Jesse Legree on returning to Oregon State: ‘This is going to become the start of a national powerhouse’
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Jesse Legree isn’t just coming back to Oregon State in 2027 to boost his draft stock, or for some personal gain.
He believes the Beavers have staying power in college football, and he wants to become a part of it before he eventually leaves Corvallis.
The freshman wide receiver, who plays way up in the Pacific Northwest at the Oregon school that gets far less attention than the Oregon Ducks who play in Eugene, announced on Friday that he has re-signed with Oregon State for next season.
But that’s not all that Legree did on Friday. He didn’t proclaim his return to the Beavers and go quietly.
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He spoke loudly about what he believes Oregon State can be capable of as a program. This season, the Beavers are 5-2 overall and have a perfect 3-0 record in the completely revamped Pac-12. Legree has obviously been a huge part of that success in 2026, leading the nation in receiving yards (1,040), receiving yards per game (148.6) and touchdown catches (14).
While someone like Ohio State stud wideout Jeremiah Smith gets all the attention playing at a brand-name program and in the Big Ten, Legree plays in pretty much obscurity at Oregon State. But the true freshman from Baltimore took a chance on Oregon State when he could’ve gone elsewhere, and now he’s coming back for more in 2027 with a determination to help the Beavers become a household name in college football.
“I fell in love with the culture out there,” Legree told ESPN before his announcement on Friday. “We’ve built a great culture and it’s only going to get bigger from here. This is going to become the start of a national powerhouse.”
Incidentally, the head coach who Legree has put his trust in out at Oregon State has SEC and Alabama ties. It’s JaMarcus Shephard, who was the Crimson Tide’s wide receivers coach in 2024 and 2025. So far, Shephard’s first season in Corvallis has been a success, and now the ex-Alabama guy has his own stud receiver back in the fold for the 2027 season.
Legree believes in Oregon State for the immediate future, committing to the Beavers for next year. But this year, there is a College Football Playoff to compete for, and here is what the Kalshi market is currently saying about the best odds to make the coveted 12-team field come December:
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
