Samohi alum Ryan Katz is the starting quarterback of the Pac-10’s Oregon State Beavers, ranked 24th in the AP preseason poll – the first time the team has been ranked nationally since 2001.
“(Katz) looked poised and made plays,” coach Mike Riley said following a scrimmage last week during which Katz connected with receiver James Rodgers on a 34-yard touchdown, according to the team’s official website.
Six-foot-one, 209-pound Katz, who is considered to have one of the best arms in college football, inherits a position that the NFL’s Matt Moore and Derek Anderson once held before they sprang to stardom.
Katz’ first game as a starter will be on the biggest stage of all: In the Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, Texas. The Beavers will take on Texas Christian University (TCU) on Sept. 4 at the Cowboy Classic.
“Our plan is to start the season off with a bang,” Katz told the Portland Tribune. “We’re going to look to start strong and finish strong. It’s going to be a good year.”
