BarnyBall 2.0 will commence spring practice this Wednesday as the Portland State Football program begins preparation for the 2016 season. For the second year in a row, the Vikings' spring game will take place at Stott Community Field, on Apr. 23.
 
PSU will continue its morning practice schedule, with three or four practices each week during the four-week span leading up to the spring game.
 
Second-year Head Coach Bruce Barnum will lead a group of 50 returning letterwinners, and 20 returning redshirts. There will also be six 2016 signees in attendance and a handful of walk-ons. Fifteen starters are back including eight on offense, five on defense and two on special teams.
 
Portland State comes off a 9-3 season in 2015, its best record as an FCS member. The Vikings were ranked 10th in the nation at the conclusion of the season. Barnum was named the FCS National Coach of the Year in 2015.
 
The Portland State Football Spring Schedule
Wed., Mar. 30, 8-9:45 a.m.
Thurs., Mar. 31, 8-9:45 a.m.
Fri., Apr. 1, 8-9:45 a.m.
Tues., Apr. 5, 8-9:45 a.m.
Wed., Apr. 6, 8-9:45 a.m.
Thurs., Apr. 7, 8-9:45 a.m.
Fri., Apr. 8, 2-5 p.m., scrimmage
Tues., Apr. 12, 8-9:45 a.m.
Wed., Apr. 13, 8-9:45 a.m.
Thurs., Apr. 14, 8-9:45 a.m.
Fri., Apr. 15, 2-5 p.m., scrimmage
Tues., Apr. 19, 8-9:45 a.m.
Wed., Apr. 20, 8-9:45 a.m.
Thurs., Apr. 21, 8-9:45 a.m.
 
Sat., Apr. 23, Spring Game, 2 p.m.
 
All practices at Stott Community Field
 
Offensive Preview – 3/28/16
Complete spring prospectus in pdf
 
PORTLAND STATE FOOTBALL SPRING PREVIEW - THE DEFENSE
Portland State's defense probably played a bigger role in the Vikings' 2015 improvement than the offense.
     
Defensive Coordinator Malik Roberson led the Vikings to dramatic gains that played a primary role in victory. PSU doubled the number of turnovers forced from 14 to 28 over 2014. The Vikings also ranked second in the Big Sky in pass defense (192.0) and total defense (384.0).
     
The improvement in pass defense was most pronounced as the Vikings cut yards allowed by 90 per game. And, PSU tripled its number of interceptions from six in 2014 to 18 in 2015.
     
Perhaps most significant was the Vikings' ability to shut down opponents on third down. PSU held opponents to only a 30.3% conversion rate - best in the Big Sky Conference and 11th-best in the nation.
     
All that said, Roberson will need to fill some big holes on defense in 2016. The Vikings lost six key starters. Included are FCS National Defensive Player of the Year finalist FS Patrick Onwuasor, leading tackler MLB Jeremy Lutali, three-year starting CB Aaron Sibley, and defensive line stoppers Sadat Sulleyman and Daniel Fusi. All were seniors in 2015. Tragically, the Vikings also lost up-and-coming star LB AJ Schlatter, who passed away unexpectedly in the off-season. Schlatter would have been just a sophomore for the Vikings.
     
Still, PSU returns five starters, 23 letterwinners and a lot of experienced players on defense.
     
"We have a lot of new faces on defense and so we have a lot of competition," Barnum said. "I like the people we see coming in, but we have to fix the middle on defense - safeties, middle linebacker and defensive tackle - due to departing seniors, so we can continue to come up with stops and turnovers and be in a position to win games.
     
"My biggest concern on defense is leadership of an inexperienced group. We are trying to empower some guys to take charge. We already have that on offense with Kuresa. Last year, nobody would cross Peanut (Patrick Onwuasor) or (DT) Sadat Sulleyman. Those guys took charge of their areas."
     
Barnum will likely look to SR CB Xavier Coleman, SR S Walter Santiago, and possibly one or two others to take charge on defense this season.
 
