Oregon State standout freshman wide receiver Jesse Legree, one of the country's breakout stars in 2026, has re-signed with the Beavers for 2027, he told ESPN.
Legree leads the nation in receiving yards (1,040), touchdown catches (14) and receiving yards per game (148.6). He has been the focal point of Oregon State's offense in coach JaMarcus Shephard's first season with the program.
"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 arrived at Oregon State as a three-star recruit whom ESPN ranked the No. 89 receiver in the 2026 class. He instantly emerged as the best player in the entire freshman class, as he logged 136 receiving yards against Houston in the opener.
He followed that with his best game of the season, torching Texas Tech for 240 yards and two touchdowns on eight catches. He has caught a touchdown pass in every game for Oregon State this year, including three against Colorado State on Oct. 3.
Oregon State is on a five-game winning streak and in first place in the Pac-12, as it has won three league games to open the season. Legree acknowledged that part of the reason for announcing now, during Oregon State's bye week, was to help attract more talent to Corvallis.
"Coach Shephard, coach [Mitch] Dahlen and coach [Mike MacIntyre] are going to turn us into a national powerhouse," Legree told ESPN about the Beavers' head coach and coordinators.
Legree was set to announce his news at an event at his high school, Saint Frances Academy in Baltimore, in part because he was so lightly recruited that he didn't have a signing day event.