Life can get in the way of playing a game, and that's obviously what's happening with Sammie Stroughter. With three people very close to Stroughter passing away over the last year, it became clear that football just wasn't a high priority - for now. It's not inconceivable that Stroughter could return to the team at any moment, but that's a story for the 2008 season, not for 2007.
How is the team taking the fact that their biggest home-run threat at WR and in the return game will not be on the field this year? It's been an emotional blow for the team, losing a player so universally respected and loved by his teammates. What makes the situation a little more difficult is the pressure to replace him is going to fall to an unproven commodity in junior WR Chris Johnson (pictured), a guy who caught only four balls for all of 2006 as a JC transfer. Johnson does have good size for the position (6-1, 187) and head coach Mike Riley has been raving about Johnson's step forward thus far in camp. He does have good speed and has shown at least in flashes a good ability to get deep. At least Yvenson Bernard believes the team will be able to deal with the loss without too much of a hit:
Bernard said the Beavers can go on without their star wide receiver and still have a successful season. "To be honest with you, I feel like we have enough depth,'' he said. "I mean, I probably couldn't say that a few years ago when I was a freshman. But we have a lot of talent (at wide receiver) and I think C.J. has been doing a wonderful job.''
Now does Johnson have to come in and be Sammie "lite"? Of course not. Nobody can fill Stroughter's shoes. Instead, more pressure is going to fall on everyone else, from WR's Brandon Powers and Anthony Brown, and obviously, Johnson. But as the QB situation never resolving itself with Riley announcing a two-QB system to begin the season, plus the loss of the biggest playmaker on the roster, there is little doubt the Beavers are going to run, run, and run some more as they lean on the biggest strength of the team.
The wide receivers have a lot of talent, led by the headline-making Sammie Stroughter. Of course, as of this writing, Stroughter is away from the team with what has been described as personal issues, and unfortunately there isn't anything more that is known about a potential return. Rumors and speculation abound at this point. Described as being an upbeat kid with an infectious personality, he's one of the most popular players on the football team. Oh, and he's really good. As in the leading receiver back in '07 in the entire conference with 74 catches, as well as being the #2 return man behind only DeSean Jackson at Cal. You can't sugar coat the obvious - losing Stroughter would be a huge blow to the football team. Behind Strougther, the starters would be Brandon Powers and Anthony Brown (formerly Wheat-Brown). While they are a nice duo as a compliment to a guy like Stroughter, to put it in perspective, Powers and Brown combined for 60 catches last year, still 14 less than the number Stroughter turned in. WR Chris Johnson is a guy that would likely move up the depth chart as the #3 guy should Stroughter not return. 
After a drizzly scrimmage number two yesterday in Corvallis, the biggest question of Beaver spring ball is still without an answer - who will be the starting QB? At this point, it's too close to call, as 
