Nation’s leading receiver staying with Oregon State for 2027

Oregon State freshman wide receiver Jesse Legree leads the nation with 1,040 receiving yards and 14 touchdown catches.

Oct 24, 2026, 9:13 AM

Oregon State wide receiver Jesse Legree races to the end zone for a touchdown against Colorado State on Oct. 3. (Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)

(Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)

BALTIMORE (AP) — Oregon State freshman wide receiver Jesse Legree, who leads the nation in receiving yards and touchdown catches this season, announced Friday that he’ll stay with the Beavers for the 2027 season.

Legree announced his decision at St. Frances Academy in Baltimore, where he played his senior year of high school.

“I fell in love with the culture out there,” Legree told ESPN. “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 has 1,040 receiving yards and 14 touchdown catches for Oregon State (5-2, 3-0 Pac-12) this season. He has 100-plus receiving yards in all seven games, including a season-high 240 receiving yards and two TDs in a 35-24 loss to No. 8 Texas Tech on Sept. 12.

The Beavers, riding a five-game winning streak, are playing under first-year coach JaMarcus Shephard. They lead the rebuilt Pac-12 this season.

Oregon State has a bye this weekend before visiting Fresno State on Oct. 31.

Seattle Sports staff made additions to this story.

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