By Field Level Media
Aug 24 (Field Level Media) – Former FCS star Braden Atkinson beat out incumbent Maalik Murphy and fellowtransfer Brady Jones to earn the Oregon State starting quarterback gig.
The Beavers named Atkinson the starter on Monday after a lengthy, spiritedcompetition between the three players.
Atkinson played last season at Mercer and won the Jerry Rice Award as the topfreshman player in FCS. He completed 66% of his passes and set single-seasonschool records of 3,596 yards and 34 touchdown passes.
Atkinson, who tossed 11 interceptions, also set a Mercer single-game recordwith 533 passing yards against VMI on Oct. 25. He finished fifth in ballotingfor the Walter Payton Award, the honor that goes to the top FCS offensiveplayer.
Murphy completed 58.1% of his throws for 1,805 yards, nine touchdowns andeight interceptions last season for Oregon State, which went 2-8 in his 10appearances.
Murphy played at Texas and Duke before relocating to the Pacific Northwest. In2024, he passed for 2,933 yards and 26 touchdowns and was picked off 12 timesas the Blue Devils’ starter.
He redshirted at Texas in 2022 and started two of seven games played in 2023when he passed for 477 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions.
Overall, he has passed for 5,215 yards and 38 touchdowns against 23interceptions as a collegian.
Jones, a Murrieta, Calif., native, was 19-of-40 passing for 136 yards, onetouchdown and three interceptions in limited action as a junior for WesternMichigan last season.
Former Alabama co-offensive coordinator JaMarcus Shephard is the new headcoach at Oregon State, which is part of a reconfigured Pac-12.
The Beavers open the season Sept. 5 with a nonconference game at No. 23Houston.
(–Field Level Media)
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