Houston, we have a problem.
And we believe you can fix it.
That was the gist of the message delivered to Sumner Houston by Oregon State football coach Gary Andersen during his exit interview with the redshirt junior following the 2016 season.
The Beavers needed a center to succeed 2016 starter Gavin Andrews. The coaching staff thought Houston – a sturdy 6-foot-2, 294-pound construction engineering major who played on the defensive line his first three seasons – had the right mix of toughness, intelligence and football savvy to fill the giant hole created by the departure of Andrews, a four-year veteran who moved to center for the final nine games of the season.