If there’s a star-maker position within Oregon State football, it’s inside linebacker.

Since Jonathan Smith and Trent Bray landed in Corvallis in 2018, OSU’s defense is set up to funnel many of the tackles toward the inside linebackers.

It shows statistically.

Oregon State’s Avery Roberts led the Pac-12 in tackles during the 2020 and 2021 seasons.

This season, Easton Mascarenas-Arnold was No. 2, just one tackle out of first. Omar Speights was among the conference’s top 10 in tackles for three consecutive years, and No. 2 behind Roberts in 2020.

Who’s next?

The Sun Bowl is likely to produce the next reveal, as the Beavers break in a couple fresh faces at inside linebacker in second-year freshman Melvin Jordan IV and freshman Isaiah Chisom.

Jordan makes his second career start and Chisom his first against Notre Dame. The door opened for both when Mascarenas-Arnold transferred to USC and Calvin Hart Jr. opted out.

The 6-foot, 219-pound Chisom is a bit of an unknown, as he’s only played in four games to take a redshirt season (a fifth game is allowed if happens in a bowl). Jordan has played in every game this season, making 17 tackles, two for losses.

“In bowls during this type of year, there’s always going to be some guys that get more opportunities. They’re going to be better for it. They’ll be surprises to everybody, but not necessarily to themselves because they all have confidence and know they can do it,” OSU interim coach Kefense Hynson said.

Jordan, who made his lone Oregon State start this season when Hart had to miss the first half against California due to a targeting ejection in a previous game, was a prominent name among the Beavers’ 2022 recruiting class.

“It feels good to step into a bigger role and show the coaches that I’m ready for it,” Jordan said.

The 5-11, 225-pound Florida native said Oregon State’s history with inside linebackers under Bray, who has coached the position since 2018, was part of the attraction to leaving the east coast for Corvallis.

“I knew I was coming into a good situation with a good coach and he was going to develop me the right way,” Jordan said.

Jordan has been able to absorb the best of OSU’s inside linebackers during his two years. Jordan played with Speights, Kyrei Fisher-Morris and Jack Colletto a year ago, and this season with Mascarenas-Arnold. Roberts became a graduate assistant coaching linebackers this past season.

Jordan said Colletto was helpful with the basics, and Speights would stay after practice and teach. Mascarenas-Arnold, who played with Jordan the past two years, has had the most impact.

“Easton is going to show you everything. He’s going to prepare the right way, he’s going to eat the right way,” Jordan said. “Off the field, he handles his business.”

Jordan wasn’t a Beaver from the get-go. In fact, Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman had a hand in Jordan’s decision to sign at OSU. Jordan initially committed to Florida State, then pivoted and gave a pledge to Cincinnati. But Freeman, then defensive coordinator at Cincinnati, left to become the DC at Notre Dame. Jordan, getting recruiting pitches from former Oregon State secondary coach Blue Adams, turned his attention toward the Beavers.

Jordan signed with Smith in 2021, but now answers to Bray as his head coach. He’s excited about the move.

“All the players wanted Bray to get the head coaching job,” Jordan said. “It’s a perfect fit. He’s our guy. … I like the way he handles his business.”

Jordan won’t be alone at the Sun Bowl when it comes to OSU players unfamiliar with the spotlight. At least 10 regular starters will be out for Friday’s game against Notre Dame for various reasons. Several players are making their first career start.

“The conversation has been, attack the moment. Don’t let the moment be too big for you,” Jordan said. “Do your job and we’ll handle our business.”

Jordan said the Beavers have something to prove.

“It would be big to end on a win just to show the world that the program is more than a name. It’s not just a coach. Not just a player,” Jordan said. “The program is the program. We’re going out to do it for Beaver Nation and do it for the culture.”