AP

Oregon State's Sammie Stroughter (19) is lifted by Andy Levitre (66) after scoring against Idaho State during the first half of a football game in Corvallis, Ore., Saturday, Sept. 15, 2007. After missing much of fall camp and the first game because of weighty personal issues, Oregon State's senior receiver Sammie Stroughter appears to be back in his groove.

CORVALLIS, Ore. - Oregon State University senior football player Sammie Stroughter is on the preseason watch list for the 72nd annual Maxwell Award.

The trophy is given out every year to the nation's top college football player by the Maxwell Football Club of Roslyn, Pennsylvania.

Stroughter, a native of Sacramento, California, enters the season with 1,613 receiving yards and 876 punt return yards.

He played in just three games last year after suffering a season-ending kidney injury September 22nd at Arizona State.

Stroughter was granted a medical hardship year by the Pac-10 Conference in March, thus regaining his senior season.

Oregon State opens the year Thursday August 28th at Stanford.