A key rebuilding project for the Vikings this preseason is on the offensive line. Portland State lost four senior starters to graduation in 2017. The Vikings return only one full-time starter (SO Korbin Sorenson, 6-6, 3-5), one part-time starter (SR Josh Brown, 6-5, 300, last five games of last season) and one player with five career starts (SR Garrett Stauffer, 6-4, 295, last four games of 2016, first game of 2017 before being injured).

The only other offensive lineman with experience that returns is SR Peter Fisherkeller (6-5, 275). The lack of returning experience necessitated bringing in four junior college transfers in the off-season (Spencer Reed (6-3, 270, Moorpark JC), Babak Ghadaksaz (6-2, 300, Saddleback CC), Alex Rockwell (6-3, 270, College of the Canyons) and Carlos Barraza (6-3, 300, Sierra JC).

In the early-going of practice though, a pair of redshirt freshmen are seeing time on the first unit at the guard positions, Tyson Pauling (6-5, 310) and Brady Brick (6-5, 285). That comes as no surprise as Viking Head Coach Bruce Barnum was excited with their progress in the off-season. "What they have done with their bodies and with their skills in the off-season, I think they are going to fit right into the mix," Barnum said.

Those two, as well as Sorensen, Brown and Stauffer have made up the first unit for most of the first week.

In the end, talent wins out, as always.

"I told Dobber (OC/OL Coach Matt Leunen) to get the best five guys on the field. We will figure out the positions after that. We do have some versatility there. All four of the transfers we brought in can snap the ball, so that helps," said Barnum.

Among the newcomers, Barraza has seen significant time at right tackle while Rockwell and Spencer have worked out mostly at guard and Ghadaksaz has been at center.

All of the offensive linemen are getting multiple reps in live play sessions. And next week's two scrimmages will go a long way toward determining the "best five." The Viking coaching staff has exactly three weeks to sort it all out. PSU opens at Nevada on Aug. 31.

OTHER FRIDAY PRACTICE NOTES
• Portland State's starting quarterback battle appears to be as close as ever through five practices. It is becoming reminiscent of the four-player battle for the job in 2015 (Kieran McDonagh, Paris Penn, Josh Kraght and Alex Kuresa), won by Kuresa. Jalani Eason, Davis Alexander and Danny Velasquez, all sophomores, are the prime candidates this season. In a completely unscientific look at some of their production so far, here is a breakdown of their passing percentages in the last three days of 7-on-7 drills (noting that finding open receivers is infinitely easier when there is no pass rush): Eason, 14-20 completions (70%) with one dropped pass and one pass breakup; Alexander, 12-17 (71%), with one dropped pass, one pass breakup and one interception; Velasquez, 9-17 (53%), with three pass breakups and one interception.
• Speaking of interceptions, RS FR Anthony Adams picked up the second interception of camp on Friday morning when he grabbed a tipped pass in stride during 7-on-7 drills.
• The Vikings have experimented with snapping the ball with the quarterback under center in certain formations. Portland State has been almost exclusively shotgun-snapping while in pistol formation for the past several years.
• Portland State will complete its first full week of practice on Saturday. The Vikings went full pads on Friday and will do so again on Saturday morning. PSU's first full scrimmage comes on Tuesday morning.

PORTLAND STATE FOOTBALL TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets to all Vikings Football Games are on sale now! Fans can purchase a variety of options including, Seasons Tickets, Mini-Plans, and Single Games. For more information and to purchase visit GoViks.com/Tickets or call us at 1.888.VIK.TIKS (1.888.845.8457).

THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF VIKING FOOTBALL WITH BRUCE BARNUM

UPCOMING PRACTICE SCHEDULE
Sat, Aug. 11 7:30-10 a.m.
Sun, Aug. 12 Off Day
Mon, Aug. 13 7:30-10 a.m.
Tues, Aug. 14 7:30-10 a.m. (Scrimmage)
Wed, Aug. 15 7:30-10 a.m.
Thurs, Aug. 16 7:30-10 a.m.
Fri, Aug. 17 7:30-10 a.m.
Sat, Aug. 18 7:30-10 a.m. (Scrimmage)
Sun, Aug. 19 Off Day
Mon, Aug. 20 7:30-10 a.m.
Tues, Aug. 21 7:30-10 a.m.
Wed. Aug. 22 7:30-10 a.m.

All practices at Stott Community Field on the PSU campus