Complete notes and season preview

The opening of camp for the Portland State Football team will have a decidedly different look and feel in 2019. The Vikings will travel to Camp Rilea Training Center on the Oregon Coast on Monday for their first three days of workouts and 72 hours of team bonding.     

Camp Rilea, an Armed Forces Training Center, is located just south of Warrenton on the coast, approximately 88 miles from campus. PSU will have three afternoon practices, Aug. 5-7, using the Parade Field and Helipad Field at Camp Rilea.     

In addition to practice, the team will take part in numerous team building activities at Camp Rilea, and on the adjacent Del Rey Beach State Recreational Site. Players will bunk in the barracks, eat at the mess hall and take in all the offerings of the training center.     

"The goal of our time at Camp Rilea is for the team to come out of this as one," said Head Coach Bruce Barnum as he held out his hand showing five fingers, then slowly forming it into a fist.

Portland State will return to campus on Thursday, Aug. 8, to resume practice at Stott Community Field. The remainder of the fall practice schedule will take place at Stott, and return to the traditional morning workouts.     

The Vikings will have three formal scrimmages during camp, Aug. 13, Aug. 17 and Aug. 22. All will take place during the normal morning practice times.     

Portland State's football schedule will open in an unique way as well when the Vikings travel to face an SEC team for the first time in school history. PSU plays at Arkansas on Aug. 31 in a game televised on the SEC Network. The six-game home schedule, played entirely at Hillsboro Stadium, begins on Sept. 7 against Division II Simon Fraser.

Portland State Football Practice Schedule
Mon., Aug. 5       3-5 p.m., Practice at Camp Rilea
Tues., Aug. 6      4-6 p.m., Practice at Camp Rilea
Wed., Aug. 7       4-6 p.m., Practice at Camp Rilea
Thurs., Aug. 8     return to Portland State, 4-6 p.m.
Fri., Aug. 9         7:30-10 a.m.
Sat. Aug. 10        7:30-10 a.m.
Sun., Aug. 11      Off Day
Mon., Aug. 12     7:30-10 a.m.
Tues., Aug. 13    7:30-10 a.m. (scrimmage)
Wed., Aug. 14     7:30-10 a.m.
Thurs., Aug. 15   7:30-10 a.m.
Fri., Aug. 16        7:30-10 a.m.
Sat., Aug. 17       7:30-10 a.m. (scrimmage)
Sun., Aug. 18      Off Day
Mon., Aug. 19     7:30-10 a.m.
Tues., Aug. 20    7:30-10 a.m.
Wed., Aug. 21     7:30-10 a.m.
Thurs., Aug. 22   7:30-10 a.m. (scrimmage)
Fri.-Sun, Aug. 23-25         TBA
Mon. Aug. 26      7:30-10 a.m.
Tues., Aug. 27    7:30-10 a.m.
Wed., Aug. 28     7:30-10 a.m.
Thurs., Aug. 29   Travel and Practice in Arkansas
Fri., Aug. 30        Walk through at Arkansas
Sat., Aug. 31       Vikings vs. Arkansas 3 p.m. CT/1 p.m. PT

HERE COME THE VIKINGS
For the first time since the 2015 season, Portland State will open the season with a team dominated more by experience than youth. The Vikings return 46 letterwinners from the 2018 season. Nineteen starters, including nine on offense, eight on defense and two on special teams are back. PSU was 4-7 in 2018, 3-5 in the Big Sky Conference.     

The Vikings' strengths going into the season are likely to be a (finally) experienced and talented group of skill players on offense, as well as experience and talent at defensive tackle and in the defensive backfield.
 

2019 SEASON NOTES 

ROSTER BREAKDOWN
• The Vikings return nine starters and 25 letterwinners on offense. They return eight starters and 19 letterwinners on defense. Two starters return on special teams. In all, 46 letterwinners and 16 redshirts return for 2019.
• Portland State has signed 28 players for the coming season, 18 freshman and 10 transfers. Sixteen are defensive players, 11 are on offense and one is on special teams.
• The Viking roster consists of 18 seniors, 27 juniors, 19 sophomores and 29 freshmen prior to the addition of walk-ons.
• There are 30 Oregonians on the roster and four players from just across the river in the Vancouver area.

