Corvallis Gazette-Times

The Oregon State football team's pass rush should improve this week with the return of Ben Siegert.

The junior defensive tackle started practicing Tuesday, after missing three weeks to recover from shoulder surgery. Siegert has been a starter the past two seasons, but will ease into the primary three-man rotation with seniors Alvin Smith and Sir Henry Anderson.

"I can't wait to get back," Siegert said. "It's hard to sit on the sidelines and watch your team play. It was really tough last week. I've never had to watch a game before, and it was pretty hard to watch."

After a week into fall camp, the 6-foot-4, 275-pounder couldn't take a nagging pain in his shoulder anymore that came from wear-and-tear. He described it as feeling twisted inside.

The surgery removed floating cartilage that was jammed in the socket. It was an inch long and a half-inch wide.

"They cleaned it out — it was maintenance," Siegert said. "I'd say it's 100 percent better than it felt three weeks ago. It feels as good as it felt all summer. As soon as I got of the hospital it felt really good."

Siegert's presence not only adds depth to the tackles, but he's an impact player. The Sporting News named him to the Pacific-10 Conference All-Conference Freshman team.

He played better as a sophomore, doubling his tackle count to 30, forcing a fumble and registering 1½ quarterback sacks. The Anderson, Smith and Siegert combination has a way of working together to pressure the quarterback, which was missing last week.

"Ben is a good football player, and a tenacious football player," coach Mike Riley said. "Whenever he's on the field he brings us a lot.

"We're glad he'll be back with us. I think the defensive line played hard and at times did a nice job of getting up field (last weekend). But I think there are a lot things we can work on."

Siegert took it easy the first two days at practice. He's running with the second team, while Anderson and Smith are the starters. Siegert missed his first start last week after 25 straight.

"I'm just working on getting my strength back," Siegert said of preparing for Saturday's 3:30 p.m. game against Boise State at Reser Stadium. "In the back my head you have to worry about the shoulder, but you have to go out and have faith that it will hold up."

Since there were no quarterback sacks last week, adding pressure to the quarterback is one of the main priorities this week.

It's an added challenge since Boise State quarterback Jared Zabransky is so elusive.

He rushed for a team-leading 73 yards and ran in a touchdown last year against the Beavers. His mobility also spread the defense out as he picked it apart for 225 passing yards and three TDs while scrambling.

"I think we took them lightly last year," Siegert said. "We didn't come to play. We got ahead early and got complacent."

Roster moves

• J.C. Ronnfeldt, a junior reserve offensive lineman, left the team. OSU officials said his departure stems from issues unrelated to football.

• Walk-on Austin Paul of Beaverton joined the Beavers on Wednesday. He's a transfer from Carroll College, an NAIA program in Helena, Mont.

The safety played for Sunset High before going to Carroll. He'll redshirt this season and be a sophomore next season.

• Taylor Kavanaugh of Portland's Lincoln High joined the team. He's a 5-foot-10, 170-pound walk-on wide receiver.

Pro prospects

Pro prospects

OSU officials expect a large NFL scout turnout for Saturday's game, topping the interest for running back Steven Jackson's peak.

There are already 10 scouts who said they'll be at Reser Stadium, representing the Chargers, Chiefs, Bucs, Vikings, Giants, Redskins, Raiders, Colts, Packers and Steelers.