Former OSU receiver James Rodgers understands what Silas Bolden and Anthony Gould are trying to accomplish.
One question facing the Oregon State offense entering this football season was who would step up to replace departed wide receivers Tre’Shaun Harrison and Tyjon Lindsey.
The most obvious candidates to fill those roles were returning wideouts Silas Bolden and Anthony Gould. But with both listed on the roster at 5-foot-8, neither had prototypical size for the position. It is an issue that still comes up in Oregon State game broadcasts as commentators talk about their preference for taller receivers.
Through seven games, however, Bolden and Gould are leading the team in receptions and the Beavers are off to a strong start with a 6-1 record and a No. 12 ranking in the latest Associated Press poll. Bolden has caught 32 passes for 456 yards and four touchdowns while Gould has 27 catches for 443 yards and two scores.
One person who is not surprised by their success is former Oregon State receiver James Rodgers. He is careful not to speak for Bolden or Gould, but he still takes that skepticism personally and he suspects they do as well.
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Rodgers played at Oregon State from 2007-11 at a listed height of 5-7. That didn’t keep him from completing a stellar career with the Beavers. More than a decade after his last collegiate game, he is still third in program history in receptions (222), sixth in receiving yards (2,578) and first in all-purpose yards (6,373).
Rodgers keeps a close eye on the program and when asked if he sees any of himself in Bolden and Gould, he keeps the focus on them.
“I won’t say that because those guys, I’m sure they don’t want to be compared to (anybody). “I think those guys are paving their own way, which is what they want to do, be known for themselves. I think they’re doing it their way and you’ve got to credit coach (Kefense) Hynson for that,” Rodgers said, speaking of Oregon State’s wide receivers coach.
But Rodgers doesn’t think it is a coincidence that Oregon State is having success with players who are considered to lack ideal traits for their position. He said that is the case at many spots on the Oregon State roster, because the program is not built with five-star, or even an abundance of four-star, recruits.
“When you think about a school like Oregon State and the guys that they do bring in, it’s those guys that are overlooked,” Rodgers said. “But not only overlooked, it’s those guys that have a chip on their shoulder. When you add overlooked and having a chip on your shoulder, guys are going to come in willing to work as hard as they can to prove everybody wrong.”
Rodgers was on the Oregon State staff as the director of player development when Gould first arrived on campus. He saw how hard Gould worked to turn himself into a player who could contribute. He didn’t observe Bolden firsthand in the same way, but he has talked with Hynson about Bolden’s work ethic and development.
“Those guys are just working hard to get to where they are. No matter what anybody says, if you’re a hard worker and doing everything right, chances are that you’ll be successful,” Rodgers said.
In looking at Bolden’s and Gould’s success, it is important to focus on the traits they do have, not the one trait they have no control over. Both are fast — exceptionally fast — and they can get to their top speed very quickly. That speed doesn’t mean anything, however, if a receiver can’t catch the ball. Gould and Bolden both catch the ball as if they’ve stolen Lester Hayes’ bucket of Stickum. They make leaping catches, diving catches and catches in traffic.
And both are getting more familiar with transfer quarterback DJ Uiagalelei. In last week’s win over a very good UCLA defense, they combined for 12 catches and 174 yards.
Rodgers is proud of their success and he’s thankful that coach Jonathan Smith has been given the time he needed to turn the program around. The atmosphere around the team has changed completely over the last six years and Rodgers said he and his former teammates can tell the difference.
“You know how it is when you lose and everybody’s willing to jump ship and abandon it. But giving him time to get the guys that he wanted in there, and not only get the guys he wanted, but I think also the guys that stayed there when the coach left and getting them to buy into everything,” Rodgers said. “I talk to these guys (OSU alumni) all the time, we talk about how things are getting turned around. It takes longer than a year to turn things around — this is Year 6 — you’re seeing the results. It’s exciting to see.”
