The NCAA transfer portal is closed. How did Oregon State football do?

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The NCAA transfer portal is closed. How did Oregon State football do?

The NCAA transfer portal has closed for Oregon State football, and new head coach JaMarcus Shepard’s first roster is starting to take shape.

Shephard, who was hired on Nov. 28, had just over a month to bring in a coaching staff ahead of the transfer portal, which opened Jan. 2 and closed at 11:59 p.m. local time Jan. 16.

Shephard and his new staff were then tasked with filling out a roster.

Since the end of the season, over 30 Beavers football players put their name in the transfer portal. Significant contributors and starters such as wide receiver Trent Walker, running back Salahadin Allah and offensive tackle Adam Hawkes have found new homes around the NCAA.

But, at least 20 incoming players have pledged their commitment to the Beavers. Athletes from various programs around the nation including Alabama, Texas and Louisville are set for a new start in Corvallis.

What are some significant changes for the Beavers from the transfer portal?

Oregon State head coach JaMarcus Shephard, left, built his coaching staff after being hired in late November then worked to find new players in the transfer portal. The results of that portal work will come next fall.

Shephard bolsters OSU offense

Before Oregon State, Shephard developed a national reputation as an strong offensive coach, specifically at the wide receiver position. Everywhere he’s gone, Shephard has done a commendable job recruiting, developing and producing wide receivers.

At Oregon State, it’s shaping up to be no different. As of the portal deadline, Shephard had four wide receivers committed to Oregon State.

Aeryn Hampton was a four-star recruit in the high school class of 2024 and a former member of the Alabama Crimson Tide. Shephard, with ties to Hampton at Alabama, earned Hampton’s commitment in the final days of the portal.

Aaron Butler is another former four-star recruit who pledged his 2026 season to the Beavers. Butler, a California native, was with Texas and is an exciting one-two punch with Hampton from the portal.

Unranked but on the rise, receivers Adonis McDaniel (Mercer) and Xayvion Noland (Texas State) round out a fresh WR room.

Alabama receiver Aeryn Hampton runs after catching a pass during a practice session last season. Hampton has joined Oregon State for the coming season.

A quartet of offensive linemen has committed to the Beavers, too. Kwan Johnson (Eastern Illinois), Peter Langi (Arizona), Carter Guillaume (Louisville) and Teko Shoats (Bethune-Cookman) combine for a revamped line of protection.

Guillaume spent one season at Louisville, and before that played for FCS program Southeast Missouri State. There, he was named to the 2024 FCS Freshman All-America Team.

More notable offensive additions to the program include Braden Atkinson, a quarterback out of Mercer, former Syracuse kicker Jadyn Oh, tight ends DeCorion Temple and Eric Olsen and two new long snappers.

To round out the offense, quarterback Maalik Murphy, who never put his name in the transfer portal, is looking likely to remain in Corvallis. Backup-turned-starting quarterback Gabarri Johnson, a Washington native, put his name in the portal but did not make a public commitment to a new school, as of the portal deadline.

Oregon State's Maalik Murphy, right, looks to throw the ball during the first day of fall camp at the Tommy Prothro Football Complex on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, in Corvallis, Ore.

Defensive pieces on the move

Almost a dozen OSU defensive players hit the portal this winter.

Among them are edge Kai Wallin, linebacker Dexter Foster, lineman Jojo Johnson and cornerback Jalil Tucker — all of whom have landed at Power 4 schools or future Pac-12 rivals.

Jaheim Patterson, one of the bright spots within the Beavers’ defense this season, declared for the NFL Draft Jan. 16.

The movement has left Shephard and the new defensive coaching staff with the task of filling out the defense. Through the portal, Oregon State has received public commitments from six defenders.

Isaiah Houi is a cornerback out of Eastern Illinois. With the Panthers, he was an all-conference honorable mention, was second on the team in total tackles and posted 5.5 tackles for loss and an interception in the 2025 season.

A trio of defensive linemen also pledged their commitment to the Beavers. Daniel Matagi (Portland State), Tyler Baily (Mississippi State Gulf Coast CC) and Ish Findlayter (Duquesne) are joining forces in Corvallis.

Findlayter is a former three-star prospect who spent two years at Virginia Tech before one in Pittsburgh with Duquesne.

Baily garnered 32 tackles, three sacks, eight tackles for loss and a forced fumble in junior college last season.

Matagi is a Washington native who spent two seasons at Central Washington before joining Portland State. At Central Washington, Matagi earned second-team all-conference honors.

Linebackers Jabari Odoemenem and Dylan Lane round out the additions on the defensive end.

Lane is a Lake Oswego High graduate who signed with Idaho when he graduated in 2022. He spent four seasons with Idaho, where he played under new Beavers co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Cort Dennison.

Odoemenem spent two seasons at Maine then one at Duquesne. He recorded 50 total tackles, five pass breakups and an interception this past season.

Landon Bartlett covers Oregon State and high school sports for the Statesman Journal. He can be reached at LBartlett@statesmanjournal.com or on X or Instagram @bartlelo.

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: The transfer portal deadline has passed. Who did Oregon State pick up?

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