Stephen Paea is consoled by family after the loss. The University of Oregon Ducks and Oregon State University Beavers meet each other in the Civil War in Corvallis, Oregon. Bruce Ely/The Oregonian LC- The Oregonian

The Oregon State Beavers start the 2024 season Aug. 31 at home against Idaho State. The Oregonian/OregonLive will count down the days with mini-profiles of prominent former and current Beavers whose jersey numbers correspond with the days remaining until the opening kickoff.

Today, No. 54: Defensive lineman Stephen Paea.

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Stephen Paea

Bio: The Beavers landed Paea, born in New Zealand, after he spent a year at Snow College following his career at Timpview High School in Utah.

Key statistics: Paea came out hot with 41 tackles as a freshman in 2008 to go along with 11 for loss and five sacks. Paea earned the Morris Trophy in his second season, which is given annually to the league’s top defensive lineman. He generated 43 tackles with 8 1/2 for loss and three sacks that year and was named first-team All-Pac-10.

In Paea’s final season, he made 45 tackles, 10 for loss with six sacks to earn the Pac-10 Conference’s Pat Tillman Defensive Player of the Year award. He was also named first-team All-Pac-10 and first-team All-American by the Associated Press.

His 29 1/2 career tackles for loss rank tied for 11th in OSU history, and his career 14 sacks rank tied for ninth. Paea produced nine forced fumbles, which ranks second.

NFL: The Chicago Bears selected Paea in the second round of the 2011 NFL draft. He played four seasons with the Bears, one in Washington and one with Cleveland. In seven seasons, Paea made 46 starts in 83 appearances and racked up 129 tackles with 14 sacks.

PRIOR COUNTDOWN POSTS

No. 55: Linebacker Jack “Mad Dog” O’Billovich.

No. 56: Offensive lineman Isaac Seumalo and defensive lineman Inoke Breckterfield.

No. 57: Long snapper Connor Kelsey.

No. 58: Defensive end Slade Norris and center Jim Walker.

No. 59: Linebacker Todd Sahlfeld and offensive lineman Rocky Rasley.

No. 60: Three elite offensive linemen.

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: Linnemen 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.