Complete spring prospectus in pdf
 
Portland State Football Spring Practice Schedule 
Wed, April 5              8-9:30 a.m.
Thurs, April 6            8-9:30 a.m.
Fri, April 7                  8-9:30 a.m.
 
Mon, April 10             8-9:30 a.m.
Tues, April 11           8-9:30 a.m.
Thurs, April 13          8-9:30 a.m.
Fri, April 14                8-9:30 a.m. (scrimmage)
 
Mon, April 17             8-9:30 a.m.
Tues, April 18           8-9:30 a.m.
Thurs, April 20          8-9:30 a.m.
Fri, April 21                8-9:30 a.m. (scrimmage)
 
Mon, April 24             8-9:30 a.m.
Tues, April 25           8-9:30 a.m.
Thurs, April 27          8-9:30 a.m.
Sat, April 29              Spring Game, 1 p.m.
 
SPRING PREVIEW
Portland State will open spring football practice on Apr. 6 seeking answers to some key questions:
 
• Who will step forward in the open competition at quarterback and running back?
• Can a youthful defense, with a year's experience, revert to its prowess of 2015?
• After an injury-filled 2016, are the Vikings healthy with depth restored?
     
Those will be just a few of the questions on the mind of third-year Head Coach Bruce Barnum as he puts his team through its paces over 15 practice days.
     
The Vikings figure to be as strong as ever on the offensive line, while a veteran wide receiver group hopes to be restored to health. The defense is maturing up front with a number of sophomores who gained experience as true freshmen, while the defensive backfield has a lot of experience with six seniors spread across five positions.
     
Barnum's staff has worked hard this winter to prepare the team for a bounce-back season in 2017.
     
"We were competing more thoughout the winter - player to player, position to position, offense to defense and against the clock. We don't lose four or five games again in the last drive of the game. It's a game of inches and we tried to give them that inch with out workouts," said Barnum.
     
"The big thing for us will be to continue the competition piece in spring ball."
     
Here is a quick look at the Viking offense, position-by-position (defensive preview comes on Tuesday):
 
QUARTERBACK
Competition at the quarterback position will be interesting - at the very least - for Head Coach Bruce Barnum and Offensive Coordinator Steve Cooper. For the past two seasons, Alex Kuresa started all 23 games as signal caller for the Vikings. He was productive with 4,112 yards and 29 touchdowns passing, and 1,613 rushing yards and 17 scores with his feet. But the 2015 Big Sky Conference Newcomer of the Year is gone, graduated, and Barnum and Cooper need to find a new man to lead the offense and the team.
     
Two candidates stand out as spring football approaches and both are similar run-pass quarterbacks like Kuresa. Senior Josh Kraght (6-0, 195), after two seasons at wide receiver, will make another run at the starting quarterback job. Kraght played QB as a freshman and started the final three games of the season. But when Kuresa arrived in 2015, Kraght moved to wide receiver and became productive as a do-it-all on offense. He has caught 52 passes, completed 53 passes, and run 53 times over the past three years. Throw in his punt return role and Kraght has accounted for 1,822 yards and eight touchdowns during his PSU career. With all-around athleticism and arm strength superior to Kuresa, Kraght will get a serious look to take back the quarterback role.
     
"Josh has the experience, the tenacity, the attitude to play the position. And he has the tools to do it," said Barnum. "He got beat out by a pretty good quarterback two years ago - Alex Kuresa - but Josh is a winner.
     
The same can be said for redshirt freshman Davis Alexander (5-11, 180). He possesses the arm strength and running ability that the Vikings like.
     
"He is everything we see at the position, everything we want. Davis has a bigger arm than Alex Kuresa, the same feet, all the tools. But he is a river we haven't fished yet. You don't know what is in there," Barnum said. "This is the Big Sky and you wonder "how does he react?" I think he is going to be great, but there is an unknown there. A learning process, no matter what. With a young quarterback there is a learning curve. The question is how many of those can you make happen in practice and not in a game?"
     
If Alexander were to win the starting job outright in the spring, Kraght will return to wide receiver, but remain available as a backup. Either way, he will see the field with regularity.
     
Other roster quarterbacks include junior Scott Hitner (6-5, 225) and redshirt freshman Brandon Dall (6-2, 205).
     
