Oregon State WR Jesse Legree Named to Biletnikoff Watch List

Oregon State’s rising star wide receiver Jesse Legree has earned a spot on the midseason Biletnikoff Award watch list, one of college football’s most coveted honors for the nation’s top receiver. The true freshman has already made an outsized impact since joining the starting lineup after Eddie Freauff’s injury, accumulating 28 receptions for 741 yards and nine touchdowns in just five games.

Legree’s 26.5-yard average per catch ranks among the best in the country, and his nine touchdowns tie him for the lead nationally alongside Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith. His breakout performance included a 240-yard, two-touchdown game against Texas Tech—numbers that matched the freshman record set by future NFL star Xavier Worthy in 2021—and he has surpassed 100 receiving yards in every game this season, tying a school record for longest streak by a receiver.

Before arriving in Corvallis, Legree was a three-star recruit from Baltimore’s Saint Frances Academy, where he played both wide receiver and defensive back. His collegiate trajectory accelerated after Oregon State coach JaMarcus Shephard’s hiring, culminating in his rapid ascent as the Beavers’ top playmaker.

The Biletnikoff Award, named after Pro Football Hall of Famer Fred Biletnikoff—a former Raiders legend and NFL’s all-time postseason receptions leader—recognizes elite receiving talent, and Legree’s early dominance positions him as a serious contender for the award’s final consideration.

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