Oregon State football position preview: Wide receiver

Oregon State

lost four wide receivers in the transfer portal from a position group that struggled mightily last season, but those around the program expect significant improvement in 2025.

It is no secret that production last year was brutal at times. OSU finished No. 94 in the country in passing yards (201.4 per game) and managed just seven touchdowns through the air all year. There was more than a month between September and October during which the Beavers didn’t register a passing touchdown.

Trent Walker had 81 catches for 901 yards and two scores, but nobody else returning was able to eclipse 300 yards in 2024. So, why are folks in Corvallis so optimistic?

Projected WR depth chart:

Position grade:

B

Analysis:

The optimism around this receiving corps centers around the presence of

Maalik Murphy

. Bluntly, this is just a different level of quarterback play than these receivers are accustomed to. It was evident even in the spring game.

Walker is also emerging as a bona fide star. The Beaverton High School product made a major leap from his sophomore to junior year, and he should be a favorite target for Murphy out wide at 11.1 yards per catch last season. Murphy loves the deep ball, and Walker’s size and length at 6-2 is an asset in that department.

Clemons — another product of the Beaverton area, this time Westview — transferred in from Michigan prior to last season but got off to a slow start after missing much of fall camp and the Beavers’ first three games due to injury. Now healthy, his big play ability should be on display more frequently.

Keeping with the big play trend is Reddicks, who averaged 13.1 yards per reception last season. And Card’s speed was talked about

throughout the spring

, including a long touchdown catch in front of media that sent Murphy sprinting from the sideline with excitement — even if he wasn’t the one to throw it.

Three factors will help the OSU wideouts actually produce: Murphy being given enough time to sling it deep, his quick decision-making on short and intermediate throws, and the threat of the run with Anthony Hankerson and a stable of talented backs.

This could be the year offensive coordinator Ryan Gunderson finally gets to open up the playbook and get creative with how he puts these wideouts in positions to succeed.

Other OSU position previews:

QB

|

RB

OSU early opponent previews:

Game 1: California

Game 2: Fresno State

Game 3: Texas Tech

Game 5: Houston

Game 6: Appalachian State

Game 7: Wake Forest

Game 8: Lafayette

Games 9/12: Washington State

Game 10: Sam Houston State

Game 11: Tulsa

—

Ryan Clarke

covers the Oregon State Beavers for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach him at RClarke@Oregonian.com or on Twitter/X:

@RyanTClarke

. Find him on Bluesky:

@ryantclarke.bsky.social

.

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