The Vikings added high schoolers Davis Koetter (6-2, 195) and Jalani Eason (5-11, 185) on national letter of intent day. Those two figure to be prominent players in the future. Koetter is a thrower, while Eason showed great running ability as well as passing in high school.
 
RUNNING BACK
The backfield provides a question mark for the Vikings as top three rushers have all graduated: Nate Tago, Paris Penn and Alex Kuresa. Those three combined for 2,285 rushing yards and 30 touchdowns in 2016.
     
The top returning rusher is senior Za'Quan Summers (5-9, 175). Summers played in just the final four games last year due to early injuries. But he provided a spark with a 10-carry, 122-yard, one-touchdown performance against Northern Colorado. In all, he had 29 carries for 212 yards, a healthy 7.3 yard per carry average.
     
Summers has a burst the coaches love and figures to be a top candidate for lots of carries. But the BarnyBall offense usually features multiple backs, particularly when they are the smaller variety.
     
Among returners, senior Mitch Thompson has gotten spot duty the past two years but focuses on special teams play where he earned second team All-Big Sky Conference honors last season.
     
Sophomore returners Chase Morrison (5-10, 190) and Carlos Martin (5-11, 200) have seen limited action so far but will get a long look in the spring and the coaches will decide if one or both are ready to be feature backs.
     
"With Za'Quan, Chase, Mitch and Carlos, we know who they are. I liked their winter and the work they did. I learned a little more about each of them," said Barnum.
     
"We will add a big back, Jason Talley, to the mix and I like what we see out of him so far. He adds a different dimension. He can run through you rather than just make you miss."
     
Talley (6-2, 230), a walk-on freshman, will be the biggest running back on the roster. He rushed for 2,620 yards and 45 touchdowns as a senior at Jesuit High School but did not play football in 2016.
     
Will true freshmen Antwone Williams (5-8, 170),  Bishop Mitchell (5-9, 180) or Amon Milliner (5-8, 195) also be ready for the rigors of college football? All three signees turned blazing speed into gaudy high school numbers. Now they need to transfer those skills to a higher level.
 
TIGHT END
Barnum is attempting to make some change in the Viking offense via the tight end. "When you have four wideouts and a tailback in there, everybody knows you are probably throwing it," he said. "That may not always be the case with us, but tight end is a position you can't have enough of. They are bigger targets and give us more versatility as receivers and as an extra offensive tackle."
     
Two letterwinners return at tight end for the Vikings, sophomore Charlie Taumoepeau (6-3, 250) and junior Cole Ford (6-4, 250). Those two should step up to more prominent roles in 2016 as All-Conference tight end Maximo Espitia and four-year letterwinner Cam Sommer have graduated.
     
Taumoepeau became an intriguing prospect in 2016 in limited duty. He caught eight passes for 149 yards and one touchdown while showing the versatility to play outside (a la former Viking star tight end Julius Thomas) and create size mismatches with the defense. Said Barnum, "Charlie needs to play. He catches everything we throw at him."
     
Ford was used mainly in blocking situations as a sophomore, but his role will expand. He made the Conference USA All-Freshman team in 2015 while playing at UTEP.
     
Another intriguing player at tight end is redshirt freshman Daniel Giannosa (6-8, 250). With his great size, he is extremely difficult to defend. Grayshirt freshman AJ Ruffin (6-5, 250) and New Mexico State transfer Cameron Loos (6-3, 235) will also compete in spring football and try to work their way into the rotation.
     
Malik Thirdgill (6-4, 235), a freshman signee, will join the team in the fall.
 
WIDE RECEIVER
The first order of business for the Viking wide receiving corps in 2017 is better health. The position is loaded with seniors and experience, and if healthy should be much improved over 2016.
     
Senior Darnell Adams (6-2, 195) is one of eight seniors on the roster. He was granted a sixth year of eligibility after missing out on almost all of 2016 with plantar fasciitis (he also missed 2013 with injury). Adams was Portland State's top returning receiver going into the season so his absence was significant to the Viking offense. Adams has great size as an outside receiver and 55 career catches for 863 yards and seven touchdowns.
     
Senior Josh Kraght (6-0, 195) is also back. He led the team with 36 catches for 518 yards in 2016, but may transition back to quarterback in 2017. That will be determined in spring practice as he competes with redshirt freshman Davis Alexander for signal calling duties.
     
