When Oregon State head football coach Jonathan Smith returned to Portland from an initial recruiting trip in December, speaking with Ryan Nall was at the top of his to-do list.

Smith met with Nall and his family at a Starbucks in Clackamas, outlining the future of the team as he saw it and where Nall fit into that plan.

"I respect him so much," Nall said Tuesday. "I couldn't thank him enough for coming out and being so respectful to my family."

Ultimately, Nall said he felt he needed to do what was best for himself after three seasons giving OSU all he had as the focal point of its offense. Nall announced Tuesday he would forgo his final year of eligibility and enter the NFL draft.

Nicknamed the "Wrecking Nall" for his punishing running style, Nall leaves the Beavers as the eighth-leading rusher in school history. The Sandy, Oregon, native and Central Catholic High School graduate finished his OSU career with 2,216 yards and 24 touchdowns, along with 56 receptions for 563 yards and four touchdowns.

He was the centerpiece of the Beavers' offense during the past two seasons after breaking out midway through his redshirt freshman season in 2015, when he started as an H-back and coaches considered moving him to linebacker.

Nall moved up the Oregon State record books despite playing with seven different quarterbacks for an offense that finished last in passer rating among Pac-12 teams each of the past three seasons. He also played for three different head coaches -- Mike Riley, Gary Andersen and Cory Hall.

Nall ended his final year in Corvallis with 165 carries for 810 yards and eight touchdowns and 27 catches for 240 yards and two touchdowns, falling short of his preseason goal of 1,000 rushing yards.

Nall had hoped to be part of the program's return to a bowl game, but the Beavers went 1-11 and dealt with Andersen's abrupt departure six games into the season. As a team captain, Nall was the player chosen to address reporters the day of Andersen's announced departure.

The difficulty of the past season weighed on Nall, although he said it was not the primary factor leading to his decision.

"It definitely took a toll on me," he said. "Obviously, it was a part of the decision-making process. I had to factor that in, that it could potentially happen again. But I don't blame what happened last year (as) the reasoning for me going. ... It obviously impacted the decision but it's not the main reason. I'm excited to see what the new coaching staff is going to do. I truly do wish them the best of luck."

The 6-foot-2, 240-pound Nall will graduate from OSU after the winter term and would have had the option to transfer without sitting out a full season. In the month after the season, Nall consulted with family, friends, his longtime girlfriend and former high school coaches Steve Pyne and Anthony Newman.

California, UCLA, USC, Washington and Utah State all expressed interest in Nall's potential availability, according to a source close to the decision-making process, although the running back said it "wasn't likely" he would transfer.

Riley, who recently returned to OSU as associate head coach and had recruited Nall to Corvallis before leaving for Nebraska in December 2014, called him during his holiday break. It was the first time they had spoken in three years and Nall said the call "pulled the heart strings."

"He said no matter what I do he'll always support me because he loves me and he wants the best for me," Nall said.

Nall becomes the seventh player in Oregon State history to leave early for the NFL draft, joining Steven Jackson (2004), Brandon Browner (2005), Jacquizz Rodgers (2010), Brandin Cooks (2014), Scott Crichton (2014) and Isaac Seumalo (2016).

While he joins an impressive list, Nall said based on conversations with scouts and coaches that he does not expect to be selected in the first three rounds. He will train primarily in the Portland area leading into the NFL scouting combine, Oregon State's pro day and the draft, set for April 26-28 in Arlington, Texas.

Nall said he plans to train as a running back, which could feature the deepest class in recent draft history.

"I know some teams see me as an H-back, fullback," Nall said. "Like it was in college, if they decide to move me to linebacker, then so be it. But I'm going to train as a running back. I'm going to continue to work on my craft, work on my speed, work on my strength and do the best that I can. ... I think that if I do put in the right work and put in the hard work necessary, I will be able to show out and have a good draft."

Nall intends to sign with Athletes Trust, the same agency that represents former OSU teammates Kyle Peko and Devin Chappell.

His departure means OSU will have four running backs on the roster: Artavis Pierce, Calvin Tyler, B.J. Baylor and Hunter Mattson. Pierce and Tyler are the only players with prior running back experience.

Thomas Tyner, who became the secondary option to Nall in 2017, could apply for a sixth year of eligibility. His status for next season is uncertain.

Pierce will be a junior and has spent the past two seasons as a complementary piece to Nall. He has 846 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 166 carries and 260 receiving yards and one touchdown on 36 catches. Tyler had three carries for 11 yards and nine kick returns for 182 yards as a freshman before suffering a season-ending dislocated elbow.

Smith has reached out to Nall to gauge his opinion on current players on the roster, Nall said. In a statement, Smith called Nall "an outstanding young man with a tremendous future." Although Nall will never play for Smith, he indicated his desire to support the program through its latest transition.

"At the end of the day Oregon State will always be my home," Nall said. "I'll root for them and I'll always bleed orange and black."

-- Danny Moran