Baltimore County star Jesse Legree leads Oregon State to five-game winning streak

Jesse Legree leads all Division I receivers in receiving yards with 1,040 and in touchdowns with 14 this season. The former Baltimore County high school player is the centerpiece of the Oregon State offense, which has won five consecutive games.

Legree has recorded at least 100 receiving yards and a touchdown in seven straight games. His performance has drawn national attention, including a profile on ESPN after he announced last week that he will return to Oregon State for the 2027 season.

The path to Corvallis was uncertain. Legree graduated from Saint Frances Academy in Baltimore without an official scholarship offer. College programs had passed on him, citing his height of 5-foot-10 and weight of 172 pounds as concerns for his ability to compete in major conferences.

Saint Frances coach Messay Hailemariam noted that recruiters frequently described Legree as too small. West Virginia, Pittsburgh, and Buffalo all visited him but hesitated. James Madison invited him for multiple visits but wanted him to play cornerback, despite his status as the leading receiver for the Panthers. Legree also recorded six punt return touchdowns in high school.

Legree’s father, Jeffery, maintained his son’s potential. Jeffery, a former Department of Defense contractor, trained Jesse with rigorous workouts in Fredericksburg, Virginia, including 5 a.m. garage sprints and hill climbs. He taught his sons to outwork their opponents. “If I beat you outside with a cup of hot tea in my hand, we got problems,” Jeffery said.

Legree attended three high schools: Calvert Hall, Loyola Blakefield, and Saint Frances. Hailemariam saw Legree’s potential immediately after he joined Saint Frances in the spring of 2025. As signing day approached, the family prepared for Legree to walk on to a college team. Hailemariam was in contact with Eron Hodges, an Oregon State staffer who had previously worked at Alabama.

On signing day, Legree waited in a film study session while his teammates signed their letters of intent. At 4 p.m., Hailemariam received a text from Hodges confirming a spot at Oregon State. Hailemariam ran to the session and told Legree, “You got a home!” The team initially mistook the announcement for Morgan State before realizing the offer was from the Division I program 2,800 miles away.

Legree has now signed with Klutch Sports Group, the agency led by Rich Paul. Oregon State alum Chad Johnson has also called him the next great receiver in the program’s history. Legree credited his opportunity for his current success. “I always expected big things,” he said. “I just needed an opportunity.”