Seniors Trent Riley (6-1, 200), Kahlil Dawson (5-9, 170) and Austin Holman (6-1, 185) all missed time with injuries in 2016 as well. They are all experienced players capable of big contributions. Senior Justin Calo (6-0, 185) earned two starts late in the season as injuries beset the Vikings. Senior Nick Moran (5-11, 170) sat out the season with injury.
     
Redshirt freshmen Easton Trakel (5-9, 175), Nathan Hawthorne (5-9, 185) and Stephen Marcille (5-10, 165) add to the depth at the position. Also walking on for spring is former Viking basketball player De'Sean Parsons (6-7, 195).
     
True freshmen George McCorley (6-3, 200) and Mataio Talalemotu (6-1, 180) bring size to the program that Coach Bruce Barnum likes. Beau Kelly (5-9, 165) is another freshman who signed in late March.
 
OFFENSIVE LINE
A strength of the team during Bruce Barnum's tenure, the Viking offensive line should be as strong as ever in 2017. There are 69 career starts among the returning players and a total of 14 players return at the position.
     
"As a group they are bigger, stronger and in their best shape yet. We spent the winter trying putting them through some heavy compeition to get them out of their shell so they are not content with where they are at. We need to continue to be great up front," Barnum said.
     
Leading the way is senior left tackle Randin Crecelius (6-5, 295), who is a two-year starter and third team All-Big Sky Conference selection in 2016. Also back on the left side of the line is senior guard Tyshon Mosley (6-5, 305). Senior Chad Bach (6-3, 290) and junior Troy Bacon (6-4, 300) return on the right side of the line. Junior Garrett Stauffer (6-4, 280), who started the last four games of 2016 at center, is also back.
     
Add to those veterans seniors Justin Outslay (6-5, 305) and Desmoun Thompson (6-7, 305) who have combined for 13 career starts and 43 games played.
     
Waiting in the wings for playing time are juniors Peter Fisherkeller (6-5, 280) and Josh Brown (6-5, 295) and redshirt freshmen Korbin Sorensen (6-6, 275), Tommy Laverde (6-5, 285) and Jason Sperle (6-2, 290). Squad members Austin Powell (6-4, 285) and Isaac Ennis (6-4, 285) also return.
The Vikings added Brady Brick (6-4, 260) and Tyson Pauling (6-5, 320) on national letter of intent day.
 
DEFENSIVE LINE
Time is on the Vikings's side when it comes to defensive line play. No less than four players saw action on the defensive line as true freshmen in 2016. Those four, now sophomores, should play a big role in 2017 and beyond.
     
Though Barnum did not like playing so many, so young, so early, there is an upside.
     
"You will see the benefit this year, and especially next year. They have experience and now they have been in the weight room for a year," said Barnum.
     
The most prominent of those returning is sophomore defensive tackle Anthony Del Toro (6-2, 285) who started all 11 games last season. Del Toro also led all defensive linemen with 33 tackles. He had 2.5 sacks, two pass breakups and a forced fumble as well, and was named to the FCS All-Freshman Team by Hero Sports. Del Toro should be a fixture up front and key run-stopper for seasons to come.
     
Also back at defensive tackle are senior Will Dawson (6-4, 295), who has 28 games of experience in his career, and junior John Jackson (6-2, 280). Sophomore Sione Taumoe'anga (6-2, 305) joined the team late, but played in six games. He should contend to be a starter up front over the next three seasons.
     
Senior Davond Dade (6-3, 255) is the most experienced lineman on the roster. Named second team All-Big Sky Conference as a sophomore, the Viking coaching staff will look for Dade to up his play as a senior. Dade is an athletic player who has 60 tackles, 7.5 sacks, an interception, fumble recovery and blocked kick in his career.
     
"I like the experience coming back but they are still young, so there will be some growing pains. For us to be what we want to be on defense, Davond Dade has to be an every down guy for us," Barnum said.
     
Junior Dallas House (6-2, 265) finally had a healthy season and produced for the Vikings in 2016 when he made four starts. He has the versatility to play with his hand on the ground or on the edge.
     
