 182, Richard Mullaney, Fr-RS, 6-3, 191
Slotback: Kevin Cummings, Jr., 6-1, 181, Obum Gwacham, So., 6-5, 224
Flanker: Brandin Cooks, So., 5-10, 179, Micah Hatfield, Jr., 6-1, 180
TE: Colby Prince, Sr., 6-5, 257, Connor Hamlett, So., 6-7, 259
It’s no surprise that the receiving corp is the Beaver’s greatest strength.
It’s no surprise that the receiving corp is the Beaver’s greatest strength. Wheaton and Cooks should do plenty of damage all season long. While the slotbacks aren’t overly talented, their strengths make them able role players.
Mullaney’s name may surprise some, but by season’s end they’ll understand. The talented wideout was considered by many as the Beaver’s top recruit for 2011, and he won’t disappoint.
Tight end is a thin spot for the Beavs, and it’ll be less utilized than seasons pasts. Despite his strong dedication to the team, Riley has slotted talented freshman Caleb Smith as his third-stringer.
LT: Michael Phillip, Jr., 6-4, 315, Derek Nielsen, So., 6-4, 286
LG: Josh Andrews, Jr., 6-3, 297, Josh Mitchell, Fr., 6-2, 274
C: Isaac Seumalo, Fr., 6-3, 302, Roman Sapolu, So., 6-2, 284
RG: Grant Enger, Jr. 6-6, 293, Jake Welch, Fr-RS, 6-2, 320
RT: Colin Kelley, Jr., 6-5, 295, Gavin Andrews, Fr., 6-5, 324
Over the last two seasons, the Beavers have struggled at the line of scrimmage. While they still lack depth and experience on the offensive line, this underrated bunch should show another year of improvement.
The biggest addition is 5-star recruit Isaac Seumalo. Despite his freshman status, the big guy was a no brainer for the starting center.
Beaver Defense
DE: Scott Crichton, So., 6-3, 263, John Braun, Jr., 6-5, 283
DT: Castro Masaniai, Sr., 6-3, 354, Joe Lopez, So., 6-0, 273
DT: Andrew Seumalo, Sr., 6-4, 290, Mana Rosa, Jr., 6-3, 276
DE: Dylan Wynn, So., 6-2, 265, Rudolf Fifita, Sr., 6-3, 263
OSU was horrid against the run in 2011, and there’s not much improvement for 2012. It’ll be up to veteran Andre Seumalo to rally the troops behind him.
Crichton will be the x-factor. How he steps forward into 2012 will dictate how much strong the d-line is in the upcoming season.
SAM LB: D.J. Welch, So., 6-2, 225, Jabral Johnson, So., 6-1, 234
MLB: Feti Taumoepeau, Sr., 6-1, 248, Rueben Robinson, Sr., 6-3, 253
WILL LB: Michael Doctor, Jr., 6-0, 223, Shaydon Akuna, So., 6-2, 245
Nothing new to report here. The Beavers return three strong starters from last season. All three of these big linebackers play tough defense, and they’ll do well to represent lineback-U this season.
It’s worth nothing that Feti Taumoepeau is Feti Unga, playing under his mother’s name in 2012.
CB: Jordan Poyer, Sr., 6-0, 190, Brian Watkins, Sr., 5-9, 185
SS: Anthony Watkins, Sr., 6-1, 217, Tyrequek Zimmerman, So., 6-0, 206
Mike Riley’s 2012 squad appears stronger than last season.
FS: Ryan Murphy, So., 6-3, 213, Peter Ashton, Fr-RS, 6-1, 206
CB: Rashaad Reynolds, Jr., 5-11, 186, Mishawn Cummings, So., 5-10, 190
The d-backs were weak in 2011, and they’ll be weak again in 2012. Riley has been desperate to shore up his depth here, even going as far as playing RB Jovan Stevenson at cornerback.
Despite their weaknesses, the Beavers can still rely on Jordan Poyer. The dynamic cornerback is a stud at shutting down passing games, and the only way this group holds together is around him.
Beaver Special Teams
P: Keith Kostol, So., 6-3, 189
PAT/KO: Trevor Romaine, So., 6-0, 200
PR: Jordan Poyer, Sr., 6-0, 190
KOR: Malcolm Marable, So., 5-7, 172
No surprises here. The one big difference is that Poyer won’t be backing up on kickoff returns, but instead the Beavers will utilize Brandin Cooks—not a bad trade off.
Thick and Thin
Overall, underrated bunch that could be one of the big surprises in the Pac-12. The 2012 squad appears stronger than last season.
There’s overwhelming strength in the offense. The o-line should be stronger than last season. Combined with Woods, the running game could once again become a game changer. The air-attack is as strong as it’s ever been at OSU.
The Beavs are thinnest at defense. While they feature a strong corp of linebackers and some standouts, they remain weak at the line and thin in the backfield. If the starters can remain healthy things should go smoother than 2011.
However, any hiccups could easily put a kink in the Beaver’s season.
About Jonathan Irwin
