CORVALLIS — Sammie Stroughter feels like he has been given a second chance to have the senior season he’s always dreamed about.

“I like to think of it as a mulligan,” Oregon State’s star receiver and kick returner said, flashing the wide smile that has been his trademark during five years in Corvallis. “I am ecstatic. Words can’t describe how ready and excited I am for this season.”

If the start of this year is extra sweet for the ebullient Stroughter, a third-team All-American in 2006, it’s because last season was a trying time, as the Sacramento, Calif., native was leveled by the deaths of loved ones and a kidney injury that ended his season.

Now Stroughter, granted a medical hardship redshirt, anchors an Oregon State offense that will begin to redefine itself without prolific running back Yvenson Bernard, and with a quarterback situation that may not be settled until the end of fall camp.

Junior Lyle Moevao, who was 3-0 as a starter last year, is the favorite, with junior Sean Canfield returning from a shoulder injury.

Sophomore Ryan McCants, a 6-foot-1, 240-pound bruiser, is battling with true freshman Jacquizz Rodgers and junior college transfer Jeremy Francis to replace Bernard, who left as Oregon State’s second all-time leading rusher.

Sophomores Darrell Catchings and Rodgers’ older brother, James, are likely to join Stroughter as the other wide receivers.

Moevao says he knows what kind of a difference having a healthy Stroughter to throw to can make for the Beavers’ offense.

“It takes a lot of pressure off of me — and not just me but the young guys that played last year as freshmen, James and Darrell,” he said. “Sammie is always getting open and making plays, and that draws the defense’s attention. It takes a lot of pressure off James and Darrell knowing that a guy like that is coming back and can show them how it is done.”

Oregon State’s challenge on defense is probably greater — replacing an entire front seven that steadied the team as the offense faltered in the first five weeks and clamped down to help the team drive to a 9-4 record and win in the Emerald Bowl.

On the defensive line, seniors Pernnell Booth and Victor Butler have lots of experience, but touted JC transfer Simi Kuli won’t be available before Sept. 1 and may redshirt. Keaton Kristick, Bryant Cornell and Keith Pankey are the likely new starters at linebacker.

Stroughter said the lack of respect for the Beavers from Pac-10 writers has become a running joke in the locker room. The news out of conference media day that the journalists picked the Beavers to finish sixth, despite a 19-8 record over the past two seasons and five bowl appearances in seven years, wasn’t unexpected.

“That’s motivation,” he said. “We’re in that position and we can’t do anything about that. All we can do is make sure our chemistry is good, and when it’s time to play, our guys just need to buckle up and put in their mouthpieces.”

Stroughter and Moevao both credit Oregon State coaches with instilling a blue-collar work ethic and underdog mentality for the team to build an identity around.

If the Beavers feel they get no respect, head coach Mike Riley expects them to wear the feeling like a chip on their shoulders — or on the minimalist, old-school jerseys that Oregon State ordered to replace last year’s more-decorated style that was widely mocked for its “sports bra” look.

Moevao discounted the rankings, “Every year we hear the same thing, so we don’t really pay attention to that stuff at all,” he said.

“Coach Riley says a two-star athlete can come out of high school and play here, and a five-star athlete can come out of high school and play somewhere else and the two star can end up playing better than the five star because he wants it more,” he said. “We just need to go out there and prove all the doubters wrong, just like we always seem to do.”

The book on Oregon State has been that it seems to take several games for the Beavers to get going, as illustrated by 2-3 starts in both 2006 and 2007.

But this year, Oregon State doesn’t have Eastern Washington, Idaho or Idaho State on the schedule. The Beavers open up with Stanford, Penn State, Hawaii and USC.

Mention Penn State, who the Beavers will face in State College, Penn., in front of 100,000 fans on national television on week two, and Stroughter interrupts.

“We have to be ready earlier than that — look at Stanford,” he said. “Coach (Jim) Harbaugh has a great philosophy, and they’re starting to implement it over there. So we just have to play with a sense of urgency and a chip on our shoulder. I think we have to take the attitude that we have nothing to lose but everything to gain.”