Two others who saw action as true freshmen were Kenton Bartlett (6-3, 235) and Mason Vega (6-3, 220). Those sophomores both have high upsides and will challenge to start at defensive end.
     
Redshirt freshmen Noah Yunker (6-4, 235) and Cody Brown (6-3, 220) and redshirt junior Larry Ross (6-3, 240) add to the depth at defensive end. True freshmen Jake Porter (604, 245) and Zarryk "Boogie" Davis (6-3, 230) add more youthful talent on the defensive line.
 
LINEBACKER
Portland State has a young linebacker corps and will need to identify contributors and starters for the coming season.
     
After spending two seasons coming back from a broken leg, junior Sam Bodine (6-2, 230) stepped in at outside linebacker for the Vikings in 2016. He had six starts and played in all 11 games, ranking third on the team with 58 tackles. Bodine has excellent size and should have two seasons as a key player ahead of him.
     
A player expected to be in the competition at middle linebacker is junior college transfer Kasun Jackett (6-2, 225). A letter of intent signee in February, Jackett completed two seasons at Chaffey College and will be available for spring football.
     
A pair of players who may step into the linebacker conversation are redshirt freshman Steffen Jacobsen (6-2, 200) and grayshirt freshman Dylan Hanley (6-2, 225). An outstanding talent, Jacobsen will be looked at on the strongside, but may still compete at safety for the Vikings. Hanley, who signed in 2016 and entered school this winter, is a middle linebacker with a future in the program.
     
"I expect Steffen Jacobsen to be a total nuisance to our offense this spring, as well as Jackett," said Barnum. "Jackett, Dylan Hanley, Jacobsen - they are all fast and as a group we are faster and bigger at linebacker this year. Our speed, tenacity and increased athleticism will make a difference."
     
Sophomore Devin Thompson (6-1, 210) was one of six true freshmen to play on defense in 2016. He is another of the promising young players on the Viking defense.
     
Senior Beau Duronslet (5-11, 200) will move back to a nickelback/linebacker spot in 2017. He is the most experienced player on defense and had to move back to safety in 2016 due to injuries. He led the team with 73 tackles and has 185 in his career.
     
Senior Taylor Biaggi (6-2, 205) is also in the depth chart at this hybrid position. He is capable at safety or linebacker and should see his role grow as a utility man.
     
Junior Nate Salu (5-11, 215) returns to add depth at the position. Portland State signed true freshmen Nicholas Ah Sam (6-0, 205) and Markus Sullivan (6-4, 230) to national letters of intent in February.
 
DEFENSIVE BACK
Depth should not be an issue at cornerback or safety in 2017.
     
Starting cornerback Chris Seisay (6-1, 190) is back and should hold down one of the starting roles. A senior, Seisay had 28 tackles, eight pass breakups and two interceptions in seven starts after transferring in from Oregon.
     
On the other side there is no shortage of players who will contend to start. They include senior Malik Cyphers (5-10, 175), junior Artuz Manning (5-11, 180) and sophomore Montre Brown (6-1, 185).
     
Manning had nine starts in 2016, though eight of those were at nickelback. He is being considered at the strong safety position as well. Meanwhile, senior Ryan Wood (6-2, 195), who played safety in 2016, is being considered at a starting cornerback spot. All of that will be sorted out in spring ball.
     
True freshmen Anthony Adams (6-0, 175), Jerin Appling (6-2, 190) and Jared Reed (6-0, 175) were all high school stars in the state of Oregon.
     
A senior who should anchor the free safety position is Tyler Foreman (6-1, 195). He started every game at safety in 2016 and ranked second on the team with 60 tackles. Foreman also had two interceptions and five pass breakups.
     
Wood, came on later in the season and finally took a starting role at safety before a season-ending injury. He is another tall defensive back that fits well in the Viking system. However, as mentioned, he is expected to move over to cornerback, with Artuz Manning stepping into a strong safety role.
     
"Safety would be our most experienced group on the field, which would be a good thing, because they make all the calls and adjustments," said Barnum.
     
He hopes for leadership from a pair of guys who should be playmakers, Seisay and Foreman. "They are two seniors who have played a lot of football,"Barnum said. "I would hope they would run our defense. They have to be leaders by how they play and how they act."
     
Junior college transfer Braxton Winterton (6-3, 215) adds size and experience as well. He will contend to play right away at safety.
     