DEFENSIVE LINE
Portland State lost some key body movers in the middle of the defensive line, including the previously mentioned Fusi, Sulleyman and Junior Alexis. But experience returns as well in the form of SRs Michael Doman (6-4, 265) and Savali Talalemotu (6-3, 275), JRs Davond Dade (6-3, 235) and Will Dawson (6-4, 295) and SO John Jackson (6-2, 280).
     
Doman and Talalemotu have significant experience at defensive end, but are expected to move inside due to the Vikings' depth on the edge.
     
"We are moving experience down from defensive end to the middle. They are experienced, big kids," Barnum said.
     
Doman became a full-time starter in 2015 and ranked sixth on the team in tackles, second in tackles for loss and third in sacks. Talalemotu began his career at tackle and should be comfortable in that role.
     
Dawson and Jackson both have experience at tackle, as well as starts in 2015. They should compete for significant playing time.
     
Dade had a breakout season for the Vikings at defensive end, starting the last five games and ending up as the team-leader with six sacks. His explosiveness should lead to more big plays in 2016.
     
An interesting position battle will take place at the other end spot as a host of young players including SOs Perry Groves (6-4, 225), Larry Ross (6-3, 240), Sam Bodine (6-2, 230) and Dallas House (6-2, 260) are all poised to step forward.
     
"We will throw them out there and see what happens. That is the magic of spring ball, you find out what you have and what you can do with it," said Barnum.
     
A pair of seniors coming back off injury, Cutter Baldock (6-4, 250) and Jacob Nall (6-4, 240), hope to finish their careers strong. They too, will contend for playing time at defensive end.
 
LINEBACKER
The Vikings alternately started 3-4 and 4-3 alignments depending on the opponent in 2015. With two starters gone, Roberson will be looking for answers in spring and fall practice at the position. While there are still a number of experienced players returning, none have significant starting experience.
SR Anthony McNichols (5-11, 235) has the longest tenure of the group but four career starts. JR John Norcross (6-1, 215) might have the most experience, competing in all 24 games the past two years and making a total of eight starts. Also back are SR Mosa Likio (5-11, 240), who played a stand-up middle lineman role in the four-LB alignment, and Austin Wolff (6-1, 225), who saw significant action on special teams and may now compete to start at middle linebacker.
     
Barnum also likes true FR Kenton Bartlett (6-3, 235), who is an early graduate and will be able to compete in spring ball.
     
"At middle linebacker, you are going to see a lot of competition from our returning guys to a freshman coming in for spring. How they adjust to the position will be interesting because in our system you are free in the middle, you just go to the ball," said Barnum.
     
SO Cameron Schmitz (6-2, 210), a scout team member in 2015 is ready to step forward and contribute as well.
     
Portland State recruited heavily to the linebacker spot in 2016, in addition to Bartlett, PSU added JR TR Taylor Biaggi (6-2, 205), who may play safety or nickelback, Dylan Hanley (6-3, 225), Avery Jones (6-3, 200) and Mason Vega (6-3, 220). Whether any of the freshmen will be ready to play right away remains to be seen.
     
"I like what we have brought in and who we are," said Barnum. "Who is going to be the guy at a certain position? I don't know, but I know we have talent."
 
CORNERBACK
The good news is 50% of an outstanding cornerback duo returns. The bad news is a mainstay of the defense is gone after four years of quality play.
     
No doubt the Vikings will miss the leadership and skill of Aaron Sibley in 2016. He graduated as one of the Vikings' best at cornerback in its Division I era. But, SR Xavier Coleman (5-11, 190) will ably fill the leadership and skill role with two seasons as a starter already behind him.
     
In fact, Coleman comes off an All-Conference season in which he amassed 52 tackles, a league-leading 13 pass breakups and five interceptions. The question is who will be paired with him come Sept. 3?
There are no shortage of candidates as the Vikings boast five other letterwinners at cornerback. SRs Chevy Walker (6-0, 185) and Darien Washington (5-10, 170), JRs Kahlil Dawson (5-9, 170), Anthony Jenkins (6-1, 175) and Malik Cyphers (5-10, 175), and SO Artuz Manning (5-11, 175) bring a wealth of experience at the position.
     
Manning earned four starts in 2015 when Sibley was nursing an ankle injury and performed well. Walker is the most experienced player in the group, while Washington may also play safety, where he has spent the most time during his PSU career.
 
