Oregon State DBs Making Noise — and Losing Ground — in NFL Camps
Two Oregon State defensive backs found themselves in very different situations during the Aug. 16–22 training camp window, one rising fast and one getting passed on the depth chart.
Azareye'h Thomas Is Playing His Way Into a Starting Job
The most compelling Oregon State story of the week belongs to cornerback Azareye'h Thomas, who has done enough in New York Jets training camp to earn a genuine look from head coach Aaron Glenn.
Thomas entered camp locked in a competition with fellow Beaver alum Nahshon Wright for the starting cornerback spot opposite Brandon Stephens. That alone would have been a notable storyline — two Oregon State products battling for the same starting role on an NFL roster. But Thomas has separated himself, catching Glenn's eye and moving to the front of that race.
The stakes are real. Wright is no journeyman — he led the entire NFL with eight individual takeaways last season, making him one of the league's most impactful ballhawks. Displacing him for a starting role would be a significant achievement for Thomas, and through this stretch of camp, that's exactly what he appears to be doing.
Glenn's attention is a meaningful signal. Head coaches don't typically call out training camp standouts unless there's genuine conviction behind the praise. For Thomas, the moment represents an opportunity to turn a roster spot into a featured role heading into the 2026 season.
It's worth noting that Bump Cooper Jr., another Oregon State DB, is also on the Jets roster, giving the Beavers an unusual three-man presence in the New York secondary.
Oladapo Loses Ground in Green Bay
Not every Oregon State alum had a strong week. In Green Bay, free safety Kitan Oladapo saw his standing slip in the Packers' preseason game against the Broncos. According to depth chart tracking from the contest, DB Kamal Hadden quickly overtook Oladapo as Javon Bullard's primary backup after returning to the field.
Depth chart movement in August can be fluid, but losing a backup safety role to a returning player is a step in the wrong direction for Oladapo, who will need to reclaim that standing before final roster cuts.
The Bigger Picture for Beaver Nation
Oregon State has a substantial footprint in the NFL — over two dozen active alumni across the league — but the week's storylines were concentrated in the secondary. Thomas's rise in New York is the headline act: a young corner seizing his shot against a proven incumbent and making enough noise to draw the head coach's attention. If he locks up that starting role, it'll be one of the better camp-to-roster success stories any Beaver alum produces this preseason.
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