Sammie Stroughter, WR

For his first two years in Corvallis, Stroughter was primarily a return specialist. That all changed in 2006, as he accumulated 1,293 yards on 74 receptions - and still managed to score three touchdowns on punt returns.

Unfortunately, he could not follow up that second-team All-Pac-10 performance in 2007 due to his battle with depression and a lacerated kidney. He came back from that redshirt season with a vengeance as a senior, earning first-team all-conference accolades by catching 70 passes for 1,040 yards and seven scores.

Stroughter's combination of receiving and return skills could land him a spot on an NFL roster in 2009.

Positives: Good lateral quickness and surprising strength to gain a release from press coverage. Good foot quickness and balance as a route-runner. Can generate consistent separation despite less than ideal deep speed. More quick than fast. Elusive. Can make defenders miss in small quarters and has the vision to set up blocks to turn short and intermediate routes into long gains. Can make the spectacular catch due to his body control and flexibility. Generally reliable hands. Tough. Willing to go over the middle and can absorb a big hit and hang on to the ball. Size, agility and toughness to project nicely as a slot receiver.

Negatives: Smaller than scouts would like. Lacks the straight-line speed to challenge NFL cornerbacks over the top. Marginal late acceleration and can be caught from behind. Prone to lapses in concentration and drops too many passes. Teams will explore the personal issues appearing before the 2007 season.

Sammie missed the first game of the season due to personal issues and then returned in game two at Cincinnati … ultimately he suffered a season-ending injury (kidney) on a punt return at Arizona State in game four … prior to his injury he caught 15 passes for 262 yards and two touchdowns.

Earned Pac-10 Second Team as a receiver and punt returner … Associated Press Third Team All-American as an all-purpose player … set up OSU's game winning drive in the Sun Bowl with a 39-yard punt return … also scored in the Sun Bowl on a 13-yard reception from Matt Moore in the first quarter … Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Week for Oct. 16 after making seven catches for 223 yards and one touchdown (80 yds) against Washington … 223 yards was the second-highest number in the conference and the fourth-highest ever at OSU … also named Special Teams Player of the Week for Oct. 30 after returning a punt 70 yards for a touchdown in the win over No. 3 USC … 74 receptions tied for fifth in a single season at OSU and his 1,293 receiving yards ranked fourth for a single season.

Accounted for a school record 470 punt return yards and a school record three punt returns for touchdowns … had an OSU first back-to-back games (EWU, BSU) with punt returns for a touchdown … second in the Pac-10 and third in the nation for punt return yards per attempt at 15.7 … led the Pac-10 and was 10th in the nation for receiving yards per game at 92.4 … also had an 80-yard touchdown reception in the win over No. 24 Hawai'i … one of three finalists for the inaugural Randy Moss Return Man of the Year … Sports Illustrated rated him the 13th-best receiver in the NCAA … first team Pac-10 All-Academic selection.

Made five receptions for 58 yards as a backup, including a career-high three grabs for 21 yards at UCLA … returned at least one punt in every game and finished the year eighth in the Pac-10 with a 6.5 average … a long punt return of 29 yards against Washington State … also had nine kickoff returns, including a 29 effort at UCLA … second team Pac-10 Conference All-Academic selection.

Was one of six true-freshmen to play … appeared in all 12 games … became the team's primary punt returner over the course of the season … had a 52-yard return early in the first quarter of the Insight Bowl against Notre Dame, setting up the Beavers at the Irish 27 - OSU scored the game's first touchdown four plays later … finished ninth in the Pac-10 for punt return yards per attempt at 7.0 … also returned eight kickoffs during the middle of the season with a career-long of 37 against California.

SuperPrep Magazine All-Region receiver and Rivals.com listed him 48th in its "athlete" category … member of TheInsiders.com Northwest Hot 100 list … played wide receiver, running back, defensive back and kick returner for head coach Ernie Cooper … as an all-purpose back as a senior he rushed for 986 yards on 126 carries (7.8 average) and scored 15 touchdowns … caught 31 passes for 618 yards (19.9 average) and six touchdowns … returned kickoffs for 322 yards and 22 punts for 395 yards and two touchdowns … For his career, he produced 2,321 all-purpose yards … first-team All-Sierra League and first-team all-section as a senior … also first-team all-metro as a senior by the Sacramento Bee … his top prep game came as a senior against Rocklyn HS when he rushed for 110 yards on just eight attempts and scored four touchdowns … also caught three passes for 52 yards and a score … second-team all-league as a sophomore … earned two letters in football and three in track … competing against some of the best high school athletes in Northern California, he placed second in both the boys' 100-meter dash and long jump at the Stanford Invitational.

Born in Vallejo, California … son of Andrea Brown … his mother is a nurse … has an older brother, Eric Blair, and an older sister, Cam Blair … honored by the National Football Foundation in March of 2004 for academic and athletic excellence … enjoys playing video games, working out and training … majoring in sociology.