Corvallis Gazette Times: Jimtavis Walker leaves the team

By Cliff Kirkpatrick

Corvallis Gazette-Times

Second string running back Jimtavis Walker left the Oregon State football team, coach Mike Riley said Wednesday after practice.  “He’s gone,” Riley said. “JT Walker has left the team by his choice.” Walker expected to challenge for the starting tailback job this year. He sat out last season after transferring from Florida. The 5-foot-10, 225-pounder from Statesboro, Ga., played for the Gators in a reserve role one season during his two years with that program. The junior was the biggest back on the OSU roster, but never reached his potential. He’s second on the team in rushing with 15 carries for 44 yards, playing in three games. It was a close competition for the position throughout spring practice and fall camp, but sophomore Yvenson Bernard established himself as the clear No. 1 ball carrier. The Beavers typically rotate the second string running back into games at set times. However, Bernard played the entire Washington State game without relief.

Junior college transfer Nate Wright moves up to the second team, followed by true freshman Patrick Fuller. Those two have combined for 49 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. “Nate will be the next guy to go in,” Riley said. “How we rotate for the week hasn’t been decided, yet. Those guys are coming on. You don’t like to lose the depth, but those guys are definitely coming on.”

Talking about Cal

Two topics held the conversations of the players this week: stopping California’s running game and last season’s loss to the Golden Bears. Last year’s 49-7 defeat in Reser Stadium still haunts the players who lived the experience. Removing the emotions from the game plan, however, they know they have to contain two standout running backs. “Last year is going to play a big factor in Saturday’s game,” senior linebacker Keith Ellison said. “They beat us pretty bad. It was the low point in the season. Remembering that will make it an intense game.” OSU’s performance was so bad that day the fans booed the team off the field. That reaction created a stir at the time. Ellison remembers feeling down about how the team played.

However, he’s moved on and sees the silver lining. “Fans pay money for their tickets, so they can boo at what they want,” he said. “It shows how far this program has come. For the fans to be upset shows they care.” To avoid a repeat of last year, OSU must contain Marshawn Lynch and Justin Forsett. Both average more than 100 yards a game. The Bears use a physical running game to wear down opponents, and have had a 100-yard rusher in 18 straight games. The Beavers, however, aren’t worried. Defensive tackles Sir Henry Anderson and Alvin Smith are looking forward to the challenge. Anderson calls it a money game, a time to get paid. Facing this kind of offense is different for the Beavers, and it could be a benefit. They’ve played good passing teams the first five weeks and are last in the nation in pass defense at 349.2 yards a game. “It’s going to be one of the best running games we will see this year,” Ellison said. “But I think we are better at stopping the run right now than the pass.”

Fresh start

There’s an enthusiasm coming from the players that hasn’t been seen since the first week of the season. It’s the combination of the long weekend off and winning the last game to possess a 3-2 record. “It seemed fresh,” Riley said of practice. “I thought people were bouncing around. I know the kickers had better legs and more pop. I felt good about that, coming back to practice.”