CHUCK IN CHARGE: PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN, PAYTON CANDIDATE
If the reviews and previews are accurate, Portland State tight end Charlie Taumoepeau should be headed for a big senior season. Taumoepeau as he has been named a pre-season first team Division I FCS All-American by Stats Inc, Hero Sports and Athlon. In addition, he has been named to the 25-player Walter Payton Award Watch List. The Walter Payton Award goes annually to the top offensive player in the nation at the FCS level (effectively the FCS version of the Heisman Trophy).     

The 6-3, 245-pound senior from Federal Way, WA has been the Vikings top offensive threat the past two years. Taumoepeau had 45 receptions for 673 yards and three touchdowns as a sophomore. It was the most receptions by a Viking tight end in 29 seasons. Last year, Taumoepeau started the season on fire, making eight receptions for 255 yards and four touchdowns in back-to-back weeks against Nevada and Oregon.     

Taumoepeau was leading the nation in yards per catch (36.2) and touchdowns (5) after three weeks, but he later missed time with a mid-season ankle injury. Taumoepeau still finished with 28 catches for 580 yards and five scores, ranking sixth in the nation in yards per catch (20.7), first among tight ends. He was named a consensus second team All-American despite being limited due to injury.     

For his career, Taumoepeau has 81 receptions for 1,402 yards and nine touchdowns. He is within reach of PSU's all-time top 10 for receptions and receiving yards going into his senior season. Taumoepeau is a two-time All-Big Sky Conference selection.     

Other Big Sky Conference Players on the Payton Award Watch List include Troy Andersen (MSU), Eric Barriere (EWU), Case Cookus (NAU), and Jake Maier (UCD).

TAUMOEPEAU, BARTLETT NAMED PRESEASON ALL-BIG SKY
Portland State seniors Charlie Taumoepeau and Kenton Bartlett were selected to the Big Sky Preseason All-Conference team in voting by league media in July.      

Taumoepeau, an All-American tight end, and Bartlett, an all-conference defensive tackle, will lead the Vikings into the 2019 season.     

Bartlett and Taumoeapeau were among 29 players in the Big Sky Conference selected to the preseason All-Conference team.    

Taumoeopeau is a two-time All-Big Sky performer at tight end. He was a consensus second team All-American pick in 2018, and has made preseason All-America lists in 2019. Taumoepeau, a 6-3, 245-pounder from Federal Way, WA, has 73 receptions, 1,253 yards and eight touchdowns in his last 20 games played.     

Bartlett earned third team All-Big Sky Conference and Academic All-Big Sky honors in 2018. A fixture in the middle of the line, he has started 21 of 22 games the last two seasons. Bartlett, a 6-3, 270-pounder from Boise, ID, has 66 tackles and six tackles for loss over that span.

THESE ARE NOT TYPOS
Yes, it's true. Viking newcomer John Krahn is 6-foot-10, 410 pounds. Would that make him the biggest Viking ever? Yes, it would. The biggest player in college football in the coming season? Without scanning hundreds of college football rosters, we will say... possibly, probably.     

Krahn is a junior college transfer from Riverside Community College. He played high school football at King HS in Riverside.     

Perhaps just as interesting as Krahn's height and weight is his arm length. Krahn was measured at 36.5 inches arm length in the spring - a full three inches longer than any other player on the team. That reach should be handy while blocking on the offensive line.     

Also on the line in 2019 is JR Daniel Giannosa. He moves over after two seasons at tight end to play offensive tackle. Giannosa came to PSU as a 6-8, 240-pound freshman. He now stands 6-9 1/2 and 280 pounds.

STAFF CHANGES
Portland State has added Skyler Fulton to its coaching staff as the new wide receivers coach. Fulton spent the past two seasons coaching with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.     

The Vikings lost a pair of coaches in the off-season. Nick Whitworth, formerly the special teams coordinator, moved on to a similar position at Texas State. AC Patterson, formerly the tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator, is now with the Minnesota Vikings.     

Assistant coach Evan Mozzochi is now coaching quarterbacks and tight ends. He, along with defensive backs coach Colin Fry, are in charge of recruiting.

