Standout true freshman WR Jesse Legree re-signs with Oregon State for 2027 season

Jesse Legree took the college football world by storm just two games into his debut season with the Beavers. Rumors began swirling instantly about where his next destination would be, with a number of power conference schools ready to line up as would-be suitors.

However, on Friday, Oct. 23, Legree bucked the trend sweeping the sport. The Baltimore area native sat in the gymnasium of his high school, Saint Frances Academy, where he put pen to paper and locked himself in with the Beavers through the 2027-28 season, shutting down any transfer rumors well before the offseason.

Legree announcing his intentions to run in back with Oregon State midseason may seem to come out of left field. There's been a recent uptick in college athletes using very professional-adjacent language to say they're coming back for another season, but it typically happens at season's end. This midseason announcement staves off the "will he transfer?" conversations for at least one more season. The Beavers will be thrilled with this potential question being nipped in the bud so early, as they can now lock in fully on the strong season they're currently putting up.

Entering Oregon State's bye week, Legree leads the nation in receiving through seven weeks, having amassed 1,040 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns on just 46 catches. He's been a key piece of the Beavers' remarkable turnaround this season under first-year head coach Jamarcus Shepherd. In 2025, Oregon State finished the season 2-10 and lost its only conference tilt against Washington State.

This year, the team is off to a 5-2 start, with the two losses coming against Houston and Texas Tech, who are both still ranked inside the top 15 of the AP Poll entering Week 8. Since the two losses to start the season, the Beavers have ripped off five straight wins, including over rival Washington State and a trio of 50-plus-point showings against Montana, Colorado State and San Diego State.

With four more games remaining on the Oregon State slate, expect the " Problem Kid " to remain a fringe contender in the Heisman Trophy race and the key challenger to Jeremiah Smith for this year's Biletnikoff Award as the Beavers seek out a spot in the final year of the 12-team College Football Playoff.