SAFETY
Portland State lost All-American and National Defensive Player of the Year finalist Patrick Onwuasor to graduation. His 85 tackles and nine interceptions will be tough to replace. But his running mate, Walter Santiago (5-11, 195) will return after being granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA.
     
Santiago spent two full seasons out during his career due to injuries. His return in 2015 was key to the Vikings' defensive fortunes. Starting every game at strong safety, Santiago made 33 tackles and broke up eight passes.
     
Also returning is JR Beau Duronslet (5-11, 200). Duronslet is another key to the Viking defense, serving as a starter at nickelback. He was third on the team with 64 tackles last season, adding 4.5 tackles for loss, five pass breakups, an interception, a fumble recovery and two forced fumbles. Duronslet should be a playmaker for the Vikings in the two years to come.
     
JR Tyler Foreman (6-1, 195) is the other safety with experience. He will compete to start in 2016, but will compete with a host of newcomers. The aforementioned Biaggi, as well as Oregon State transfer Chris Hayes (6-1, 185) and junior college transfer Ryan Wood (6-2, 195) give the Vikings size and maturity at safety.

Scout team member SO Nate Salu (5-11, 215) brings depth while FR signee Steffen Jacobsen (6-2, 200) offers future talent at the safety position.
 
SPECIAL TEAMS
Portland State has the good fortune of returning both starting kicker and punter in 2016 as they come off strong junior seasons.
     
SR K Jonathan Gonzales (6-2, 210) has been solid since taking over as starter early in 2014. Gonzales has made 30-40 career field goals, including 13-16 in 2015. He also established a PSU record for consecutive extra points made (77) and has twice earned All-Big Sky Conference honors.
     
SR P Marcus Kinsella (5-11, 195) surprised a bit when he took on the unenviable task of following two-time All-American Kyle Loomis. Kinsella averaged a solid 40.9 yards per punt, with 27 of 64 punts inside the 20-yard line, and 23 fair caught. The Vikings allowed only 95 punt return yards all season.
     
Kinsella also handles kickoff duties and had 17 touchbacks.
     
SO squad member Logan Stegner (6-2, 210) provides an able backup at both positions.
     
What's missing among returning players in 2016 is a long snapper. Four-year starter and third team All-American Kameron Canaday has graduated. He filled a role that is always undervalued. In other words, "you don't know what you've got until it's gone."
     
So Barnum signed Riley Shackelford (6-1, 230), a freshman with a chance to have a career similar to Canaday. Shackelford ranked 15th in the nation in last year's Rubio Long Snappers Camp.
     
Portland State's return game should be solid again in 2016. JR Kahlil Dawson returns after compiling a 25.1 kick return average that included a touchdown return in a win at Idaho State. Also back is JR punt returner Josh Kraght who ably handled the duties in a conservative approach, averaging 5.2 yards per return.
 
2015 PORTLAND STATE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Portland State Football will try to follow up its stellar 2015 season with a run at a Big Sky Conference Championship in 2016. The Vikings will do so against a decidedly different looking schedule in the 13-team league.
     
PSU accomplished a lot in 2015, recording its best Division I record ever, knocking off a pair of FBS level programs and reaching the NCAA playoffs. The Vikings were ranked 10th in the STATS FCS post-season poll, their highest-ever season-ending ranking. The one thing missing was a Big Sky title. That will be a primary goal in 2016.
     
Perennial powers Montana and Montana State roll off the Viking schedule in 2016, but PSU still faces defending Big Sky Conference Champion Southern Utah and traditional rival Eastern Washington.
     
The 11-game schedule opens with a non-conference home game against Division II Central Washington on Sept. 3. It will be the first time PSU plays the Wildcats since 1977.
     
The following two weeks will include road games against two FBS teams. Portland State will try to muster the same magic that saw them pick up wins over Washington State and North Texas in 2015.
     
The Vikings have a first-ever meeting with San Jose State on Sept. 10. The Spartans were 6-7 overall in 2015 after a loss to Georgia State in the Cure Bowl last December. SJSU went 4-4 in the Mountain West Conference.
     
