Photo by: Karl Maasdam/Oregon State Athletics
"There’s not a more talented, athletic tight end in this conference."
March 16, 2017 | Football
Noah Togiai didn't play much football in 2016.
Togiai sustained a serious right-knee injury on the opening kickoff of Oregon State's home opener, ending what looked to be a promising sophomore season after one game.
Rather than dwell on the negative, the 6-foot-4, 246-pound tight end from Salt Lake City used his misfortune as a learning experience, an opportunity to see football from a different perspective and to grow from his sideline observations.
"I actually learned a lot more than I thought I would" by watching, he said after a recent practice. "Because I wasn't on the field much, it allowed me to focus on the video part of it, on things like coverages and recognizing the defenses.
"I think this injury helped me … I don't know how to phrase it … it helped me more than I thought it would."
His loss was a major blow to a team trying to establish an offensive identity, however. Tight ends coach Dave Baldwin told reporter Gina Mizell of The Oregonian that many calls went off the play sheet when Togiai was hurt; now, they've been restored, giving the Beavers many more options.
"There's not a more talented, athletic tight end in this conference than Noah," Baldwin added, noting that Togiai played quarterback at Parker High School in Salt Lake City, was offered a basketball scholarship by Utah, and even played in two games for the OSU basketball team in 2015-16.
"Noah's got all the ability to make plays," Baldwin said. "We just have to get him to be comfortable at the line of scrimmage and with his run blocking. He's gotten bigger and stronger.
"When he does that, his downfield play is outstanding. If he can match his athleticism with blocking, he's gonna be a really special tight end."
Togiai showed glimpses of that special talent in 2015, when his redshirt was pulled in Week 3 following a series of injuries to the other tight ends. He had 10 receptions for 73 yards and a touchdown, and a 26-yard catch against Oregon.
Big things were expected of him in 2016 and he won the starting job in spring practice and in fall camp. Togiai had four receptions for 31 yards in an opening-night loss at Minnesota and scored OSU's first touchdown of the season on a 6-yard pass from Darell Garretson. Three of his receptions resulted in a touchdown or a first down.
His next game would not go as auspiciously. Added to the receiving team to give the Beavers an extra set of good hands in the event of a pooch kick, Togiai instead was cut down by an illegal block that ended his season.
"It was probably the hardest thing I'd ever been through, athletically," he said. "I'd never had a season-ending injury like that. It was hard to accept.
"Physically it hurt, but mentally, being on the sidelines and not being able to be out there with everybody … it was hard, but I had people help me out, help me push through it, and now I'm back out on the field."
Togiai should receive a medical hardship waiver for 2016 and receive a fifth year of eligibility. In the meantime, however, he's concentrating on the here and now.
"I'm 100 percent, ready to go," Togiai said, "I'm excited to just be on the field with everybody again.
"Last year was a long season, watching from the sidelines and not being able to do much. So it just feels good, feels nice to be back out with everybody, and hopefully the tight end will be a big part of the offense this year.
"I'm at the weight they want me at, and I feel good running, blocking. I think I'm ready to go the next three years."
The Beavers' annual Spring Game (details) is Saturday at 1 p.m. and will air live on Pac-12 Oregon and online. Admission is free with the day beginning with the popular Surplus Sale at 9 a.m. in the Merritt Truax Indoor Center.
Togiai sustained a serious right-knee injury on the opening kickoff of Oregon State's home opener, ending what looked to be a promising sophomore season after one game.
Rather than dwell on the negative, the 6-foot-4, 246-pound tight end from Salt Lake City used his misfortune as a learning experience, an opportunity to see football from a different perspective and to grow from his sideline observations.
"I actually learned a lot more than I thought I would" by watching, he said after a recent practice. "Because I wasn't on the field much, it allowed me to focus on the video part of it, on things like coverages and recognizing the defenses.
"I think this injury helped me … I don't know how to phrase it … it helped me more than I thought it would."
His loss was a major blow to a team trying to establish an offensive identity, however. Tight ends coach Dave Baldwin told reporter Gina Mizell of The Oregonian that many calls went off the play sheet when Togiai was hurt; now, they've been restored, giving the Beavers many more options.
"There's not a more talented, athletic tight end in this conference than Noah," Baldwin added, noting that Togiai played quarterback at Parker High School in Salt Lake City, was offered a basketball scholarship by Utah, and even played in two games for the OSU basketball team in 2015-16.
"Noah's got all the ability to make plays," Baldwin said. "We just have to get him to be comfortable at the line of scrimmage and with his run blocking. He's gotten bigger and stronger.
"When he does that, his downfield play is outstanding. If he can match his athleticism with blocking, he's gonna be a really special tight end."
Togiai showed glimpses of that special talent in 2015, when his redshirt was pulled in Week 3 following a series of injuries to the other tight ends. He had 10 receptions for 73 yards and a touchdown, and a 26-yard catch against Oregon.
Big things were expected of him in 2016 and he won the starting job in spring practice and in fall camp. Togiai had four receptions for 31 yards in an opening-night loss at Minnesota and scored OSU's first touchdown of the season on a 6-yard pass from Darell Garretson. Three of his receptions resulted in a touchdown or a first down.
His next game would not go as auspiciously. Added to the receiving team to give the Beavers an extra set of good hands in the event of a pooch kick, Togiai instead was cut down by an illegal block that ended his season.
"It was probably the hardest thing I'd ever been through, athletically," he said. "I'd never had a season-ending injury like that. It was hard to accept.
"Physically it hurt, but mentally, being on the sidelines and not being able to be out there with everybody … it was hard, but I had people help me out, help me push through it, and now I'm back out on the field."
Togiai should receive a medical hardship waiver for 2016 and receive a fifth year of eligibility. In the meantime, however, he's concentrating on the here and now.
"I'm 100 percent, ready to go," Togiai said, "I'm excited to just be on the field with everybody again.
"Last year was a long season, watching from the sidelines and not being able to do much. So it just feels good, feels nice to be back out with everybody, and hopefully the tight end will be a big part of the offense this year.
"I'm at the weight they want me at, and I feel good running, blocking. I think I'm ready to go the next three years."
The Beavers' annual Spring Game (details) is Saturday at 1 p.m. and will air live on Pac-12 Oregon and online. Admission is free with the day beginning with the popular Surplus Sale at 9 a.m. in the Merritt Truax Indoor Center.
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