Defensive Coordinator Payam Saadat was elevated to the role of Associate Head Coach in the off-season as well.

A FULL-TIME MOVE TO HILLSBORO
Portland State Football moves to Hillsboro Stadium in 2019 as its full-time home venue. The Vikings join the Viking softball and soccer programs, which already use the Gordon Faber Recreation Complex in Hillsboro, as a full-time home.

The move to Hillsboro for football was made due to increasing challenges for home scheduling at Providence Park. Portland State had used Providence Park as its home venue since the 1960s. However, conflicts with Portland Timbers soccer in recent seasons had forced the Vikings to occasionally have to move out of the stadium for home games. In 2018, PSU played four of five home games at Hillsboro due to schedule conflicts.

The logistics and cost of moving back and forth between venues, and occasionally not knowing if Providence Park would be available (due to potential MLS post-season games), helped necessitate the move. Having Hillsboro as a consistent home should be more beneficial to the program, fans and staff, as well as be financially more prudent.

Portland State has played 17 games all-time at the surburban stadium. PSU played the entire 2000 and 2010 seasons at Hillsboro due to construction at Providence Park. In 2018, the Vikings played four of five home games at Hillsboro, and has had some one-off games in recent years.

REMEMBERING DEANTE
Deante Strickland never played a down for the Portland State Football team, but he will never be forgotten. Strickland, who played basketball for two seasons with the Vikings, earned his degree in June and was preparing to compete in football in his fifth year. But the former Central Catholic (OR) football and basketball star never got the chance. He died tragically on Aug. 2 at the hands of a senseless act of violence. Strickland was a popular and well-known Portlander for his athletic achievements. After competing at Casper College in Wyoming he came back to PSU and played two seasons of basketball, competing in 65 games for the Vikings. His love for football never waned, and after completing his basketball career, Strickland knew he wanted to get back on the gridiron. Although that dream did not come true, he will always be remembered by his Viking Family. Rest in peace, Deante.

THE 2019 SCHEDULE
Portland State's football schedule takes on a slightly different look in the 2019 season. The Vikings will play 12 games due to an additional weekend prior to a late Thanksgiving holiday, and will have six home games. Also different will be a full home schedule played at Hillsboro Stadium, PSU's alternate home in recent seasons.     

Due to scheduling conflicts with Providence Park in 2018, Portland State played four of its five home games at Hillsboro. Because of on-going scheduling challenges, PSU will move to Hillsboro full-time in 2019. In the past, Portland State played full seasons at Hillsboro (2000 and 2010) as well as some one-off games in other seasons.     

Portland State's last 12-game schedule came in 2014. The last six-game home schedule was 2013 (not counting the playoff season of 2015). PSU plays four non-conference games, then an eight-game Big Sky schedule that gets progressively more difficult as the season goes on.     

The Vikings come off a 4-7 season in 2018. A modest record, yes, but a four-game improvement over a winless 2017. Also, the Vikings pulled off a big road upset over 14th-ranked Montana, showed a vastly improved defense, and a young, but maturing offense.     

The opening game of 2019 also has a different look as Portland State will face a Southeastern Conference opponent for the first time in its history. The Vikings take on Arkansas on Aug. 31 in Fayetteville. The Razorbacks were 2-10 in 2018.

Portland State returns home on Sept. 7 to face Simon Fraser, an NCAA II member of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. The Clan was 1-9 last season. It will be the first meeting between PSU and SFU since 1982. The Vikings lead the all-time series, 8-2.     

Another road contest comes on Sept. 14 as the Vikings play their second "money" game against an FBS-level opponent. PSU will travel to Boise State for the first time since 2005. The Broncos were 10-3 last season, 7-1 in the Mountain West Conference, and finished the year ranked 25th in the nation. Boise State leads the all-time series, 6-1.     

PSU's final non-conference game will be a home contest with Eastern Oregon on Sept. 21. The Mountaineers come off a 6-4 year in 2018 as an NAIA program. Portland State leads the all-time series 10-5-1, including a 57-17 decision in 2013.     

