CORVALLIS, Ore. » Athletes often refuse to connect specific numbers to their goals for any given season, in fear they may not be able to live up to their own hype, or that they might jinx themselves.

Not Jacquizz Rodgers.

Oregon State’s junior running back says he’s aiming to score "25-plus" touchdowns this season and run for at least 1,500 yards, although he hasn’t quite come up with an exact yardage yet. He’ll have it in his head by No. 24 Oregon State’s opener against No. 6 TCU at Cowboys Stadium tomorrow.

"I feel stronger and more confident than ever," he said.

Quizz, as he is universally known, may seem cocky in his predictions, but he’s got a history with the Beavers that seems to indicate he might not be that far off.

As a freshman, Quizz burst onto the landscape with 1,253 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground. He also caught 29 passes for 247 yards and another score. Not only was he named the Pac-10’s freshman of the year, he was also the first freshman to become the conference’s offensive player of the year.

Last season, he had 1,440 yards rushing and 21 touchdowns. He caught 78 passes for 522 yards, and he threw a 14-yard scoring pass out of Oregon State’s wildcat formation — affectionately known as the "Wild Beaver" formation.

At 5-foot-7, Quizz has become adept at hiding behind bigger offensive linemen and confounding opposing defenses by popping out of unexpected places for big gains.

He’s been overachieving since high school in Texas. Quizz was known as "Mr. Touchdown" at Lamar Consolidated High School. He was awarded the AP’s inaugural Texas prep player of the year award after rushing for 2,402 yards and 43 touchdowns as a senior.

While big college recruiters summarily dismissed Quizz as too small, the Beavers were targeting him. Oregon State already had older brother James, now a senior. The brothers turned out to be quite a coup.

James Rodgers, a flanker, is 5-foot-7 like his brother but equally speedy. He had a stunning 2,328 all-purpose yards last season and scored 10 touchdowns.

James is key to his team’s trademark fly sweep. Along with Quizz’s success at the Wild Beaver, Oregon State has become known for its use of gimmicky — but effective — offensive plays.

Quizz suggested there might be new tricks for the Horned Frogs.

"We’ve got some surprises. We’ve been working on a couple of things," he laughed. "It might come out at TCU, it might not. Maybe."

The Rodgers are inviting 20 or 30 family members and friends to the game. And yes, for Jacquizz, there is an element of ‘I’ll show Texas’ to his mindset.

"I try to go into every game and just play my best and try to perform great," Quizz said. "But it would be a good thing to go home on a big stage and just have a great game."

Oregon State went 8-5 last season, tied as runner-up in the Pac-10 behind conference champion Oregon. The Ducks’ victory in the Civil War denied Oregon State its first trip to Pasadena since 1965. The Beavers went on to lose to BYU in the Las Vegas Bowl, 34-20.

Quizz has helped turn the national spotlight on Oregon State, while at the same time raising expectations for himself.

He is considered by many to be a Heisman Trophy contender, and possibly the best running back in the country behind reigning Heisman winner Mark Ingram of top-ranked Alabama. Ingram is sitting out of the Crimson Tide’s opener against San Jose State tomorrow because of a knee injury.

But while he’s brimming with confidence, Quizz is all about the Beavers and the team’s success. There’s a sense he’d rather have a Rose Bowl crown than the Heisman.

"I feel like this is the year, because it’s set up perfectly," he said. "You’re playing two top-10 teams (at TCU tomorrow and at Boise State on Sept. 25 ) and the Pac-10 is wide open. So if you just focus, you can grab it because it’s right in front of you. You just have to do what you’re supposed to do."