Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller
The fifth of 10 quick hit updates of offseason Pac-10 goings on.
Oregon State in a sentence:
- The Beavers are rebuilding their defense and their backfield is in flux, but this overachieving program won 19 games over the two previous season, so relegating them to the bottom of the conference would likely be a mistake.
The big question:
- How well and how quickly will the Beavers defense rebuild after losing eight starters from one of the nation's best units in 2007?
Quick hit news:
- Talented senior safety Brian Payton, who had a key interception in the Beavers upset of USC in 2006, left the program without explanation this summer. Payton started six games and had 73 tackles and three interceptions over the past two seasons. That makes Greg Laybourn the starting free safety by default with sophomore Suaesi Tuimaunei listed as the backup. Payton's departure is compounded by two other issues: 1) strong safety Al Afalava is suspended for the season-opener against Stanford due to a February DUI (senior Austin Hall or redshirt freshman Cameron Collins will replace him); 2) The defense is completely rebuilding its front seven.
- Freshman receiver Jordan Bishop raised some eyebrows this summer with a strong performance in a prep all-star game. And here's some video.
- The expectations are high that defensive end Simi Kuli, a highly rated transfer from El Camino College, will provide immediate help on the defensive line. But he's still finishing up his credits at El Camino and might not report on August 1 with the rest of the incoming players.
- On the upside, it appears that guard Jeremy Perry, who sat out spring practices following knee surgery -- after missing nearly all of 2007 with a broken leg -- will be ready to play this fall. Perry, when healthy, might be the Pac-10's best guard.
- Offensive tackle Tavita Thompson is expected to regain his eligibility by the Nov. 1 game against Arizona State. Thompson was ruled ineligible by the NCAA after starting seven games last year. The reasoning was never officially explained by OSU officials because of privacy rules.
Ted Miller has been covering college football since 1997, starting with Auburn and then heading West to Washington and the Pac-10. His columns for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer won first place in 2007 APSE Best Writing contest. The Atlanta native and University of Richmond graduate presently lives with his wife in Scottsdale, Ariz.