A pair of highly-touted redshirt freshmen will get their chances to shine in 2017. Because of PSU's four seniors in the safety position group, the development of Steffen Jacobsen (6-2, 200) and Avery Jones (6-3, 200) will be vital to the defensive unit's future. Jacobsen is also being looked at as a linebacker.
     
Freshmen Robert Holt (6-2, 200) and Ryan Swanson (6-0, 190) were signed in national letter of intent day.
 
SPECIAL TEAMS
Portland State coaches will need to identify two key special teams players in 2017. Both kicker Jonathan Gonzales and punter Marcus Kinsella have graduated after having three strong seasons.
     
Two redshirt freshman kickers will get a look from Special Teams Coordinator Nick Whitworth. They are Graycen Kennedy (6-2, 175) and Thomas Ciobanasiu (6-0, 155).
     
True freshman Noah Brosio (6-0, 185) was part of the Vikings' 2017 signing class. He is a combo kicker/punter with a good resume.
     
Ben Niesner, a top punting prospect from Thomas (WA) High School, has walked on to the program for spring.
 
A key element of special teams does return in long snapper Riley Shackelford (6-1, 230). Just a sophomore, Shackelford had spotless freshman season, handing every Viking long snap successfully.
     
Portland State also boasts one of the best kick returners in senior Kahlil Dawson (5-9, 175). He currently holds the Portland State career record for kick return average (26.7) and ranks ninth all-time in total yards (1,040).
     
Senior Josh Kraght (6-0, 195) has handled the Vikings punt return duties for the past two seasons as well.
 
WHO IS GONE, WHO RETURNS IN 2017
      Portland State had 68 players letter during the 2016 season. Twenty-one of those letterwinners were seniors. Potentially 41 letterwinners could return in 2017. Including redshirts and squad members, a total of 60 players who participated may return in 2017.
      The Vikings will return 15 starters, seven on offense, seven on defense and one on special teams. A total of 29 players who have made starts during their careers are scheduled to return in 2017. PSU also has one senior who will petition the NCAA for an additional year of eligibility: WR Darnell Adams.
      A breakdown of who is going and who is staying (/ means players shared starts):
OFFENSIVE STARTERS RETURNING (7): LT Randin Crecelius, LG Tyshon Mosley, C Chad Bach/Garrett Stauffer, RT Troy Bacon, WR Josh Kraght, WR Trent Riley, WR Austin Holman
OFFENSIVE STARTERS LOST (4): QB Alex Kuresa, RB Nate Tago/Paris Penn, RG Cam Keizur, TE Cam Sommer/Maximo Espitia
DEFENSIVE STARTERS RETURNING (7): DE Davond Dade/Dallas House, DT Anthony Del Toro, LB Sam Bodine, NICK Artuz Manning, S Beau Duronslet, S Tyler Foreman, CB Chris Seisay
DEFENSIVE STARTERS LOST (4): DE Michael Doman, DT Savali Talalemotu, MLB Mosa Likio/Anthony McNichols, CB Xavier Coleman
SPECIAL TEAMS STARTERS RETURNING (1): LS Riley Shackelford
SPECIAL TEAMS STARTERS LOST (2): K Jonathan Gonzales, P Marcus Kinsella
OTHER LETTERWINNERS THAT RETURN (career starts): WR Stevie Coury (1), WR Justin Calo (2), CB Malik Cyphers (1), S Ryan Wood (2), RB Za'Quan Summers, CB Montre Brown, LB Devin Thompson, RB Chase Morrison, RB Mitchell Thompson, RB Carlos Martin, WR Kahlil Dawson (1), DE Mason Vega (1), S Nate Salu, DE Kenton Bartlett, S Taylor Biaggi, OL Justin Outslay (6), OL Desmoun Thompson (7), OL Josh Brown, OL Peter Fisherkeller, TE Cole Ford, TE Charlie Taumoepeau, DT William Dawson (2), DT John Jackson (1), DT Sione Taumoe'anga, WR Darnell Adams (13)
OTHER SENIORS LOST: WR Blair Cavanaugh, S Walter Santiago, LB Austin Wolff, CB Chevy Walker, CB Darien Washington, LB Zack Dwyer, OL Josh Hanson, DE Jacob Nall
OTHER LETTERWINNERS LOST: S Chris Hayes, CB Anthony Jenkins (injury retirement), LB Cameron Schmitz, LB John Norcross, QB Thomas Hamilton
 
