The 5 Best Oregon State Beavers in NFL History

Terry Baker gave Oregon State a nationally recognized quarterback, winning the Heisman Trophy in 1962. His college highlights also included a Liberty Bowl victory featuring a 99-yard touchdown run, a striking example of a quarterback deciding a game on the ground. Beyond football, Baker started for an Oregon State basketball team that reached the Final Four, adding another dimension to his contribution to the school.

Baker's place in this ranking rests on a celebrated football peak rather than his versatility alone. The Heisman establishes the national significance of that season, while the bowl performance supplies a concrete competitive achievement alongside the award. His basketball role enriches his Oregon State legacy without overshadowing what he accomplished at quarterback.

Steven Jackson supplied Oregon State with substantial, sustained rushing production. A 230-pound running back, he surpassed 1,500 rushing yards in each of his final two seasons and scored 19 total touchdowns as a junior. Those accomplishments made him a highly productive Pac-10 back before he moved on to the NFL as a first-round selection in 2004.

Jackson's ranking argument is stronger because his output was not confined to one exceptional season. Consecutive high-yardage campaigns demonstrate a continuing contribution to Oregon State's offense, while his junior-year scoring adds another measure of effectiveness. His college résumé combines a strong individual peak with repeat production, giving the school more than a brief glimpse of the ability that preceded his professional career.

Brandin Cooks turned his 2013 Oregon State season into a showcase for receiving production. He caught 128 passes for 1,730 yards and 16 touchdowns and won the Biletnikoff Award. Mike Riley's offense moved the smaller, quick receiver around the formation to create opportunities in space, making his deployment an important part of the story behind that prolific season.

Cooks belongs prominently in Oregon State's football history because his signature campaign combined volume, yardage and scoring with national recognition. The reception total reflects extensive involvement, while the other production shows that involvement yielded more than short gains. His case here is chiefly about the quality of that peak: an award-winning season that gave Oregon State a nationally distinguished player at wide receiver.

Chad Johnson arrived at Oregon State from junior college and joined T.J. Houshmandzadeh in the receiving corps. He was part of the 2000 team that finished 11–1 and defeated Notre Dame decisively in the Fiesta Bowl. His route running and flair were features of his college game before the Bengals selected him in the second round.

Johnson's Oregon State case is tied closely to the significance of that team's success. Sharing the receiving spotlight does not diminish his place in a season marked by an outstanding record and a major bowl victory. Rather than resting on a long list of individual college awards, his ranking reflects his contribution to that accomplished team, with his subsequent draft selection providing a secondary professional connection.

Jacquizz Rodgers made an immediate impact at Oregon State, earning Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year honors as a freshman in 2008. His 186 rushing yards and two touchdowns helped the Beavers upset top-ranked USC that season. He also put together consecutive seasons of more than 1,400 rushing yards, with his brother James sharing in the offense's backfield work.

Rodgers offers a ranking case built on both a memorable early peak and sustained production. The USC performance gives his freshman recognition a concrete example against highly ranked opposition, but his résumé extends beyond that upset. Repeated high-yardage seasons show why his place among Oregon State's notable backs depends on continuing offensive value as well as one celebrated afternoon.