CORVALLIS, Ore. — A few days into fall camp, the message out of Oregon State's offensive room is remarkably consistent: this team feels different. From the tight end room to the offensive line to the backfield, players across multiple position groups are pointing to the same driving forces — a summer built around accountability and a locker room culture several veterans say is unlike anything they've experienced in Corvallis.
Below, in their own words, are the top quotes from five offensive players — Gabe Milbourn, Eric Olsen, Cornell Hatcher Jr., Tyler Voltin and Nathan Elu — who participated in Friday's media day at Reser Stadium.
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Gabe Milbourn, tight end
On the tight end room's veteran depth:
"It's a very veteran room. These guys know what they're doing, they've played football, been around football for a long time. It's really nice to just have that, and then also just being able to compete with one another as well, 'cause it's making each one of us better."
On new offensive coordinator Mitch Dahlen:
"He's big on being tough and just basically, yeah, just winning. He wants to win so bad, he's very competitive, and I love it."
On what the room is prioritizing entering the season:
"We've just got to be the most consistent group, most detailed. We've got to be able to block, run routes, all that stuff. Know all the plays basically, pass protection as well."
Eric Olsen, tight end
On how the offense features tight ends:
"I think the tight ends are going to be a really explosive group in this offense. It's not just pass catching. It's about being good blockers as well, because an explosive play — YAC — it can be a 20-yard pickup, a good catch, but it's also the block downfield that makes a 5-yard run turn into a 25-yard run."
On adding 26 pounds since arriving in January:
"Funny enough, I actually got faster. I put on 26 pounds, and I got faster by two miles an hour. So if anything, it actually kind of helped me, a little bit of extra muscle."
On what stands out most since joining the program:
"I've never been in an offense where tight ends are so utilized, so it's a lot of fun."
Cornell Hatcher Jr., running back
On why he chose to stay at Oregon State:
"What really made me stay was the first conversation I had with Coach Shephard. I was sold on his idea and his goal on where he wanted to take this team, and it was something that I wanted to be a part of. I felt like it was going to be very special, and I just needed to be a part of that."
On what makes Shephard's coaching style stand out:
"He's a very hands-on coach who really sets the standard and doesn't let anybody fall underneath it. He keeps us above that, and then once we can handle that, he raises the bar for us to achieve even higher."
On handling expectations after Anthony Hankerson's back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons:
"When I hear about expectations, I just think the best thing I can do is just stay true to my process and what works for me, and keep going on that path. If I can stay true to my process and be able to say that I worked at 100 percent at what I wanted, that's great."
Tyler Voltin, offensive line
On the culture within this year's team:
"I truly feel the most connected with this team. I can go hang out with whoever on the team. I can go talk to whoever I need to on the team, and that kind of helps with the connection — holding each other accountable out on the field, too."
On Shephard calling out the offensive line after the spring game:
"Anytime your head coach calls you out, you've got to respond. That just speaks to the competitors that we are and who we are as a team."
On the group's self-driven work since spring:
"Can we work this much harder? Can we meet a little longer? Can we meet as a group without the coaches? Communication's been amazing out here the first couple days of fall camp."
Nathan Elu, offensive line
On the offensive line's growth since spring practice:
"Compared to spring to now, I think it's night and day. The last two practices we've definitely seen the communication piece, the effort piece, the violent side of the game. We've seen that increase, but we've just got to keep hammering it."
On feedback from teammates on the other side of the ball:
"I had guys come up to us, say, 'Hey, from the other side of the ball, you guys look like you're a way better unit out there,' which is good. It makes me feel good that other teammates are noticing that."
"We definitely took it personal. We took it really personal. We worked very hard in the summer and we did get better."
