The Oregon State Beavers kick off the 2024 season at home against Idaho State on Aug. 31. To count down the days, The Oregonian/OregonLive is featuring mini-profiles of notable Beavers, both past and present, whose jersey numbers match the days remaining until the opening game.
Today, No. 60: Offensive linemen Len Younce, Chris Gibson, and Alex Linnenkohl.
**Len Younce**
– **Bio:** A Roosevelt High School alum, Younce played on both offense and defense and was also a punter during his time at Oregon State from 1938-1940. After his NFL career, he coached the offensive line at Oregon State from 1949 to 1954. Younce passed away in 2000 at the age of 83.
– **Key achievements:** Younce excelled as a punter and guard, earning All-Coast honors in 1940 and second-team honors in 1939 when the Beavers went 9-1-1 and played in the Pineapple Bowl. He was named honorable mention All-American in 1940. He participated in the 1941 East-West Shrine Game and was inducted into both the State of Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 1980 and the Oregon State Sports Hall of Fame in 1988.
– **NFL:** Drafted by the New York Giants in the eighth round of the 1941 NFL draft, Younce spent six years with the team, earning All-Pro honors in 1944 and a spot on the NFL’s 1940s All-Decade Team.
**Chris Gibson**
– **Bio:** Recruited from Roseburg High School, where he won two Class 4A football championships.
– **Key achievements:** Gibson, one of Oregon State’s top centers, lettered from 1998 to 2000. In 2000, he was named third-team All-American and first-team All-Pac-10 after leading the Beavers to a Fiesta Bowl victory over Notre Dame. He was second-team All-Pac-10 in 2001.
**Alex Linnenkohl**
– **Bio:** Recruited from Capital High School in Olympia, Washington, Linnenkohl redshirted in 2006 and became a starter in 2008.
– **Key achievements:** Named second-team All-Pac-10 in 2010 after earning honorable mention in 2009.
– **NFL:** Signed as an undrafted free agent with the Chicago Bears.
**PRIOR COUNTDOWN POSTS**
– No. 61: Offensive lineman Adam Koets.
– No. 62: The 1962 OSU football team.
– No. 63: Defensive lineman Craig Hannerman and offensive lineman Gus Lavaka.
– No. 64: Offensive lineman Nathan Eldridge.
– No. 65: Offensive lineman Doug Nienhuis.
– No. 66: Offensive lineman Andy Levitre.
– No. 67: Offensive lineman Roy Schuening.
– No. 68: Offensive lineman Brandon Kipper.
– No. 69: Guard Josh Andrews.
– No. 70: Center Jake Levengood.
– No. 71: Defensive lineman Jon Sandstrom.
– No. 72: Offensive lineman Robert Sykes.
– No. 73: Offensive lineman Blake Brandel.
– No. 74: Defensive tackle Kevin Frahm.
– No. 75: Offensive linemen Taliese Fuaga, John Witte, and Kyle DeVan.
– No. 76: Offensive lineman Fletcher Keister.
– No. 77: Defensive lineman Pellom McDaniels and offensive lineman Sean Harlow.
– No. 78: Offensive lineman Jeff Hart.
– No. 79: Linemen Vic Sears and Ted Bates.
– No. 80: A quartet of wide receivers.
– No. 81: Tight end Phil Ross.
– No. 82: Wide receiver Robert Prescott.
– No. 83: Wide receiver James Battle.
– No. 84: Tight end Tim Euhus.
– No. 85: Defensive lineman Dennis Boyd.
– No. 86: Defensive end Obum Gwacham.
– No. 87: Tight end Joe Halahuni.
– No. 88: Tight end Luke Musgrave.
– No. 89: Tight end Connor Hamlett.
– No. 90: Defensive linemen Bill Swancutt and Victor Butler.
