Junior Walling, McNary 3-star LB, commits to Oregon State Beavers over Utah, others

The Oregon State Beavers have made in-state recruiting a top priority under Jonathan Smith, and in the class of 2020 there’s no position more loaded with Pac-12 Conference talent than linebacker.

Oregon State’s first pledge in the class of 2020 was Tualatin linebacker John Miller.

On Thursday, the Beavers added a second Oregon prep 'backer into the mix, as McNary’s Junior Walling announced his commitment on Twitter:

“I chose Oregon State because I believe in what Coach Smith and the other coaches are doing to rebuild this program and I want to be part of that," he said. "OSU also has a great engineering program and an extremely strong academic support system. The final factor was Corvallis – of all the places I have visited there is no other place I would rather spend four-to-five years of my life.”

The 6-foot-2, 215-pound defensive standout, who is rated the nation’s No. 17 inside linebacker, chose Oregon State over offers from Air Force, Utah and several Ivy League options.

As a junior, Walling was selected as a first-team all-Mountain Valley Conference running back and linebacker, running for 951 yards and 11 touchdowns and accumulating 79 tackles and five sacks.

He follows in his father’s footsteps to Corvallis, as Jason Walling Sr. played for the Beavers in 1991-1992.

“My dad playing at Oregon State has always been a sense of pride in our family and I’m excited to have the opportunity create my own legacy at OSU,” Walling said. “We are very different types of athletes – he was a lineman and I am more of a big skill type of player. I am extremely excited to join the Beaver family.”

Walling is the sixth commitment for Oregon State in the class of 2020, joining wide receiver Zeriah Beason, quarterback Ben Gulbranson, offensive lineman Cooper Darling, junior college defensive end Tavis Shippen and Miller.

-- Andrew Nemec