Oregon State is expected to hire Ray Pickering as the club's new running backs coach, according to a report Wednesday from Beaver Blitz.
Pickering replaces Thomas Ford, who is now the head coach at Idaho.
Pickering spent the 2024 season at Buffalo, where he was hired by Maurice Linguist and retained by Pete Lembo when Linguist joined Kalen DeBoer's Alabama staff. In his one season with the Bulls -- he's already been removed from Buffalo's staff page -- Pickering produced an All-MAC performer in Al-Jay Henderson.
He was also a member of the AFCA's 35 Under 35, FootballScoops' 2022 Minority Rising Stars list, and various other coaching watch lists.
All-Conference RB✅
— Coach Ray Pickering (@CoachPickOC) January 6, 2025
MAC Conference leading rusher✅
1,000 Rushing Yards✅
Most Receptions by a Back✅
Most Reception Yards by a Back✅
Bahamas Bowl Offensive MVP✅
….say 🖐🏾!! Love ya twin!! @aljayhenderson_ ✊🏾💯 #MOB #RPO pic.twitter.com/GLQOHbNjsr
Prior to Buffalo, Pickering spent 2023 as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Norfolk State, 2022 as an analyst working with the offensive line at Texas, and prior to that he was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Lane College.
Before joining the college ranks at the Division II level, Pickering was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at multiple Mississippi high schools.
Oregon State went 5-7 in their first season under head coach Trent Bray in 2024. The Beavers will play an independent schedule in 2025 before the re-formed Pac-12 launches in 2026.
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.