Twelve days after Gevani McCoy entered his name into the transfer portal, the Beavers secured a highly touted quarterback from Duke University, Maalik Murphy, on Thursday morning.

Murphy was the fourth-highest-rated quarterback in the transfer portal and now becomes a Beaver with two years of eligibility remaining.

“(It) felt like a great opportunity, and I really felt welcomed and wanted there. I was made a priority and that’s all I could ask for. I’m excited to be a Beaver and get out there with the guys,” Murphy said to ESPN’s Pete Thamel via X.

Starting his career at Texas, he found little success being a backup to starter Quinn Ewers and transferred to Duke after just one season. After securing the starting job, he led the Blue Devils to a 9-3 record, their best since 2013.

Murphy is a pocket quarterback, not known for using his legs. He threw for 2,933 yards this past season, which placed him 23rd in the nation, along with 26 touchdowns, tying him 13th in the nation. Both of these were school records at Duke. He will need to work on his accuracy though, as he accounted for 12 interceptions, with six of those coming in two games.

“I’ve got a ton of respect for Maalik Murphy,” Duke head coach Manny Diaz said on Murphy’s transfer, according to On3. “Our story as a program, it doesn’t happen this way without Maalik. He’s been everything we could have hoped for and more in his time with us. I’m excited for him and his future and I’m glad we were part of each other’s story.”

With Murphy’s limited ability to run, he is skilled at escaping the defense, only taking 12 sacks on the season. To put that into retrospect, Shedeur Sanders, a projected first-round NFL draft pick, fell in the pocket 38 times.

The 4-star transfer is 11-3 as a starter in his career, and the best transfer the Beavers have signed since DJ Uiagalelei. He chose the Beavers over both Auburn and Kentucky, which he visited prior.

A surprise addition, Murphy will hope to bring back the winning ways to Corvallis before the new Pac-12 officially goes underway starting in 2026.

Beaver football transfer portal tracker

The Beavers ended their 2024-25 season not bowl-eligible for the first time in four years with a 5-7 record.

The college football transfer portal is now open as of December 9th, and players are quick to throw their names in. The Daily Barometer sports staff will be providing a tracker with updates on who is entering the portal and who is going to stay wearing a Beaver uniform.

Offense

• Quarterback Gevani McCoy → Entering the transfer portal
  • “Beaver Nation, after much thought and prayer, I have decided to enter my name into the transfer portal… I may be leaving but Corvallis will always hold a special place in my heart. Thank you for everything!” McCoy said via X.

• Quarterback Gabarri Johnson → Returning
  • “Year 3 loading…Let’s do it #GoBeavs,” Johnson said via X.
• Wide receiver Trent Walker → Returning
  • “​​Let’s run it back Beaver Nation #GoBeavs,” Walker said via X.
• Running back Anthony Hankerson → Returning
  • “Thankful for Beaver Nation, Super excited for next year ! This year was a teaser, Let’s run it back but better ! Go Beavs,” Hankerson said via X.
• Offensive lineman Van Wells → Returning
  • “Last ride beaver nation #LFG,” Wells said via X.
• Running back Salahadin Allah → Returning
  • “Back to work as a beaver,” Allah said via X.
• Offensive lineman Luka Vincic → Michigan State
  • “Thank you to everyone at Oregon State who has made my time here special. From Coaches, teammates, to the Beaver and Corvallis communities as a whole, I wish all of you the best.” Vincic said via Instagram.
• Wide receiver Darrius Clemons → Returning
  • One more season with my guys,” Clemons said via X.
• Wide receiver Joel Valadez → Entering transfer portal
  • “After careful consideration, I’ve decided to enter the transfer portal as a graduate transfer with two years of eligibility remaining. I want to thank the Oregon State coaching staff for giving me the opportunity to compete at this level and helping me grow as a player…I appreciate everything you’ve done to help me get here,” Valadez said via X.

• Running Back Dyontae Navarrete → Entering transfer portal
  • “First and foremost, I want to thank Oregon State University, my coaches, and my teammates for an experience I’ll never forget…With that said I have decided to enter my name into the transfer portal with two years of eligibility remaining.” Navarrete said via X.
• Quarterback Dom Montiel → Entering transfer portal
  • “I have decided to enter my name into the transfer portal with 2 years of eligibility remaining…To my teammates thank you for the lifelong brotherhood,” Montiel said via X.
• Wide receiver Jeremiah Noga → Returning
  • “Couldn’t leave without the full story Back for more. Go Beavs,” Noga said via X. 

Defense

• Inside linebacker Melvin Jordan IV → Transferring
  • Posting 21 tackles on the season along with 24 assisted tackles. Melvin Jordan IV took a large step from his 2023 season and will seek out the portal with his talents hoping to make an impact on wherever he chooses to go.
• Outside linebacker Zakaih Saez → Returning
  • “Back in the lab as a beaver! Excited for next year! #beavernation,” Saez said via X.

• Defensive back Andre Jordan Jr. → UCLA
  • “I want to formally thank the Oregon State University football coaching staff for all the time they have invested into me & my overall development as a player, person, and teammate.” Jordan Jr. said via Instagram.
• Defensive back Sailasa Vadrawale III → Returning
  • “Unfinished business, it’s up all 2025! #GoBeavs,” Vadrawale III said via X.
• Defensive back Exodus Ayers → Returning
  • “Let’s run it back Beaver nation,” Ayers said via X.
• Inside linebacker Dexter Foster → Returning
  • “Yall know I’m Locked’N!! It’s up all 2025!!!#GoBeavs,” Foster said via X.
• Defensive lineman Takari Hickle → Returning
  • “The future is bright….I’ll see you next year beaver nation,” Hickle said via X.
    • Hickle was out with an injury for the 2024 season

Signed Transfers

• Quarterback Maalik Murphy from Duke University → Oregon State
  • Highest ranked transfer quarterback to commit to OSU.
  • “Lets get to work Beaver Nation ! #GoBeavs,” Murphy said via X.
• Tight end Jackson Bowers from BYU → Oregon State
  • “COMMITTED,” Bowers said via X.
• Defensive lineman Tah-Jae Mullix from Western Carolina → Oregon State
  • “Go Beavs!!” Mullix said via X.
• Offensive lineman Keyon Cox from UCF → Oregon State
  • “1000% COMMITTED,” Cox said via X.
• Edge Walker Harris frm Southern Utah → Oregon State
  • Harris has 27 tackles and 1.5 sacks under his belt.
  • “When I came to Corvallis, I immediately fell in love with the culture & the people here. My biggest thank you to OSU & its people for welcoming me,” Harris said via X.
• Offensive lineman Josiah Timoteo from Nevada → Oregon State
  • “Blessed!” Timoteo said via X.
• Defensive back TJ Crandall from West Virginia → Oregon State
  • “Committed,” said Crandall via X.