Tailback takes heir apparent role in stride

OSU’s McCants is the early favorite to succeed Bernard

By kerry eggers

The Portland Tribune, Apr 29, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (4 Reader comments)

MCCANTS

CORVALLIS — With Oregon State’s patchwork offensive line overwhelmed by the Beavers’ defensive front, Ryan McCants was mostly a punching bag during last Friday’s scrimmage at Tommy Prothro Field.

You won’t hear the redshirt freshman tailback calling out his blockers, though.

“I wouldn’t blame the line,” McCants says. “Some of that was my fault as well.”

It’s typical of McCants, a soft-spoken, genuinely humble Corona, Calif., native who is heir apparent to Yvenson Bernard as the Beavers’ starting tailback.

Coach Mike Riley noted there weren’t many holes for McCants to run through, in part because the Beavers’ top three guards — Jeremy Perry, Adam Speer and Gregg Peat — were missing from the scrimmage.

“Most of our rushing yardage was pretty hard to get, but we’ll be better than that (in the fall),” Riley says. “I’ve been really pleased with Ryan this spring. He’s a tough guy. He just keeps going.”

McCants will get plenty of work at Reser Stadium during Saturday’s 2 p.m. spring game, which concludes Oregon State’s spring practice session. Riley will be looking for improvement from McCants in seeing interior opportunities.

“Ryan’s a good outside zone runner,” the OSU coach says. “He still has to work to get a better feel inside.”

Riley says McCants will enter August camp as the No. 1 tailback. But he will have competition from JC transfer Jeremy Francis — who soon will undergo minor knee surgery but is expected to be ready for camp — and incoming freshman Jacquizz Rodgers.

“Ryan is leading, but I wouldn’t put too much stock in that yet,” Riley says. “Ryan will probably get the first turns, but Jeremy was looking very good before he got hurt, and Jacquizz will be given an opportunity to compete (for playing time).

“I’m excited about the competition. We have a chance at some real depth at the position.”

The 6-2, 230-pound McCants is fast and physically imposing, much like an ex-OSU tailback he admires — Steven Jackson of the St. Louis Rams.

“To be compared with somebody like that is an honor,” McCants says. “I still have to prove myself.”

McCants, a “yes sir, no sir” type of youngster, doesn’t expect to be handed the starting job.

“It’s still a wide-open competition,” he says. “I need to get a better feel for the playbook and the offense as a whole. I need to work on situational running and picking up blocks in the passing game.

“We’ll go into camp and see how things go.”

Last season, McCants gained invaluable experience as the scout-team tailback.

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