A road game at Idaho State opens the Big Sky schedule on Sept. 28. The Vikings and Bengals squared off in a thriller in 2018 with Idaho State winning 48-45. ISU leads the all-time series 25-18-1. However, the Vikings lead the Big Sky series, 12-11. Their last win in Pocatello came in 2015. Idaho State was 6-5 in 2018.     

Portland State's next two games are at home. First up is Southern Utah on Oct. 5. The Vikings and Thunderbirds have not met since 2016. SUU was only 1-10 last fall. The Vikings lead the all-time series, 9-4, and the Big Sky series, 3-1.     

On Oct. 12, PSU hosts Idaho at home for the first time since 1989. The Vikings will try to avenge last October's loss in a defensive struggle. Idaho matched PSU with a 4-7/3-5 record. The Vandals lead the all-time series, 12-1, and the teams will be playing just their second game as Big Sky Conference opponents.     

Back-to-back road games follow to a pair of venues the Vikings have not seen in a few years. Portland State will play at Northern Colorado on Oct. 19, then Northern Arizona on Oct. 26.     

PSU has not played in Greeley since 2015. The Vikings beat the Bears last year, 35-14, in Portland and lead the Big Sky series, 6-4. UNC was 2-9 in 2018.     

Remarkably, PSU has played Northern Arizona only two times since 2012. That was also the last time the Vikings played in Flagstaff. Portland State's last win in Flagstaff was in 2006 - or three coaches ago. PSU is just 1-7 against the Lumberjacks since that time. NAU was 4-6 on the season as one game at Sacramento State was cancelled.     

The home stretch, through the month of November, will be the most challenging of the year for the Vikings.     

Portland State will host perennial powerhouse Montana on Nov. 2. No doubt the Griz will want payback for PSU's 22-20 upset win at Washington-Grizzly Stadium. It was only the Vikings fourth win over Montana ever in Big Sky play. The other three have come at home. The nationally-ranked Griz saw their season upended after that loss, losing three of their last five and finishing 6-5.     

A pair of top-10 ranked opponents come in the final two games.     

Portland State hosts UC Davis on Nov. 9. The Aggies were NCAA FCS Quarterfinalists before losing to Eastern Washington. The Aggies went 10-3 on the season, their best year at the Division I level. PSU had won four in a row against the Aggies before a 37-14 loss in 2017. The Vikings still lead the all-time series, 11-5.     

After a bye week on Nov. 16, PSU's final game is against traditional rival Eastern Washington, Nov. 23. The Eagles went all the way to the FCS National Championship in 2018 before losing to North Dakota State. Eastern's 12-3 record included a season-finale win over the Vikings. The all-time series is tied 20-20-1 with the Eagles leading the Big Sky series, 15-8.

SCHEDULE NOTES
• This will be the 73rd season of Portland State football (1947).
• Year in and year out Portland State football has one of the most challenging Football Championship Subdivision schedules in the country, and 2019 will be no different. The Vikings play a pair of FBS opponents, Arkansas and Boise State, and face two Top-10 programs from 2018 - Eastern Washington and UC Davis.
• This will be the 10th time that Portland State has played at least two FBS level programs in the same season (the Vikings played three in 2006).
• Portland State plays two lower division schools in 2019 (Simon Fraser, NCAA II; Eastern Oregon, NAIA). The Vikings are 16-0 in games against lower division opponents since moving to Division I in 1996. It marks the first time PSU has played two lower division schools since 2013.
• PSU faces only five teams in 2019 that were on the schedule in 2018 (Idaho State, Idaho, Northern Colorado, Montana, Eastern Washington).
• In the Big Sky Conference's unusual 14-team format in 2019 (Idaho returned in football in 2018 and North Dakota has departed but remains in the scheduling rotation until 2020), Portland State faces just eight of the other 13 members. PSU will miss Big Sky schools Weber State, Montana State, Cal Poly and Sacramento State on their schedule in 2019. In addition, the Vikings will play Northern Arizona for only the third time in seven years and first time on the road in 2012.
• It is incumbent upon the Portland State program to create a home field advantage at Hillsboro Stadium. In the 17 games it has played all-time at the surburban stadium, PSU is 7-10. Portland State played the entire 2000 (4-2) and 2010 (1-3) seasons at Hillsboro due to construction at Providence Park. In 2018, the Vikings played four of five home games at Hillsboro (1-3). Including some one-off contests in other seasons, PSU is now 7-10 all-time at Hillsboro Stadium as its home field.

