CORVALLIS — The scales show formidable weight gains throughout Oregon State’s roster from a year ago. It’s no surprise the offensive line is among the leaders in piling on pounds.

The Beavers’ starting offensive line of a year ago, intact from right tackle to left tackle, has increased its mass by a collective 48 pounds. Right guard Nous Keobounnam is up 17 pounds to 292, center Nathan Eldridge up 15 pounds to 297, and right tackle Joshua Gray up 11 pounds to 300.

Right tackle Brandon Kipper tops them all at 310 pounds, a 15-pound increase from his spring practice weight. Since his freshman year, when Kipper started at Hawaii, he has added 40 pounds to his 6-foot-6 frame.

“I’m physically seeing the changes from myself and the guys around me and I’m excited to get on the field and see how the changes affect us on the field,” Kipper said before the start of Oregon State’s preseason camp.

Kipper said this season’s weight gain felt different.

“This is the most weight I’ve put on where I felt natural, where it felt good,” Kipper said.

Kipper felt the COVID-19 atmosphere and protocols impacted him physically during the 2020 season. He found it difficult to eat at a level to maintain a 300-pound plus body.

Kipper’s focus during 2021 is nourishment, and adding weight at a level where it felt right.

“I feel more natural being this heavy, so it’s not something that my body is suddenly shocked by,” Kipper said. “I never felt so good in my life being 310, 315.”

Kipper was an all-conference lineman in 2019, but failed to earn honors last season. The fifth-year junior, who has started 19 of the 23 games he’s played at Oregon State, spent plenty of time pouring of game video of his play. In fact, that’s an area where Kipper hopes to improve in 2021.

“This is my fifth year, and I’ve watched a lot of film. That being said, there’s always more you can learn from the film,” Kipper said. “I’ve really taken the time this offseason to try to improve every aspect of my game.”