Beavers Best (Modern Era)

Much like I did with the Ducks last week, here is my list of top 3 Beavers at each of the offensive skill positions (my era, from about 1997-present day). These rankings are not based off NFL careers; instead they reflect who I would want on my team if I was constructing it for next season.

Quarterback

1. Derek Anderson 2001-2004 – DA put up video game type numbers over the course of his Oregon State career, passing for over 4,000 yards as a junior. While DA never lead the Beavers to a top tier bowl game, and often threw untimely interceptions early in his career, his progression throughout this three years as a starter has cemented him at one on my list.
2. Jonathan Smith 1997- 2001 - Smith will be remembered for taking the reins against Washington as a freshman in 1998, passing for over 400 yards that night at Husky Stadium. Smith was small in stature, and lacked the monster arm and the quick feet that so many college quarterbacks have today. However, Smith led the Beavers to their best season ever, going 11-1 in 2000, beating Notre Dame in the 2001 Fiesta Bowl.
3. Matt Moore 2005-2006 – Moore took a beating from Beavers fans throughout his junior season, and rightfully so. After the 2005 disaster Moore lead the Beavers to their first 10 win season under Riley in 2006. Though Moore never put up gaudy numbers, he managed the game as a senior, landing the Beavers in the top 25 come seasons end.

Running Back

1. Steven Jackson 2001-2003 – This is a no brainer for me. Aside from Reggie Bush, Jackson was the most complete running back the Pac-10 has put out over the last decade. Jackson was a true threat to score anytime he touched the ball. His career was capped off with a 5 TD performance in his hometown of Las Vegas, as the Beavers rebounded from a disappointing 2003 campaign, beating New Mexico handily in the Las Vegas Bowl.
2. Ken Simonton 1998-2001 – Simonton ran for over 1,000 yards in each of his first three seasons, putting him second all time in the Pac-10 rushing record books. Kenny will always be remembered by Beaver fans for his 1998 Civil War touchdown run, which brought fans flooding down onto the field (for the 2^nd time that game!). Simonton brought Beaver football back to respectability, and will never have to buy another drink whenever he visits Corvallis.
3. Jaquizz Rodgers 2008- present – I badly wanted to put Yve Bernard on this list, but what Quiz did last year was special. Rodgers became the first ever true freshman to claim Pac- 10 player of the year honors, after tearing up USC’s NFL defense on that memorable September night this past fall. This native Texan should break all of Simonton’s records, and go down as one of the Pac-10 greats.

Wide Receiver

1. Mike Hass 2001-2005 – It didn’t take long for me to figure out who deserved the #1 spot on this list! Hass owns nearly every Beaver receiving record, and won the Biletnikoff award as a senior, with 1,532 receiving yards that season. Hass was not the fastest or most flashy receiver, but I don’t recall ever seeing a ball he didn’t catch. Three straight 1,000 plus yard seasons is just something you don’t see in college football anymore.
2. James Newson 2001-2005 – I thought about putting Sammie at #2, but there was something about Newson’s game that I really enjoyed. Much like Sammie, James was the emotional leader of his teams and was one of the toughest competitors I have ever watched. I still remember him keeping his balance after getting tripped up in the 2004 Insight.com Bowl, and them sprinting to the pay dirt. Newson and Hass formed one of the best one two punches in the conferences history.
3. Sammie Stroughter 2004-2008 – If this was an all purpose list Sammie would be right up there with Steven Jackson fighting for the #1 spot. The sight of Sammie brining that punt back in the 2006 USC game will be a fixture at Beaver games for the next 50 years. Had Sammie not gotten inured in 2007, he could very easily be #1 on my list.