Portland State football rolled through its fifth practice on Friday morning. The Vikings are building up to the first preseason scrimmage, which comes next Wednesday at Stott Community Field. 

The build-up is showing, as a few of the usual early practice scuffles broke out between the offense and the defense on the Thursday. The intensity always dissipates at the conclusion of practice as by tradition the Viking team shakes hands up and down the line.

A few notes from the first week of practice:
• The defense made five interceptions over the Tuesday and Wednesday practices, with two by linebacker Sam Bodine. PSU looks to be more opportunistic in 2017. The Vikings had a -6 turnover margin last season (forcing 14 turnovers), after being one of the best in the nation in 2015 with a +13 turnover ratio (forcing 28 turnovers). That is good news for the defense, bad for the offense. However, the offense responded with no turnovers on Thursday and Friday. "I'm happy to see that, because on a good team, the defense is always ahead early. It's good to see defensively, but I like the way the offense responded the last two days," said Viking Coach Bruce Barnum.
• The freshmen running backs are getting a lot of reps. Jason Talley, a 6-2, 230-pounder, is expected to be in the backfield-by-committee rotation with senior Za'Quan Summers. But the other freshmen, Bishop Mitchell, Antwone Williams and Amon Milliner are also seeing a lot of carries in live plays. "I'm looking to see if somebody is going to shine up until this first scrimmage," said Barnum. "If they show, 'I have taken care of the intangibles and I am ready to play college football,' you might see them on Saturdays."
• The offensive line looks deep as usual. With preseason All-Conference choice Randin Crecelius leading the way at left tackle, the Vikings will have their usual strong front wall. In all, six returning players have starting experience including Crecelius (20 career starts), Chad Bach (13), Tyshon Mosley (9), Desmoun Thompson (7), Justin Outslay (6) and Garrett Stauffer (4). Redshirt freshman Korbin Sorensen has spent a lot of time with the first unit at right guard, Outslay has been at right tackle, Bach at left guard and Stauffer at center in early practices.
• Size matters. The Vikings looked noticeably taller and bigger all over the roster. All six cornerbacks on the depth chart are listed at 6-1 or 6-2 (not counting true freshmen). Five of the seven linebackers currently on the depth chart are 6-2. Four other true freshman DB/LBs are 6-2 or taller. That is part of Coach Barnum's philosophy of recruiting longer, rangier players to take up more space in the defensive backfield.
• Air Quality Alert: Portland State shortened practice on Friday from two hours to 90 minutes due to air quality issues in the Portland area. Due to the extreme heat and fires in the west, smoke has built up in the atmosphere. The air quality number was 166 at the start of practice which ranks as unhealthy. Players with asthma or any upper respiratory issues were taken out of practice. If the air quality index were to reach 200, practice would be cancelled. The number dropped to 161 by the end of practice.
• Other Barnum kudos:
"The tight ends are making us able to do some things I hoped we could, both run game and pass game."
"Our youth that we brought in has been impressive. They have been what we hoped for and more." 
"The attention to detail and ultra-organization I have seen from the staff, because we have a shorter preseason before our first game has been important."

SPEAKING OF CRECELIUS: …and we were… SR LT Randin Crecelius was named second team preseason All-American by College Sports Madness. Crecelius and SO DT Anthony Del Toro were selected to the preseason All-Big Sky Conference first team as well. SR QB/WR Josh Kraght was named third team at wide receiver, as was SR OL Tyshon Mosley.

UPCOMING PRACTICE TIMES
Aug. 5, 8-10 a.m.
Aug. 7-12, 8-10 a.m. (scrimmage Aug. 9)
Aug. 14-19, 8-10 a.m. (scrimmage Aug. 16)
Aug. 21-24, 8-10 a.m.
Aug. 25, Travel Day
Aug. 26, Game at BYU

Day 1 Practice Photo Gallery

SEE AND HEAR: VIKINGS IN THE MEDIA - COMING UP
Friday, 3:20 p.m. - Coach Barnum on Rip City Radio 620 AM with Travis Demers and Chad Doing
Friday evening - KGW TV Sports feature
Sunday - Featured on Oregon Sports Final on Fox 12 Oregon, 11 p.m.
Monday, 7 p.m. - Comcast SportsNet Northwest Talkin' Ball Show featuring Coach Barnum and two Viking players
Thursday, 3-6 p.m. - 102.9 The Game, Dino Costa Radio Show live from the Portland State Football offices.
Sunday, Aug. 12 - Featured on Oregon Sports Final on Fox 12 Oregon, 11 p.m.

SEASON PREVIEW INFORMATION
2017 Offensive Preview
2017 Defense and Special Teams Preview
2017 Preseason Notes and Trivia
COMPLETE PRESEASON NOTES IN PDF