Exclusive | How ignored recruit Jesse Legree became college footballs breakout star at Oregon State
When Oregon State wide receivers coach James Finley first evaluated Jesse Legree, he envisioned a solid freshman season for a talented, uber-athletic player who had been overlooked by the rest of the country.“Maybe 400 [receiving] yards, maybe 500,” Finley told The Post.Just seven games into the Beavers’ season, Legree has more than doubled those numbers, racking up 1,040 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns while establishing himself as one of the best pass-catchers in college football and putting together a fringe Heisman Trophy candidacy.Even head coach JaMarcus Shephard, who brought Legree to Corvallis shortly after taking the Oregon State job last November, couldn’t have imagined this kind of immediate success.“Did I think he was going to be doing what he’s doing right now as a true freshman? No, I didn’t,” Shephard told The Post. Legree, who spent last December’s signing day watching his St.Frances teammates celebrate their college commitments, is now putting up video-game numbers at Oregon State.He leads the FBS in receiving yards heading into this weekend’s action, putting up seven straight 100-yard games. Legree is averaging a staggering 22.6 yards per reception, and he’s put up some of his biggest numbers against ranked competition.Just a few months removed from high school, Legree opened his college career with 136 yards and a touchdown against then-No.
23 Houston before torching Texas Tech for 240 yards and two scores the following week.He spent much of high school playing defensive back and returning kicks while also starring as a point guard on the basketball court. It wasn’t until his senior season, after transferring to Saint Frances Academy, that he made the switch to receiver full-time.Legree, a Baltimore native, wasn’t completely unknown to college recruiters.Pittsburgh, West Virginia and Buffalo all showed interest, but concerns about his 5-foot-10 frame and position prevented any big scholarship offers.“I had offers...