Beavers' Jermar Jefferson makes a splash among Pac-12 RBS

There's already a somewhat surprising development early in the Pac12 season. The top two backs aren't named Love and Gaskin, but instead Jefferson and Pierce. And they're from Oregon State. Yes, they're Beavers. The Pac-12's 2018 class of running backs is unquestionably led by Stanford's Bryce Love, a Heisman finalist last year who returned for his senior year. Washington's Myles Gaskin came back for another season, too. Utah's Zack Moss is also considered a rusher to watch this fall.

But a pair of Beavers — Jermar Jefferson and Artavis Pierce — lead the Pac-12 in average yards in the early going. That's notable considering Oregon State's opening opponent was Ohio State.

Pierce, who ran for 168 yards and two touchdowns in the loss to the Buckeyes, injured his elbow in the Beavers' 4825 victory over Southern Utah last Saturday. A junior, Pierce was widely considered the heir apparent to Ryan Nall, who decided to skip his final season at Oregon State and go pro.

Pierce is out for some four weeks, a blow to a team that won just one game last season.

But the Beavers may be OK without him for the time being, thanks to Jefferson.

The freshman from Harbor City, California, near Los Angeles, took the game over after Pierce went down and ran for 238 yards and four touchdowns. The only two Beavers in school history with more yards in a game were Bill Enyart, who holds the record with 299 in a game in 1968, and Steven Jackson, with 239 in a game in 2002.

"It's crazy. It's crazy," Jefferson told reporters afterward. "It's a big experience."

Jefferson is atop the depth chart for the Beavers' game at Nevada on Saturday, but Oregon State coach Jonathan Smith said he'll make sure other backs get in the mix, too.

"I'm not into having one featured back, especially this early in the season," Smith told reporters Monday. "Those guys can get worn out. Too many carries early in the year can cost you later in the year."

Jefferson currently leads the Pac-12 with an average of 142.5 yards through two games. Again, it's early, but it's an encouraging sign for the Beavers, who could use any success that comes AP PHOTO BY their way.

A look at what's going on with the ground game elsewhere in the Pac-12:

TONY AVELAR Stanford running back Bryce Love (20) stiff-arms Southern California cornerback Iman Marshall (8) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 8, in Stanford, Calif.