Oregon State Beavers wide receiver Jesse Legree has ended the uncertainty about his college football future and whether or not he’d enter the transfer portal ahead of next season.
Legree, who leads the nation in receiving yards, announced Friday that he will return to the Beavers for the 2027 season instead of going to another program.
The wideout announced his decision during a live appearance from St. Frances Academy in Baltimore, where he played his final high school season, and re-signed with Oregon State.
“I, here, will be signing to Oregon State Beavers for the 2027 to 2028 season,” Legree said. “It’s always some kids’ dream to live out on signing day, and unfortunately, I wasn’t able to have mine last year. And to be able to have one this year for this contract is great.”
The decision will keep one of college football’s breakout players in Corvallis. Through seven games, Legree has racked up 1,040 receiving yards and 14 touchdown catches on 46 receptions, averaging 22.6 yards per reception.
Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith, the consensus best wide receiver in college football and a potential No. 1 overall pick in the 2027 NFL Draft, trails Legree in yards (984), yards per reception (18.9) and receiving touchdowns (12).
Legree said one of the main reasons he is returning to Oregon State is to help the program attract more talent.
“To start the growth at Oregon State, hopefully to bring in more people, more recruits and even more transfers to help us out,” Legree said.
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
Added Legree: “I fell in love with the culture out there. We’ve built a great culture, and it’s only going to get bigger from here. This is going to become the start of a national powerhouse.”
Legree entered Oregon State as a three-star prospect and the 1,713th-best prospect in the 2026 recruiting class, but has recorded at least 100 receiving yards in every game this season.
The Beavers are 5-2 overall and 3-0 in Pac-12 play. They are off this weekend before returning on Halloween night to face Fresno State on the road.
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