3 recruits nurture OSU’s hopes

New players will join program in different stages of development

By Kerry Eggers

The Portland Tribune, Feb 7, 2006, Updated Oct 30, 2009

Almost a week ago, Oregon State’s coaches hauled in 30 recruits who they hope will help them win football games at some point in the future.

Three players ÑJames Dockery, Gabe Miller and Gerard Lee Ñare among those who should make a difference at different stages over the next couple of years.

Dockery, a receiver and safety, is a slim, full package of potential and seems likely to redshirt in 2006. Tight end-linebacker Miller, the jewel of the state’s recruiting class, probably will figure into the equation next fall, though his salad days are clearly down the road. Defensive tackle Lee, who has been around the block without stopping to smell the roses, is ready to play immediately, if not sooner.

The superathlete

Dockery is the finest player Pat Blackburn has coached during his dozen years as head coach at Palm Desert (Calif.) High, and Blackburn has had some good ones.

The 6-2, 165-pound Dockery is special; his numbers shout that. As a senior this fall, he had 67 receptions for 1,025 yards and 10 touchdowns. He might have been even better on defense, where he made 125 tackles and 10 interceptions and was Desert Valley League defensive player of the year on a team that went 12-1 and was unbeaten before losing in the semifinals of the California Interscholastic Federation Division 8 playoffs.

Dockery is the point guard on a Palm Desert team that has won 18 straight games and clinched the league championship.

“Oregon State is getting a great player who will get better once he gets in a college atmosphere and zeroes in on one sport,” says Blackburn, who coached with OSU defensive coordinator Mark Banker at Cal State Northridge. “He’s going to get a lot bigger physically.”

Banker wants Dockery for defense, which is where he’ll probably start at OSU.

“He’s a natural on that side,” Blackburn says. “He has an unbelievable knack for being around the football. He can break on a ball in a heartbeat.”

Best thing about Dockery is that he only turned 17 in December.

“My mom put me in school too early, I guess,” he says. “I have always been a year and a half younger than everyone else.”

Dockery had a scholarship offer from Washington and says he could have gone to Arizona or Arizona State, but it came down to Oregon State and Fresno State. The OSU coaching staff made the difference, he says.

“I liked the campus atmosphere in Corvallis and the coaches,” he says. “Every coach is going to be nice to you during the recruiting process, but there was something about (the OSU coaches) that was different. No matter what coach I work with up there, I feel I can get along with. I like coach (Mike) Riley’s style Ñ quiet and reserved. He’s an uptempo coach and a cool guy, somebody I can trust.”

Dockery says he feels more natural at receiver, “because that’s where my heart is, but I have a knack for making interceptions. I really don’t care where I play. Wherever I can be of the most help.”

A redshirt season won’t be a problem.

“If that’s what the coaches decide is best for me, fine,” he says. “I’m going to develop. If I’m not ready physically, or if I can benefit from being a year in the system, I will do that. I know I have to pay my dues. But if they need me to get in there and play right away, I won’t shy away from that challenge, either.”

There will be one other challenge Ñ the Oregon rain.

“It’ll be a shock for me, coming from the desert where we have no rain,” he says. “But I’m all for changes. I’ll get used to it.”

The in-state stud

Miller, the Oregon Class 4A defensive player of the year, wants to play offense. That’s not a problem for Riley, who sees Miller as a prototypical tight end in the Beavers’ spread offense.

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