Jaydon Grant, Oregon State Football News: Draft Scout Player News

04/21/21 - SS Jaydon Grant, rSr/2023, Oregon State

The Beavers conducted their first scrimmage of spring ball Saturday and ran through about 100 plays, according to head coach Jonathan Smith. The scrimmage was not open to reporters or photographers. But Smith said the defense delivered a stout performance and flashed some of the dynamic playmaking ability the OSU coaching staff is hoping to see this fall. "I think we've made progress," Smith said of the effort to create more takeaways. "Each game's different. But I think we're playing more physical defensively. Watching them live tackle today, there were a lot of physical tackles. We've made a point of that; it's how you create more turnovers, just getting the ball out by being physical. We had a couple takeaways interception-wise. It's progressing and we'll keep working on it."

Smith said that Rejzohn Wright and Michael Erhart each had interceptions during the scrimmage. A large reason for the optimism surrounding the defense this spring is the continuity at nearly every position. The secondary, in particular, is loaded with experienced players. Smith said he feels like Oregon State has three or four starting-caliber cornerbacks in the fold, which is a luxury the Beavers haven't always had. He was complimentary of corners Alex Austin and Jaden Robinson, as well as newcomer E.J. Jones. At safety, Smith said Jaydon Grant has had "another great spring" and Alton Julian, Wynston Russell and Kitan Oladapo have all been turning heads as well. "A lot of those guys have been around," Smith said of the Beavers' defense. "They're bigger, stronger and know the scheme. They're tackling. They're physical and going to work. Really at each position, you can point out some guys who have been pretty solid. That kind of showed up as a unit today." - Gazette Times

rSr/2023