QUADRUPLE THREAT: SR WR/QB Josh Kraght began his Portland State career as a quarterback, earning three starts at the position as a freshman. However, the past two seasons he has played slot receiver and punt returner while remaining a backup QB. In 2016, Kraght led the team with 36 receptions for 518 yards and a touchdown. He had eight rushing plays for 47 yards and a touchdown, 11 punt returns for 64 yards, and completed 3-5 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown... for his career, Kraght has been a quadruple threat:
• He has completed 53-104 passes for 646 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions.
• Kraght has rushed 53 times for 278 yards and three touchdowns.
• Kraght has 52 career receptions for 745 yards and two touchdowns.
• He has 28 punt returns for 153 yards.
• In total, he has accounted for 1,822 yards and eight touchdowns.
 
YOUR HEALTH IS EVERYTHING: Portland State had a rough 2016 season when it came to injuries. In all, 29 players lost a total of 131 games to injury, and three had to retire from football.
 
YOUTH SHALL SERVE: Portland State played six true freshman on defense in 2016. Those six have played in part due to numerous injuries on the Viking defense. DE Kenton Bartlett, DT Anthony Del Toro, DT Sione Taumoe'anga, CB Montre Brown, LB Devin Thompson and DE Mason Vega all played... the Vikings also played true freshmen TE Charlie Taumoepeau and LS Riley Shackelford (who handled every special teams snap).
 
VETERANS: Among Portland State's returning players, here are the most experienced:
• Most games played: SR WR/QB Josh Kraght, 35; RS NICK Beau Duronslet, 35; SR WR Darnell Adams, 34; SR DE Davond Dade 30
• Most career starts: SR NICK Beau Duronslet, 23; SR LT Randin Crecelius, 20; SR WR/QB Josh Kraght, 15; Five tied with 13
• Consecutive starts: SR LT Randin Crecelius, 15; SR WR/QB Josh Kraght, 11; SO DT Anthony Del Toro, 11; SR S Tyler Foreman, 11; SO LS Riley Shackelford, 11
 
NEW STAFF: Portland State Head Coach Bruce Barnum has added Colin Fry and Hansen Sekona to his coaching staff as defensive assistants. Fry comes from Cal where he was a graduate assistant the past four seasons. Sekona was a graduate assistant at Washington where he worked with the 2016 Pac-12 Champion Huskies.
 
GET ON THE BUS: THE AMERICANA TOUR
      Portland State Football Coach Bruce Barnum is renowned for taking his team on the bus to as many road games as possible. He calls it "The Americana Tour." It has made for some long bus rides, but Barnum often lets his team out to see the sites. He also feels it promotes team unity (and saves a few dollars in the budget).
 
• Coach Barnum led his first "Americana Tour" in 2015, which included bus rides to Pullman, WA, Pocatello, ID, San Luis Obispo, CA, and Cheney, WA. In all, the Vikings logged 4,394 bus miles and approximately 80 hours round trip to those four destinations (PSU also flew on two road trips). The Americana Tour included such things as dozens of on-bus movies, a stop to buy a lottery ticket on the way home from beating Washington State, a practice on Boise State's blue turf, a sight-seeing trip to Alcatraz (in which equipment manager Mike Haluska was left on the island… but soon retrieved), and a midnight McDonald's run at a lonely truck stop in eastern Oregon. In addition to the economy of the bus trips, Barnum contends the time together draws the Viking team closer.
• The 2016 Americana Tour included round trips to San Jose, Seattle and Sacramento (twice). There was also a return bus ride from Ogden, UT and a shorter trip from Las Vegas to Cedar City... the trip to San Jose was a total of 1,340 miles. It included a stop off at Oregon Wildlife Safari and the obligatory In-and-Out Burger visitation in Medford... on the trip to Southern Utah, PSU flew into Las Vegas, took in the Criss Angel Show at the Luxor Hotel and made another midnight In-and-Out run... while traveling to Weber State, PSU visited Temple Square and the Hogle Zoo... after a pair round trips to Sacramento (UC Davis and Sacramento State), PSU had accumulated 4,906 bus miles for the season.
 
