When the father of Oregon State freshman receiver Jesse Legree posted a cryptic graphic on social media last week announcing a media event, it set off a wave of speculation. The graphic, titled "The Legree Effect Decision Day," featured Legree in his orange Beavers uniform, surrounded by cameras, and announced a 2 p.m. event that Friday. It did not say what decision Legree planned to announce. The answer was the news Oregon State fans hoped for: Legree announced he would return to Corvallis next season, signing a new deal live on CBS Sports Network.
"It's always some kid's dream to live out on signing day," said Legree, who was lightly recruited out of Maryland powerhouse Saint Frances Academy. "And unfortunately, I wasn't able to have mine last year, and to be able to have one this year for this contract is great." Never had a college player held a news conference in the middle of the season to announce a new contract. Less than two months ago, he was a relative unknown who landed at Oregon State after attracting no other FBS offers. Seven games later, he is off to one of the most prolific starts in college football history, leading the nation with 1,040 receiving yards and 14 receiving touchdowns.
At Saint Frances Academy in Baltimore, Legree spent much of his high school career playing defensive back and returning kicks before moving to receiver as a senior, leaving college coaches with limited film of him at the position. Meanwhile, Oregon State was rebuilding after the collapse of the Pac-12 in 2023. Coach Trent Bray was fired midseason after the team started 0-7 on its way to a 2-10 campaign, leading to the arrival of Ja Marcus Shephard from Alabama.
Shephard, who had previously worked with Kalen De Boer at Washington, said Legree was the first recruit he pursued. "I accepted the job here, our general manager [Eron Hodges] called me and said, 'Hey, we need to go get Jesse,'" Shephard said. Legree had little offensive tape to evaluate, but it was enough for Shephard to be impressed, and the staff's early focus helped turn an unknown recruit into a central figure for the Beavers.
Source: ESPN General · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing