It’s getting really tense as Oregon state have just one job in trade to finalise deal of a young talented QB
**Title: “The Full Court Press”**
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Oregon State’s head coach, Jake Caldwell, sat in his office, pouring over film and stats for a player that had quickly become the university’s highest-priority recruit. Will Ryan, a 6’4” high school quarterback from Texas with a rocket arm and the poise of a pro, was already being called the next big thing. His accuracy, football IQ, and flair for clutch moments had captivated nearly every big-time program in the country. But Oregon State had something unique in mind.
When Caldwell’s recruiting coordinator walked in, he handed over the latest dossier on Will Ryan’s family, interests, and goals. The kid had already visited Georgia, Ohio State, USC, and Texas, each rolling out their own set of perks, NIL deals, and alumni glitz. Oregon State was facing a serious uphill climb to bring him to Corvallis. But Jake Caldwell had an idea.
*“Let’s go all out,”* Caldwell said, steely determination in his voice. He’d pitched the administration on making Ryan their top NIL beneficiary and getting boosters involved. But he wanted something deeper than just money to set them apart. He wanted Will to see Oregon State as a place where he could thrive as both a player and a person.
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The following weekend, Will Ryan touched down at Corvallis Municipal Airport, greeted by the entire Beavers coaching staff. They put him up in a penthouse suite at the downtown hotel, decked out with black and orange OSU decor and, most importantly, a highlight reel playing on the TV of every single touchdown pass Will had thrown that season. The next morning, they whisked him to campus, where students lined the pathways, chanting his name.
The main event, though, was the dinner with OSU legends. Jake Caldwell had called in every favor he could think of to bring Oregon State alums from the NFL and the sports world to one dinner, including big names who’d gone on to major careers in tech and media. For the first time, Will felt like he was in a place where they weren’t just selling him the next four years, but the next forty. He found himself laughing at stories of old games and nodding along to advice from former players who knew how hard the transition to college could be.
The next day, after a long tour of the facilities and film sessions, they surprised Will with a scrimmage. It wasn’t the standard student-on-student game; it was a full mock-up under the stadium lights, with alumni filling the stands, cheering him on. And, in a twist, Will was the honorary quarterback. The Oregon State staff threw every play they could think of at him to see how he responded. He connected on deep balls, made adjustments on audibles, and looked like a player beyond his years. The coaches loved it—and the crowd loved him.
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By the end of his visit, Will was no longer thinking of Oregon State as the “underdog.” He saw the program’s hunger and its family-like bond. They had something bigger to offer: a community willing to go all out to build around him.
The next week, Will made the announcement. He had turned down the giants of college football to become a Beaver. Oregon State’s strategy paid off, and for the first time in years, they had a national buzz surrounding their football program. And Will Ryan? He was ready to rewrite history in Corvallis, proving that sometimes the best stories come from the places willing to go all in.