A FAMILY AFFAIR
• SR QB/WR Josh Kraght was married in 2015 (Jessie).
• JR OL Josh Brown and RS FR LB Cody Brown are brothers who prepped at Sunset (OR) HS.
• SR WR Darnell Adams and FR CB Anthony Adams are brothers who prepped at Newberg (OR) HS. Darnell is playing in his sixth season after being granted an additional year of eligibility by the NCAA. Adams missed two seasons with injuries (2013 and 2016).
• FR QB Davis Koetter is the son of Tampa Bay Buccaneers Head Coach Dirk Koetter.
• FR DE Jake Porter's father, Jason, was a four-year letterwinner in baseball at Portland State (1991-94).
• FR WR Mataio Talalemotu is the son of Ina Talalemotu, who played in 1987-88 on Portland State's two NCAA II National finalist teams.
• FR RB Jason Talley is the son of Wendell Talley, who played basketball at Portland State from 1978-80.
• JR S Nate Salu's father, Ace, played at Portland State in 1988-89. Ace was a member of the Viking team that played for the NCAA II National Championship in '88.
 
TIDBITS OF VIKING TRIVIA
• SR RB Mitch Thompson, originally a walk-on at PSU in 2013, was surprised by Coach Bruce Barnum with a scholarship at the team's first meeting on the eve of 2016's first football practice. He has the Arthur Dickson Memorial Scholarship.
• Portland State has nine players on its roster that were formerly members of FBS programs.
• Portland State had a pair of former players meet in the Super Bowl for the first time in history in February 2014. TE Julius Thomas ('10, Denver) and DB DeShawn Shead ('11, Seattle) both played in Super Bowl XLVIII. Shead returned to the Super Bowl in 2015 with the Seahawks. He joins Clint Didier and Ted Popson as former Vikings with Super Bowl rings. Thomas was named a Pro Bowl tight end in 2013 and 2014. In the 2014 off-season, he signed the richest tight end contract in the NFL to play for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Thomas is now with Miami. Shead, a starting corner with the Seahawks in 2016, is currently recovering from an ACL injury.
• Offensive coordinator Steve Cooper, who played at Portland State (2007-08), has now been an assistant under three head coaches - Jerry Glanville, Nigel Burton and Bruce Barnum. He has a degree in Philosophy - somewhat uncommon in the football world. His sister is an up-and-coming singer on the national scene who lives in Nashville.
• Special teams coordinator and running backs coach Nick Whitworth was Bruce Barnum's first recruit when he was working at Idaho State.
• Offensive line coach AC Patterson's father, Andre, is a long-time NFL coach currently working with the Minnesota Vikings.
• Walk-on De'Sean Parsons played the past two seasons on the Viking basketball team. He was named third team All-Big Sky Conference in 2016-17 after leading the Vikings in scoring (14.3) and rebounding (6.2). The 6-7, 195-pounder will take a shot at the wide receiver position.
 