PSU faces another Pac-12 school, the University of Washington, on Sept. 17. It will be the sixth Pac-12 opponent for the Vikings in the last five years, and 12th dating back to 2006. Washington was 7-6 in 2015 after a Heart of Dallas Bowl win over Southern Mississippi. The Vikings and the Huskies have played once previously, a 52-13 Washington win in 2012.
     
Big Sky Conference play begins on Sept. 24, appropriately enough against defending league champion Southern Utah in Cedar City. The Vikings handed the Thunderbirds their only Big Sky loss in 2015, 24-23, at Providence Park. SUU finished 7-1 in the Big Sky, while the Vikings were second at 6-2. The T-Birds also reached the NCAA Playoffs, taking an opening-round loss to Sam Houston State. Southern Utah was ranked 18th in the final 2015 poll.
     
After nearly a month away, Portland State comes home on Oct. 1 to host Idaho State in its Big Sky home opener. The Vikings won 34-14 last year in Pocatello. The Bengals went 2-9 in 2015.
     
Portland State meets Weber State on Oct. 8 in Ogden. The last time the teams faced one another was 2014, also in Ogden, where the Vikings came away 30-17 winners. The Wildcats were 6-5 in 2015, 5-3 in Big Sky games, tying for fourth.
     
For the fifth year in a row, the Vikings will play Cal Poly. That game is Oct. 15 at Providence Park. PSU defeated Cal Poly last year for the first time since the Mustangs joined the Big Sky Conference. The Vikings' 38-35 win was highlighted by Jonathan Gonzales' 27-yard field goal with 33 seconds left in the game.
     
Portland State will take Oct. 22 as a bye, then host Northern Colorado on Oct. 29. The Vikings will look for some payback against the Bears, as their 35-32 loss at UNC last fall cost them a shot at the Big Sky title. The Bears have won the last two times they have played the Vikings in Portland (2010 and 2012). Northern Colorado was 6-5 in 2015, 3-5 in Big Sky games.
     
The next two weeks Portland State will road trip to Central California to face a pair of teams they missed in 2015. The Vikings play at UC Davis on Nov. 5, then Sacramento State on Nov. 12. Both teams struggled in 2015, finishing with 2-9 records.
     
The Vikings have won four straight in the series with UC Davis. The last contest was a 23-14 Viking win in 2014 in Davis.
     
Sacramento State has won the last two against the Vikings, including a 48-41 win in Sacramento in 2014.
     
Portland State wraps up its regular season at home against traditional rival Eastern Washington in a Friday, Nov. 18 game. The Vikings will try to defend the Dam Cup trophy they won in Cheney last November, 34-31. The Eagles were 6-5 in 2015, going 5-3 in the Big Sky Conference. They finished just outside the final Top 25 poll.
 
SCHEDULE NOTES
• PSU faces only five teams in 2016 that were on the schedule in 2015. The Vikings went 4-1 against those teams.
• Due to the 13-team Big Sky Conference, Portland State plays three league teams it did not see in 2015: Weber State, UC Davis and Sacramento State. The Vikings see three other opponents cycle off its schedule in 2016: Montana, Montana State and North Dakota. The Vikings do not play Northern Arizona for the second year in a row.
• Remarkably, Portland State plays five Big Sky opponents who have bye weeks prior to their game with the Vikings.
• This is the seventh time that Portland State has played at least two FBS level programs in the same season (the Vikings played three in 2006).
• The 2016 NCAA I FCS playoffs, which includes 24 teams, begin on Nov. 26.
• Televised games and game times will be announced at a later date.
 
2016 PORTLAND STATE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Sept. 3 CENTRAL WASHINGTON
Sept. 10 at San Jose State
Sept. 18 at Washington
Sept. 25 at Southern Utah*
Oct. 1 IDAHO STATE*
Oct. 8 at Weber State*
Oct. 15  CAL POLY*
Oct. 22 bye
Oct. 29 NORTHERN COLORADO*
Nov. 5 at UC Davis*
Nov. 12 at Sacramento State*
Nov. 18 EASTERN WASHINGTON*
* Big Sky Conference game