CORVALLIS - Aaron Magnuson, a member of two 5A state football championship teams at West Albany High School, is walking on at Oregon State.

Magnuson is one of 10 freshman walk-ons who are wrapping up the third of three weeks of the BEST (Bridge Encouragement Successful Transition) program at Oregon State. These 10 student-athletes have arrived on campus early to get their feet wet in the college environment before they get started on the other reason they're at OSU.

The "other" reason? August 10 marks the first day of fall football practice.

Tom Black (Winnipeg, Manitoba), Magnuson (Albany/West Albany HS) and Devon Kell (Hilo, Hawai'i/Hilo HS) are joined by Tyler Bills (Mission Viejo, Calif/Mission Viejo HS), Garett Hall (Olympia, Wash./Olympia HS), Travis Horton (Tigard/Tigard HS), Levi Levasa (Tualatin/Tualatin HS), Dylan Parsons (Olympia, Wash./Olympia HS), Mitch Singler (Medford/South Medford HS) and Reggie Williams (Rialto, Calif./Rialto HS).

Magnuson is a massive offensive lineman from Albany. He helped West Albany HS to consecutive 5A state championships as a junior and senior.

Black is a defensive end prospect from Canada. His father, Dave, played professionally in Winnipeg for OSU head coach Mike Riley.

Democrat-Herald