Photo by: Karl Maasdam
Oregon State Media Day: Top Quotes From The Defense
August 10, 2026 | Football
CORVALLIS, Ore. — The Beavs held their annual media day Friday, and we've got some of the best quotes from the defensive side of the ball.
Below, in their own words, are the top quotes from five defensive players — Sailasa Vadrawale III, Daniel Matagi, Dylan Layne, Aiden Sullivan and Takari Hickle — who participated in Friday's media day at Reser Stadium.
Sailasa Vadrawale III, Defensive Back
On using the last three years as motivation:
"I told Coach Shep the minute I got into his room — I was one of the first people to meet with him — and I told him, I've been in college football for three years now and all three seasons I haven't went over .500. And that's a big thing that I don't ever want to fail ever again in my life. And I want to go to that bowl game and win those bowl games and get to that Pac-12 Championship as well."
On the chip on the shoulder this staff has embraced:
"A lot of people don't see us doing what we should be able to do this year. And I have a lot of belief in the staff, and I have a lot of belief in my teammates around me that we're going to do what we say that we're going to do."
On how the coaching staff has sped up his understanding of the defense:
"I like to say I live in Coach Rowe's office. I'll be in there all day as long as I can be, just trying to pick his brain ... I think that's a big thing in our room that's changed a lot — it's a new defense, but we ask way more questions than we used to, and we're not hiding from the response that we're going to get inside the meeting room."
Daniel Matagi, Defensive Line
On what sold him on transferring in from Portland State:
"Once I met with Shep that first time with my mom, I knew I was supposed to be here with him. He matches my standards for myself. How I play is how he plays."
On learning under defensive line coach Mark Hagen:
"He's very honest when it comes to grading practices and things like that. And I appreciate it. I appreciate the honesty, I appreciate no sugarcoating, cause it's going to make me better, and makes my teammates better too."
On the defensive line's mentality heading into the opener:
"I feel like we all know the playbook through and through. So I think once we get there week one against Houston, we're going to hit the ground running. Shouldn't be anything that surprises us. We'll be ready."
Dylan Layne, Linebacker
On the culture shift under Shephard and strength coach Jeff Eaton:
"From day one, he just instilled the values in us that it takes to win a championship. You know, toughness, commitment, being humble, doing the little things, having detail in everything you do."
On outside doubt fueling the group:
"The guys that were here last year, they obviously didn't get the results that they wanted. So a lot of people are doubting us whether you like it or not ... Within the building, we're very, very motivated to prove people wrong, but prove ourselves right."
On what he's most proud of since returning home to play for Oregon State:
"I would just say I'm most proud of how we've come together as a team, because building a team from scratch is hard, especially with 50 new guys out of the portal ... the best teams are experienced, connected, and like they love each other. Because the more you love your teammates, the more you're going to play for them."
Aiden Sullivan, Linebacker
On choosing to stay at Oregon State through the coaching change:
"Shep, he brought everything that I was looking for here to the table. I've really grown with him. I love him as a person, as a coach, and I appreciate everything he's done for me."
On the time he's put in with linebackers coach Cort Dennison:
"I was pretty much up on the third floor every day just looking for some help, some knowledge, some guidance, just everything that would help me play fast and just be comfortable as far as learning the defense."
On the ceiling of Oregon State's linebacker room:
"I don't think that we're just one of the best linebacker rooms in the Pac-12. I feel like we have the guys that can go around and compete on a national level."
Takari Hickle, Defensive Line
On whether last season serves as motivation:
"I would say yes and no. I feel like yes, obviously, because last year was ugly. It wasn't pretty ... But I would say no to the aspect of, to me, last year is not important. It happened. It's in the past. We're moving forward, we're better for it, and we'll be better this year."
On the pressure to deliver for Beaver Nation:
"We don't want to let our fans down. We don't want to let the people who care about us, who are out here screaming our names, who are filling up these seats, down. So I definitely think there is a little pressure when it comes to that."
On the staff's emphasis on the mental side of the game:
"I would say just as much, if not more, cause I feel like this is a mental game. Obviously, it's a physical game, but overall it's a mental game. You have to be out there and being able to use your brain, being able to think, knowing what's going on, knowing the situation for you to be successful."
