2015 PORTLAND STATE FOOTBALL SEASON PREVIEW 
Complete Season Preview Release in pdf
2015 Portland State Football Media Guide (pdf)
PROMO VIDEOAugust 3: The Viking Offense
August 4: The Viking Defense
August 5: Viking Special Teams
August 6: The Schedule/Challenges For 2015
August 7: Final Preparation/Complete Practice Schedule

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See Bruce Barnum on KPTV Oregon Sports Final this Sunday at 11 p.m.

VIKING SPECIAL TEAMS
Portland State has developed a reputation for turning out some of the nation's finest special teams performers at the Football Championship Subdivision level in recent years.
 
Witness Zach Brown, 2011 consensus first team All-American and school record holder in field goals for a season (24) and a career (64). Brown led the nation in 2011, making 24-27 field goals. He currently kicks for the Portland Thunder of the Arena League.
 
Witness Kyle Loomis, 2013 and 2014 consensus first team All-American while leading the nation in punting both seasons (46.5 and 46.0). Loomis also holds PSU season and career marks. He currently is a free agent as NFL training camps open.
 
And now witness current Vikings Kameron Canaday and Jonathan Gonzales. Canaday (6-4, 230), about to begin his fourth year as the long snapper was recently named a pre-season first team All-American by Stats Inc. and a member of the College Sporting News Fabulous 50. He too may have a professional career on the horizon. Meanwhile, Gonzales (6-2, 210) is only a junior, but comes off a season in which he led the Big Sky Conference in field goals (17-24) and was also the only full-time kicker to make every extra point (33-33) for the season. He was named second team All-Big Sky Conference.
 
Those two players will anchor the Vikings' special teams efforts in 2015.
 
"Gonzales has been putting the ball through the sticks, so we feel really good there," said Viking Head Coach Bruce Barnum.
 
Canaday has been rock solid as a snapper, starting 29 consecutive games since becoming eligible as a freshman. In 2015, under new Special Teams Coordinator Nick Whitworth, Canaday will be asked to do more directional and 12-yard snapping rather than the traditional 15-yard snap.
 
"Kameron has been asked to do some things differently as a snapper and he has made some great adjustments," said Barnum.
 
Of course those two are only part of the special teams story. JR Marcus Kinsella (5-11,195) stepped forward with his punting in the spring and may take over the tough job of following Loomis. Previously, Kinsella had done some kickoff duty and a little place-kicking for the Vikings.
 
"Marcus surprised me," Barnum said. "He has been injured a lot, so we didn't know what we had there, but he was booming the ball in the spring."
     
Portland State brought in junior college transfer Casey Eyman (6-1, 195) from Fullerton College to battle for punting duties. But Kinsella has proven to be tough competition so far.
     
"Eyman has got some competition, but I rest well at night knowing that he can punt and kick if needed. He can back up two spots," said Barnum.
 
Punt and kick returning is not usually determined until position assignments start to shake down in the fall. However the Vikings have great experience at kick returner with JR Nate Tago (22-394), SO Steven Long (12-308) and SR Aaron Sibley (6-113) returning. In fact, players with 54 of PSU's 59 kick returns for 2014 are back.
 
PSU's most experienced punt returner is SR Alex Toureen, who has 21 career returns though just three last season. Also a possibility in the return game is quick and elusive SO Stevie Coury.
 
VIKINGS IN PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL
• Did you know, two-time All-Pro Julius Thomas signed a five-year, $46 million contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars, making him the highest-paid tight end in the NFL?
• Did you know that former Viking Kasey Closs signed a free agent contract with Jacksonville and is currently trying to earn the right to be Thomas' teammate?
• Did you know that linebacker Adam Hayward is entering his ninth season in the NFL (Tampa Bay 2007-13, Washington, 2014-15) and has played in more games than any former Viking in history (118), including Neil Lomax and Clint Didier (8 seasons each)?
• Did you know Kahlil Bass currently leads the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in tackles and fumble recoveries?  

NFL
Kasey Closs, WR, Jacksonville
Adam Hayward, LB, Washington
DeShawn Shead, DB, Seattle
Julius Thomas, TE, Jacksonville
Mitchell Van Dyk, OT, Pittsburgh
 
CFL
Khalil Bass, LB, Winnipeg
 
AFL
Brennen Carvalho, OL, Arizona
Marquis Jackson, DL, Portland
Zach (Ramirez) Brown, K, Portland

VIKING FOOTBALL TICKETS ARE ON SALE: Season and single-game tickets are now on sale for Portland State Football. Season tickets range from $60 to $100 each. Single-game tickets range from $20 to $69. Students and B-Mart section tickets are $10 each. Kids 14 and under are $5. Special group pricing and "Montana-Pack" tickets are also available. Portland State Students tickets are FREE with valid ID. All other students and Bi-Mart section tickets are $10 each. Kids 8th grade and under are $5. Visit www.GoViks.com of call 1-888-VIK-TIKS for all details and pricing.

2015 FALL CAMP PRACTICE SCHEDULE
Aug. 10    4-7 p.m.; media availability beginning at 3 p.m.
Aug. 11    9-11 a.m.
Aug. 12    9-11 a.m.
Aug. 13    9-11 a.m.
Aug. 14    9-11 a.m.
Aug. 15    9-11 a.m.
Aug. 16    Off Day