Oregon State football position preview: Inside linebacker

Raesjon Davis, a USC transfer, was added by Oregon State to its inside linebacker corps, which already had a number of youthful contributors, to provide them experience and toughness.

Dexter Foster, a true sophomore who recorded 43 tackles as a freshman, including a season-high 13 versus Air Force, is an underclassman who could be a standout at the position in 2025.

This season, OSU will need to replace one of its best tacklers, and their room of inside linebackers might use a motivational story. It’s a question of depth.

ILB depth chart projection:

Makiya Tongue (R-Sr.), Gyriece Goodman (R-Jr.), and ILBDexter Foster (So.)

ILBRaesjon Davis (R-Sr.), Clive Pond (R-So.), and Aiden Sullivan (R-Jr.)

Grade of position: C+

Evaluation:

Unquestionably, the Beavers defense suffered a significant hit when star linebacker Isaiah Chisom transferred to UCLA during the winter. Chisom finished second on the team with 75 tackles, five quarterback rushes, and one fumble recovery.

Despite not producing nearly as much, Davis has a wealth of experience from his four seasons at USC, having played in 36 games. Before redshirting and transferring for his last season of eligibility, he participated in just three games and recorded just 31 total tackles with the Trojans.

The Beavers are once again depending on the situational fit and potential of an older player who hasn’t yet established himself. However, Davis has demonstrated the ability to drop back in coverage, which may prove helpful in the early going.

The Beavers may also look forward to Tongue’s comeback in addition to the hard-hitting Foster and his star potential. After rehabilitating from a horrific knee injury in 2023 over the previous two seasons, the former wide receiver turned linebacker is now fully recovered. He appeared nimble after practicing all spring.

Tongue is a heritage of Oregon State; his father, Reggie, spent nine seasons in the NFL after playing safety for the Beavers from 1992 to 1995. He is slated for a key role after Chisom’s departure, and his ability to bounce back from injuries could make him a fan favorite.

Beyond that, the inside linebackers should be completed by untested players like Pond, Goodman, and Sullivan, any of whom has the potential to have a breakthrough season.

Additional previews for OSU positions:

RB, WR, TE, OL, DT, and EDGE

Early previews of OSU’s opponents:

First game: California

Second Game: Fresno State

Texas Tech in Game 3

Houston in Game 5

Appalachian State in Game 6

Wake Forest in Game 7

Lafayette in Game 8

Washington State in Games 9/12

Sam Houston State in Game 10

Tulsa in Game 11

–For The Oregonian/OregonLive, Ryan Clarke covers the Oregon State Beavers. You may contact him on Twitter at X:@RyanTClarke or by email at RClarke@Oregonian.com. His Bluesky handle is @ryantclarke.bsky.social.

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