Photo by: Reef Diego
Fall Camp Noteback: Hear From MacIntyre, Glasper And Odoemenem
August 21, 2026 | Football
CORVALLIS, Ore. — Oregon State defensive coordinator Mike MacIntyre, defensive back Trey Glasper and linebacker Jabari Odoemenem met with reporters Wednesday as fall camp continued. Here's a look at the best of what each had to say.
MIKE MACINTYRE
On what he still wants to see from his defense before Saturday:
"I need to see them be able to adjust to the formations quicker and better. They have a good knowledge — really good knowledge — of what we're doing, because they're asking great questions. It shows me they've kind of gone to the next level. Now, carrying it out play after play and being more exact is what I'm looking for."
On the team's approach to tackling in fall camp:
"We don't do a ton of live tackling. We do a lot of thudding. We tell them: no thud, no play. If we can't tackle well, we are not going to be good on defense. We do a ton of tackling drills every day — I call one of them 'The Jacks.' I got it from rugby, and it really teaches you to tackle low."
On freshman cornerback Kai Wheaton's progress since spring:
"Kai Wheaton's a really good football player. My old word is 'he doesn't blink.' He might get beat on something, he comes back and just plays. He comes from a great program in Allen, Texas, so I really like his mental toughness, and he's a big, long corner."
On linebacker Jabari Odoemenem's jump into a potential starting role:
"He has all the dimensions. He's 6-2, he's 230-something, he's strong, he's powerful, he's flexible, he's very bright and has played a lot of football. He has all the attributes of a Division I linebacker, and he's really tough — I've been really proud of what he does."
On the value of communication in the secondary:
"If we can't communicate, we cannot play well on defense, especially in the secondary. The offensive line and the secondary are the two hardest places to play on the team besides quarterback. There's so much communication in the secondary nowadays, and our kids are doing a good job of it."
TREY GLASPER
On adding weight in the offseason:
"For me, getting bigger was essential because last year I played pretty light. It was more of a body armor thing for injury prevention and little knickknack things like that. So it's been great."
On staying focused amid the noise of game day:
"A big thing that held me back last year was being too involved with everything going on around me versus just focusing in on the field. If you're able to just focus on you and not everything around you, it makes it a lot easier during the game."
On what stands out about fellow corner Kai Wheaton:
"Kai is just a hard worker. He's like a natural playmaker; he always finds a way to the ball somehow and has a knack for pass breakups. He's an athlete, so he can jump, run and cover. In my eyes, he's a hard matchup for anybody to go up against."
On adjusting to a new defensive staff and playbook:
"It's always a little difficult getting adjusted, especially because it's an entirely new playbook. But I feel like our whole defense has done well adjusting and acclimating to the new defense and calls. We've been flying around all camp, so I'm excited for this year."
JABARI ODOEMENEM
On taking a chance on himself through his transfer journey:
"Just taking a chance on myself to show people that I can play football. I'm a versatile player; I can play anywhere on the field."
On being willing to play wherever the team needs him:
"It really doesn't matter, just whatever helps the team win — offense, defense, or special teams. Put me anywhere, I'm going to do it for the team."
On what he brings to the linebacker room's coverage responsibilities:
"Just being able to be aggressive and use my strengths — getting hands on people, rerouting, and following Coach MacIntyre's game plan."
On the chemistry in a veteran linebacker room:
"It's getting along very well. We play really well off each other. With Coach Dennison being a former linebacker in the Pac-12, he was one of the best in this conference. Just absorbing the game and being a sponge under them."
On his first impression of Oregon and the Pacific Northwest:
"This is my first time out here. It's very beautiful, very nature-like, and a great place to lock in on just football."
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MIKE MACINTYRE
On what he still wants to see from his defense before Saturday:
"I need to see them be able to adjust to the formations quicker and better. They have a good knowledge — really good knowledge — of what we're doing, because they're asking great questions. It shows me they've kind of gone to the next level. Now, carrying it out play after play and being more exact is what I'm looking for."
On the team's approach to tackling in fall camp:
"We don't do a ton of live tackling. We do a lot of thudding. We tell them: no thud, no play. If we can't tackle well, we are not going to be good on defense. We do a ton of tackling drills every day — I call one of them 'The Jacks.' I got it from rugby, and it really teaches you to tackle low."
On freshman cornerback Kai Wheaton's progress since spring:
"Kai Wheaton's a really good football player. My old word is 'he doesn't blink.' He might get beat on something, he comes back and just plays. He comes from a great program in Allen, Texas, so I really like his mental toughness, and he's a big, long corner."
On linebacker Jabari Odoemenem's jump into a potential starting role:
"He has all the dimensions. He's 6-2, he's 230-something, he's strong, he's powerful, he's flexible, he's very bright and has played a lot of football. He has all the attributes of a Division I linebacker, and he's really tough — I've been really proud of what he does."
On the value of communication in the secondary:
"If we can't communicate, we cannot play well on defense, especially in the secondary. The offensive line and the secondary are the two hardest places to play on the team besides quarterback. There's so much communication in the secondary nowadays, and our kids are doing a good job of it."
TREY GLASPER
On adding weight in the offseason:
"For me, getting bigger was essential because last year I played pretty light. It was more of a body armor thing for injury prevention and little knickknack things like that. So it's been great."
On staying focused amid the noise of game day:
"A big thing that held me back last year was being too involved with everything going on around me versus just focusing in on the field. If you're able to just focus on you and not everything around you, it makes it a lot easier during the game."
On what stands out about fellow corner Kai Wheaton:
"Kai is just a hard worker. He's like a natural playmaker; he always finds a way to the ball somehow and has a knack for pass breakups. He's an athlete, so he can jump, run and cover. In my eyes, he's a hard matchup for anybody to go up against."
On adjusting to a new defensive staff and playbook:
"It's always a little difficult getting adjusted, especially because it's an entirely new playbook. But I feel like our whole defense has done well adjusting and acclimating to the new defense and calls. We've been flying around all camp, so I'm excited for this year."
JABARI ODOEMENEM
On taking a chance on himself through his transfer journey:
"Just taking a chance on myself to show people that I can play football. I'm a versatile player; I can play anywhere on the field."
On being willing to play wherever the team needs him:
"It really doesn't matter, just whatever helps the team win — offense, defense, or special teams. Put me anywhere, I'm going to do it for the team."
On what he brings to the linebacker room's coverage responsibilities:
"Just being able to be aggressive and use my strengths — getting hands on people, rerouting, and following Coach MacIntyre's game plan."
On the chemistry in a veteran linebacker room:
"It's getting along very well. We play really well off each other. With Coach Dennison being a former linebacker in the Pac-12, he was one of the best in this conference. Just absorbing the game and being a sponge under them."
On his first impression of Oregon and the Pacific Northwest:
"This is my first time out here. It's very beautiful, very nature-like, and a great place to lock in on just football."
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Players Mentioned
Wednesday, August 19
Wednesday, August 19
Wednesday, August 19
Tuesday, August 18
