Good hands sought to fill big shoes

Beavers look at wideout options to replace the irreplaceable Mike Hass

By Kerry Eggers

The Portland Tribune, Aug 15, 2006, Updated Oct 30, 2009

Junior Sammie Stroughter, mostly a punt returner in his first two seasons at OSU, will take over at split end for the departed Mike Hass.

Harry How / Getty Images

CORVALLIS – Going into August training camp, Mike Riley was candid about the biggest area of concern with his 2006 Oregon State football team – wide receiver.

You can’t easily replace a player such as Mike Hass, last year’s Fred Biletnikoff Award winner who now is a rookie with the New Orleans Saints. But Riley and his coaching staff are encouraged by what they have seen from their receivers through two weeks of camp.

“I feel better,” Riley says. “I know better than to be satisfied, because we have a long way to go, and the only proof of it all is in the games. But what I’ve seen so far is a good sign.”

In Saturday’s scrimmage at Reser Stadium, junior returnee Sammie Stroughter and junior-college transfer Shane Morales stood out, each making four catches and shaking free of defenders on a regular basis. During other practice sessions, the spotlight has shown favorably on senior Ruben Jackson, juniors Anthony Wheat-Brown and Brandon Powers and JC transfer Chris Johnson.

“We’re coming along, progressing,” receiver coach Lee Hull says. “A lot of people are worried about the receiving group, but we have guys who can make plays. They’ve been working hard. We’ll be fine.”

Stroughter, a 6-foot, 185-pound junior, has been the Beavers’ regular punt return specialist the past two years but has only five career receptions – all last season. There wasn’t a lot of time available playing behind Hass at split end.

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