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Below, in their own words, are the top quotes from five defensive players — Sailasa Vadrawale III, Daniel Matagi, Dylan Layne, Aiden Sullivan and Takari Hickle — who participated in Friday's media day at Reser Stadium.
Sailasa Vadrawale III, Defensive Back
On using the last three years as motivation:
"I told Coach Shep the minute I got into his room — I was one of the first people to meet with him — and I told him, I've been in college football for three years now and all three seasons I haven't went over .500. And that's a big thing that I don't ever want to fail ever again in my life. And I want to go to that bowl game and win those bowl games and get to that Pac-12 Championship as well."
On the chip on the shoulder this staff has embraced:
"A lot of people don't see us doing what we should be able to do this year. And I have a lot of belief in the staff, and I have a lot of belief in my teammates around me that we're going to do what we say that we're going to do."
On how the coaching staff has sped up his understanding of the defense:
"I like to say I live in Coach Rowe's office. I'll be in there all day as long as I can be, just trying to pick his brain ... I think that's a big thing in our room that's changed a lot — it's a new defense, but we ask way more questions than we used to, and we're not hiding from the response that we're going to get inside the meeting room."
Daniel Matagi, Defensive Line
On what sold him on transferring in from Portland State:
"Once I met with Shep that first time with my mom, I knew I was supposed to be here with him. He matches my standards for myself. How I play is how he plays."
On learning under defensive line coach Mark Hagen:
"He's very honest when it comes to grading practices and things like that. And I appreciate it. I appreciate the honesty, I appreciate no sugarcoating, cause it's going to make me better, and makes my teammates better too."
On the defensive line's mentality heading into the opener:
"I feel like we all know the playbook through and through. So I think once we get there week one against Houston, we're going to hit the ground running. Shouldn't be anything that surprises us. We'll be ready."
Dylan Layne, Linebacker
On the culture shift under Shephard and strength coach Jeff Eaton:
"From day one, he just instilled the values in us that it takes to win a championship. You know, toughness, commitment, being humble, doing the little things, having detail in everything you do."
On outside doubt fueling the group:
"The guys that were here last year, they obviously didn't get the results that they wanted. So a lot of people are doubting us whether you like it or not ... Within the building, we're very, very motivated to prove people wrong, but prove ourselves right."
On what he's most proud of since returning home to play for Oregon State:
"I would just say I'm most proud of how we've come together as a team, because building a team from scratch is hard, especially with 50 new guys out of the portal ... the best teams are experienced, connected, and like they love each other. Because the more you love your teammates, the more you're going to play for them."
Aiden Sullivan, Linebacker
On choosing to stay at Oregon State through the coaching change:
"Shep, he brought everything that I was looking for here to the table. I've really grown with him. I love him as a person, as a coach, and I appreciate everything he's done for me."
On the time he's put in with linebackers coach Cort Dennison:
"I was pretty much up on the third floor every day just looking for some help, some knowledge, some guidance, just everything that would help me play fast and just be comfortable as far as learning the defense."
On the ceiling of Oregon State's linebacker room:
"I don't think that we're just one of the best linebacker rooms in the Pac-12. I feel like we have the guys that can go around and compete on a national level."
Takari Hickle, Defensive Line
On whether last season serves as motivation:
"I would say yes and no. I feel like yes, obviously, because last year was ugly. It wasn't pretty ... But I would say no to the aspect of, to me, last year is not important. It happened. It's in the past. We're moving forward, we're better for it, and we'll be better this year."
On the pressure to deliver for Beaver Nation:
"We don't want to let our fans down. We don't want to let the people who care about us, who are out here screaming our names, who are filling up these seats, down. So I definitely think there is a little pressure when it comes to that."
On the staff's emphasis on the mental side of the game:
"I would say just as much, if not more, cause I feel like this is a mental game. Obviously, it's a physical game, but overall it's a mental game. You have to be out there and being able to use your brain, being able to think, knowing what's going on, knowing the situation for you to be successful."
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Players Mentioned
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