Oregon State was hit and hit hard by graduation losses, but young guys who got a chance to play and the return of two "old" stars on offense has Mike Riley optimistic about the 2008 season.

Riley knew he would be getting guard Jeremy Perry back from a broken leg that knocked him out for the season in the first game last year. The coach didn't know he'd be getting wide receiver/punt returner Sammie Stroughter back until word came in mid-March. Stroughter had been give a medical redshirt after playing in three of the first four games last season before going down for the year with a kidney injury.

"The entire team is excited to have Sammie back," Riley said of Stroughter, who missed last year's opener because of a personal grief situation, played in three games and then got hurt.

Stroughter has to help. So does Perry.

The Beavers have made charges to the finish line each of the last two seasons and this year face a schedule that calls for games with eight bowl teams from last year. The second game of the season is at Penn State.

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