PULLMAN, Wash. — AJ Winsor didn’t sign up to be the last line of defense. But when Oregon State ’s punter was called on Saturday, he made it count.

At the tail end of a 2025 season overflowing with special teams blunders, the Beavers allowed 169 punt return yards in a 32-8 loss to Washington State . One of those returns deep into OSU territory ended inexplicably: Winsor made the tackle along the sideline, and forced a fumble by WSU’s Tony Freeman in the process.

The ensuing recovery by Zander Esty was OSU’s first fumble recovery all season. In any phase.

“Dude, I was just trying to force him out of bounds,” Winsor said with a laugh. “I had no intentions of breaking the ball loose, but it worked. I was just trying to force him out of bounds, he cut back inside, and I just grabbed on.

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