THE SCHEDULE
      Year in and year out Portland State football has one of the most challenging Football Championship Subdivision schedules in the country, and 2017 will be no different. The Vikings will open the season with a pair of FBS opponents sure to be popular with local fans, and conclude with four straight opponents who were participants in this year's FCS Playoffs.
      The Vikings will travel to BYU for the first time in history on Aug. 26, then play Oregon State for the fifth time ever on Sept. 2. Montana (home) and Montana State (road) return to the schedule, and the Vikings will also play 2016 FCS playoff teams North Dakota, Cal Poly, Weber State and Eastern Washington over the final four weeks of 2017. In all, the Vikings will have five home games at Providence Park and six road games.
      PSU has its earliest start ever to a season when it plays BYU on Aug. 26. The Vikings and Cougars are allowed to play on "zero week" as Brigham Young plays a game at Hawai'i in 2017. The NCAA thus allows the program to schedule a 13th game.
      BYU was 9-4 in 2016, winning the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl over Wyoming.
      Portland State returns to Corvallis to play Oregon State on Sept. 2. The schools last met in 2014, a 29-14 OSU victory. The Beavers lead the all-time series, 4-0.
      Oregon State (4-8 in 2016) will be the seventh Pac-12 opponent in the last six seasons for the Vikings, and the 13th dating back to 2006.
      PSU will have a bye on Sept. 9, then host its home opener on Sept. 16 against UC Davis. Although the Aggies are members of the Big Sky, the game will be played as a non-conference matchup. PSU beat UC Davis, 51-29, in Davis on Nov. 5 and leads the all-time series, 11-4.
      The following Saturday will also be a bye for the Vikings, then they play eight straight Big Sky Conference games, alternating home and road.
      PSU hosts Montana in its Big Sky Conference opener on Sept. 30. The teams did not meet in 2016 due to the Big Sky having 13 members. The last meeting was a 35-16 PSU win in 2015. The Grizzlies were 6-5, 3-5 in Big Sky games in 2016.
      Portland State will travel to Montana State for a game on Oct. 7. PSU and MSU also did not play in 2016. The Vikings won the last matchup, 59-42, at Providence Park in 2015. The Bobcats were 4-7, 2-6 in Big Sky games in 2016.
      On Oct. 14, the Vikings will be back at Providence Park to face Northern Arizona. It marks the third straight week PSU plays a team it missed in 2016. In fact, the last meeting was in 2014, a 21-17 NAU win. The Lumberjacks were 5-6 in 2016, 4-4 in Big Sky Conference games.
      PSU has won at Idaho State in its last three trips to Pocatello and will get another chance on Oct. 21. Overall, the Vikings have beaten the Bengals six times in the last seven years, including a 45-20 decision this past season in Providence Park. ISU finished 2016 with a 2-9 record, 1-7 in the Big Sky.
      PSU's final four games of 2017 will be against the top four teams in the Big Sky in 2016, all of whom played in the FCS Playoffs.
      The Vikings welcome North Dakota to Providence Park on Oct. 28. The teams did not play in 2016 and UND won the most recent meeting, 19-17, in 2015. The Fighting Hawks (9-3, 8-0) were Big Sky Conference co-champions in 2016.
      Cal Poly (7-5, 5-3) will host the Vikings on Nov. 4 in San Luis Obispo. The Mustangs won last year's meeting at Providence Park, 55-35, advancing to the NCAA playoffs. They lead the all-time series, 12-11.
      PSU's home finale will be against Weber State. The Vikings will try to avenge a narrow, 14-10 loss to the Wildcats suffered last season in Ogden. Weber State was also 7-5, 6-2 in Big Sky play, and made it to the opening round of the FCS Playoffs.
      The regular season finale will take place in Cheney, WA as PSU and Eastern Washington square off in their annual Dam Cup rivalry game on Nov. 18. The Eagles took a close win in this year's regular season finale, 35-28. Portland State leads the all-time series, 20-18-1. Eastern went 12-2 in 2016, getting all the way the FCS National semifinals.
 
SCHEDULE NOTES
• This is the eighth time that Portland State has played at least two FBS level programs in the same season (the Vikings played three in 2006).
• Despite this being PSU's 71st season of football, the Vikings face BYU for just the first time in history.
• PSU faces only five teams in 2017 that were on the schedule in 2016 (UC Davis, Idaho State, Cal Poly, Weber State, Eastern Washington). The Vikings went 2-3 against those teams.
• Due to the 13-team Big Sky Conference, Portland State plays four league teams it did not see in 2016: Montana, Montana State, Northern Arizona and North Dakota. The Vikings see three other opponents cycle off their schedule in 2017: Southern Utah, Northern Colorado and Sacramento State.
• The 2017 NCAA I FCS playoffs, which includes 24 teams, begin on Nov. 25.
• The University of Idaho will rejoin the Big Sky Conference as a football-playing member in 2018.
 
PORTLAND STATE'S 2017 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Aug. 26, at BYU
Sept. 2, at Oregon State
Sept. 9, bye
Sept. 16, UC DAVIS (NC)
Sept. 23, bye
Sept. 30, MONTANA*
Oct. 7, at Montana State* (Root TV)
Oct. 14, NORTHERN ARIZONA*
Oct. 21, at Idaho State*
Oct. 28, NORTH DAKOTA*
Nov. 4, at Cal Poly*
Nov. 11, WEBER STATE*
Nov. 18, at Eastern Washington* (Root TV)
* Big Sky Conference game
Times and media information TBA