Oregon State Backstory: Jameson Powell

Before Jameson Powell arrived on campus earlier this year I had the opportunity to jump on the phone with the highly recruited wide receiver out of Folsom, CA. Now that Beaverblitz has moved to On3, I wanted to reshare this story so fans have better insight into who Jameson is.(NOTE: story originally ran on January 5, 2026)

Backstory: Jameson Powell

Jameson Powell set a rather high standard right out of the gate in his 2025 senior year campaign at Folsom High School. The long-time Ole’ Miss commit was primed to have a strong last year as he was getting ready to compete on a CFP-bound Running Rebels team in 2026. On the first play that he saw action against Grant Union, he ran back a punt for a 99-yard touchdown. At the time, the play gave coaches and fans in Oxford, MS, a look into the future of an NCAA star wide receiver/returner in the making…until JaMarcus Shephard had something to say about it.

Powell, a three-year varsity starter for the Bulldogs, amassed impressive numbers over that tenure: 3,525 receiving yards and 47 touchdowns. In a twist of fate, then Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin shocked the nation, announcing he was leaving to take the helm at LSU. For Jameson, that was big, but the fact that Kiffin was also bringing the receivers coach, George McDonald, who helped sign him with Ole Miss, sealed his decision to look elsewhere.

“I was committed to Ole’ Miss for nine months. I had no contact with any other coaches during that time. I was just staying loyal to the school that I was loyal to. When Kiffin left, I had to reopen my recruitment. I basically had three days to make a decision, with signing day coming so soon. During those few days, I had several schools contact me, including Utah, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Arkansas, and Arizona.”

Powell added, “Coach Shephard is a great coach. I feel like his mindset, enthusiasm, energy, and approach to football match up with who I am as a player. I want to give him my all because he’s a great guy. My coaches at Folsom even encouraged me to go to OSU.”

Chalking it up to perfect timing, JaMarcus Shephard knew who Jameson was, and he wanted him to be a part of his team. Being the wide receiver aficionado that he is and looking to bolster his receiver room, the connection between the two ramped up to where, on signing day, Jameson announced that he was set to join Shephard in Corvallis for the upcoming 2026 season.

“I am playing football for the longevity of it. I want to make it to the NFL. If I do what I’m supposed to do, no matter where I’m at, in the long term, everything will work out. I felt like Oregon State was the perfect school for me to come in, show my talents, and get coached by some great guys. Some people might think it’s crazy that I’m going from the SEC to the Pac-12. They may not see the vision now, but they’ll see it later.”

Noted, Jameson. Noted.

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Jameson Powell comes from a big family. He is the youngest of nine siblings (six brothers and two sisters). One of his brothers was one of the best players coming out of Sacramento at his time and ended up going to Fresno State to play football. Two of his other brothers played baseball at the D1 level. Unfortunately, their athletic careers didn’t progress much beyond college, so Jameson is taking it upon himself to make his family’s name known and make a run to help set them up for the future.

“I’m the last one, and I’ve got to be the one to make it out and do something with the opportunity that I have. My approach to everything is different from most people’s. So, I’m coming into it with the mindset that my family is behind me. I’ve got their name on my back, so I’m not just representing myself, but them as well.”

Jameson’s work ethic backs up his intentions to build a better life for his family. His parents describe him as determined and hardworking.

“They always see me leaving the house to go work out constantly, 24/7. I don’t even own a video game console, and I rarely go out and stay up late because my focus is on football. I really want to make it in football. It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do, so I’m constantly working at it.”

In getting to know Jameson, the thing that struck me the most was that it felt like I wasn’t talking with a guy who was about to be a freshman in college. I felt like I was talking to a senior. His vibe and maturity for his age were unmistakable. If this is a peek into the kind of players that JaMarcus Shephard is set to attract to come to Oregon State, then keep em coming.

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His pre-season daily training routine can best sum up Jameson Powell’s work ethic. During our conversation, he paused to pull up his routine on his phone.

4:45 AM – Wake up, drive to morning workout.
5 to 7 AM – Morning workout
8 AM – 9 AM – Eat, rest, recover
9 AM – 11 AM – Field workout
11 AM – 1 PM – Recovery (massage, cupping, stretching) and eat
1 PM on – Relaxing / continued recovery, preparation for the next day (many afternoons he is known to be hanging with one of his best friends and high school teammates, Ryder Lyons, a 2026 commit to BYU)

“I usually do three workouts a day, and I count recovery as a workout because it’s very important. Other than that, I try to eat as much as I can, drink fluids as much as I can.”

Jameson stressed the importance of recovery, noting that he understands the dynamic of hard work as well as hard rest, a mentality that not every elite high school athlete maintains. When I asked him when this mentality and strategy began, he pointed back to the COVID era.

“Back then, when I couldn’t see anybody, I would go to the park right behind my house, and I’d work out every day doing cone drills and ladder drills. Working hard just became a habit. My dad always told me, ‘There’s a kid out there in the world that’s working harder than me.’ I never wanted that; I wanted to be the kid that their dad was telling them about. I try my best to outwork everybody around the country. I’m not perfect, but I try to work as much as possible because I’m not going to get where I want to go if I’m not working for it.”

Jameson’s motivation to become the best version of himself comes from deep within. He is determined to be the one in his family to make a big difference so that he can set them up for the future.

“I want to retire my mom so she never has to work again. I want to take care of my family. Now, everybody just thinks of me like this ‘king,’ because I’m so good at football. I’ve got all of these followers, but in real life, I haven’t done anything yet. I’m just a high school kid who has got a lot of publicity. I haven’t shown or achieved anything yet. It gets serious in college when I start going against real defensive coverages against good college players. I want to show the world that in college, I really am who you think I am.”

Once again, Jameson’s work ethic and maturity in looking long-term, rather than for a short-term payday, show the quality of player he’s bringing to Corvallis.

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Jameson’s most prominent mentor growing up was his father, James. James didn’t play sports, but he was very athletic. Coming from a more challenging upbringing with no father figure, James learned his way on his own and used that to impress on his son that he should forge his own path in whatever endeavor Jameson chooses.

“I try to create my own path no matter where I’m at. My father instilled a lot in me, including being the best man that I can be, whoever listens wins, and to never follow in someone else’s path.”

Another important figure in Jameson’s life is Brandyn Thompson, who was just hired by Washington State’s new head coach, Kirby Moore, to coach the Cougars’ cornerbacks. After meeting him at a camp, DB Select, a program Thompson founded to help “inspire the next generation of athletes,” Jameson took his advice to heart.

“Coach Thompson helped to instill in me to be a better me every day. He’s always the same guy, a very heart-to-heart person who gets me on a different level.”

Jameson continued by noting that several of his football coaches have made a huge impression on him. By the evidence of Jameson’s self-described “best game” of his high school career, I guess that he has taken all of the advice he’s received and put it to good use.

“You might think I’m crazy to say this, but I had zero catches in a game. It was my best game in high school because I won the game…by blocking. I used to hate blocking, but I really worked at it for years to get better. “

He continued: “Football is a team sport. That was my best game because I put all my effort into something I didn’t use to love. I gave my effort to my teammates instead of myself.”

If you’re looking to build a team around players who play football because they love it, period, then Jameson Powell seems to be a tremendous fit in JaMarcus Shephard’s reset plans for the Oregon State Football team. After arriving in Corvallis this past weekend as an early enrollee, Jameson is ready to work, period.