When we talk about college football "iron men," we usually think of linebackers or running backs who play through cracked ribs or broken fingers. Honestly, that's fine. But if you’ve actually been watching the trenches in Corvallis for the last half-decade, you know that Joshua Gray Oregon State standout and cornerstone of the offensive line, redefined what it means to be a consistent force in the sport. He didn't just play. He basically owned the left side of the line for a record-breaking 56 starts.
Think about that. Fifty-six games.
In an era defined by the transfer portal and players jumping ship at the first sign of a coaching change, Gray’s career felt like a throwback. He stayed. He grew. He moved positions when the team needed it. Most people look at the jersey number 67 and see just another big guy in the trenches, but they’re missing the actual story of a technician who might be the most underrated Beaver in recent history.
Why the Record Matters (It’s Not Just About Luck)
A lot of fans see a "games started" record and think it's just about staying healthy. Sure, luck plays a role. You can’t control a 300-pound defensive tackle falling on your ankle. But Gray’s 56 career starts at Oregon State—a program record—happened because he was essentially irreplaceable. He was the guy the coaching staff never had to worry about.
Back in 2020, during that weird, shortened COVID season, Gray was already a Second-Team All-Pac-12 selection as a redshirt freshman. That's rare. Usually, freshmen are getting bullied by 23-year-old seniors, but Gray was already clearing lanes for Jermar Jefferson. From that point on, he was a fixture. He started 44 consecutive games between 2020 and 2023. You don't do that by just showing up; you do it by being the most technically sound player on the field every single Saturday.
📖 Related: Why the 2012-13 Knicks Roster Was the Last Time Garden Fans Actually Felt Alive
The sheer volume of snaps he handled is staggering. In 2024 alone, his final season, he logged 916 snaps. That led the entire team. While other players were rotating or heading to the sidelines for a breather, Gray was out there, over and over, absorbing contact and keeping the pocket clean.
The Position Swap Nobody Saw Coming
If you want to understand why Joshua Gray Oregon State fans love him, you have to look at 2024. For four years, he was a left tackle. He was good at it—really good. He helped Taliese Fuaga become a first-round pick by locking down the opposite side. But the NFL scouts started whispering. They saw a guy who was 6'4" and 300 pounds and thought, "He’s a guard at the next level."
Instead of pouting or transferring to a school that would let him stay at tackle to protect his ego, Gray leaned into it. He moved to left guard for his sixth year.
- He allowed only one sack the entire season.
- He committed only one penalty in over 900 snaps.
- He helped the Beavers rush for nearly 190 yards per game.
Basically, he proved that his "football IQ" wasn't just a buzzword. He moved inside, dealt with the more immediate, explosive power of defensive tackles, and didn't miss a beat. By the time he got to the East-West Shrine Bowl and the NFL Combine, he was even taking snaps at center. That kind of versatility is exactly what pro teams crave, but it takes a certain lack of ego to pull it off in your final college season.
Breaking Down the "Undersized" Myth
There’s always been this talk that Gray is "too small" for the NFL. Scouts love those 6'7" giants with 35-inch arms. Gray measured in at 6'5" (some sites say 6'4") and right around 300 pounds. At the Combine, his arms were measured at 31 and 3/8 inches.
Honestly? Who cares.
If you watch the film, especially the 2024 tape against rivals like Oregon, Gray’s leverage is elite. He’s a former high school basketball player from Rancho Cucamonga, and it shows in his feet. He doesn't get stuck in the mud. He ran a 5.04-second 40-yard dash, which was 9th among all linemen. He’s got "quick-twitch" muscles that allow him to recover even when a defender gets a good first step.
His PFF grades consistently backed this up. In 2022, he had an 85.8 run-blocking grade, which was third in the Pac-12. He wasn't just a body in the way; he was a literal road grader. When the Beavers needed three yards on 4th-and-short, they usually ran behind #67.
What Really Happened in the Post-Pac-12 Era
The 2024 season was a weird one for Oregon State. The "Pac-12" as we knew it was gone, leaving the Beavers and Cougars in a bit of a "Pac-2" limbo. It would have been so easy for a guy with Gray's accolades—multiple All-Conference honors, Outland Trophy watch lists—to jump to a Big Ten or SEC school for a massive NIL payday.
He didn't.
Gray’s decision to stay in Corvallis for his final year of eligibility says a lot about the culture Jonathan Smith built and Trent Bray maintained. He chose to finish what he started. In a world of "me-first" athletes, Gray was a "team-first" guy who valued the degree in psychology he earned and the record he was building.
Moving to the Next Level: The NFL Outlook
As we look toward his pro career, Gray is the classic "Day 3" steal. He might not go in the first round like his old teammate Fuaga, but he's the kind of guy who sticks on a roster for ten years. Most analysts, including Dane Brugler from The Athletic, have praised his technique and movement skills. He’s projected as a center or guard who can thrive in a zone-blocking scheme where mobility is king.
If you’re an NFL GM, you’re looking at a guy with 3,813 collegiate snaps and only seven sacks allowed in his entire career. That is an insane level of efficiency. He’s disciplined, he’s fast for his size, and he’s played against the best the West Coast has to offer for half a decade.
The Actionable Insight: What You Can Learn from Gray
Whether you’re a young athlete or just a fan, the Joshua Gray Oregon State story offers a few real-world takeaways:
- Versatility is your best currency. Gray’s willingness to move from tackle to guard to center increased his value exponentially. Don't get pigeonholed.
- Consistency beats flash. You don't need to be on the highlight reel every week to be a legend. Starting 56 games and doing your job is how you build a legacy.
- Lean into your strengths. Gray knew he wasn't the biggest lineman, so he became the most athletic and the most technically sound.
If you're following the NFL Draft or just keeping tabs on the Beavers' transition into their new era, keep an eye on where Gray lands. He’s likely going to be a "plug-and-play" backup who eventually works his way into a starting role, much like fellow OSU alum Isaac Seumalo. He’s the proof that staying the course and mastering your craft still pays off.
To truly understand his impact, go back and watch the 2024 rushing stats. The Beavers' ability to stay competitive during a period of massive conference upheaval was built on the back of an offensive line led by Gray. He was the quiet engine of the offense. While quarterbacks and receivers got the headlines, Gray was the one making sure they had the time and space to earn them.
The record of 56 starts might eventually be broken, but the standard of reliability Joshua Gray set at Oregon State is going to be the benchmark for every Beaver lineman who puts on the pads for years to come. It’s a career that deserves more than just a footnote; it deserves to be remembered as the blueprint for how to handle the modern college football landscape with class and dominance.
To see Gray's final impact, look no further than his 2024 PFF grades, where he ranked in the top 40 of all FBS guards. He didn't just survive the position change—he thrived in it. That’s the mark of a pro.