OTHER TIDBITS OF VIKING TRIVIA
• Portland State has 30 players on the roster from the state of Oregon, plus four others from just across the river and the Vancouver, WA area.
• Players who originally walked on but have earned scholarships include: SR FB Sirgeo Hoffman, JR WR Easton Trakel and SR OL Larry Brister.
• JR WR Emmanuel Daigbe was born in Liberia. Originally he wrestled in college at Highline and Green River CCs.
• SR CB Montre Brown has trained to be a pilot with a former Tuskegee Airman and has soloed. He plans to resume his pursuit of a career in flying after his college career.
• SO S Anthony Adams is the brother of former Vikings WR Darnell Adams. Anthony is expected to be a key defensive back for the Vikings in seasons to come. Darnell finished his career in 2017 (99 receptions, 1,568 yards, 12 touchdowns).
• JR DE Cody Brown is the brother of former Vikings OL Josh Brown. Both  prepped at Sunset (Beaverton, OR) HS.
• SO WR Mataio Talalemotu is the son of Ina Talalemotu, who played in 1987-88 on Portland State's two NCAA II National finalist teams. He is also the cousin of former Viking DL Savali Talalemotu.
• SO DE Jake Porter's father, Jason, was a four-year letterwinner in baseball at Portland State (1991-94).
• Portland State has three players on the roster that were formerly members of FBS programs.
• In 2018, PSU had a school-record 19 student-athletes earn Academic All-Big Sky Conference honors.
• Offensive Coordinator Matt Leunen (OL/TE, 2005-09) is a PSU alum who played for the Vikings.
• 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 retired in the 2018 off-season after a seven-year career that included 71 games, 226 receptions, 2,406 yards and 36 touchdowns. Shead, a starting corner with the Seahawks in 2016, missed 2017 due to an ACL injury, then signed and played with Detroit in 2018.
• As of August 1, LB Patrick Onwuasor - Baltimore Ravens; LS Kameron Canaday  - Pittsburgh Steelers; C Cornelius Edison - Minnesota Vikings; CB DeShawn Shead - Seattle Seahawks

2019 SEASON PREVIEW
If you are around Portland State Football Head Coach Bruce Barnum for any length of time you will, at some point, hear him say - "The plan is coming together" - sometimes in seriousness, sometimes in jest. However, there is no question he means it in all seriousness when discussing his Viking football team in 2019.     

After spending the past couple of seasons rebuilding from the ground up, Barnum will put a team on the field that has the most experience since the playoff squad of 2015. And that experience should begin to show. Though the Vikings still have more combined freshmen and sophomores than they have junior and seniors - and the senior class is still the smallest of the four - Portland State can boast 46 returning letterwinners, including 19 starters (nine on offense, eight on defense and two on special teams).     

The plan also included an earlier spring practice season, running from late February to mid-March. That allowed the team a longer rest and recuperation period off the field, but also a long, uninterrupted stretch of weight training through the spring and summer.     

Spring practice also included a lot more live sessions than normal, allowing a still relatively young squad to get more "game-like" experience.                     

"The only way to learn football is to play it and we played more football this spring than I've ever done in my life as a college coach," Barnum said. "My philosophy is, we didn't make the playoffs so those playoff teams got a lot more football in than we did. We're going to catch up."     

Barnum expects a modest (though vastly improved) 4-7 record in 2018 to blossom into a winning record in 2019.

OFFENSE
A youthful offense last season now features upperclassmen at quarterback, eight letterwinners at wide receiver (after having one in 2018), nine at offensive line, three at running back and three at tight end.    

Davis Alexander (5-11, 195) and Jalani Eason (5-11, 185) have run virtually all the plays behind center the past two seasons. Now both juniors, the dual-threat quarterbacks have the moxie to lead the Viking offense. Alexander started 10 of 11 games last year, had more than 2,000 yards of total offense and was responsible for 23 touchdowns. Eason had over 700 yards of offense and six touchdowns. Rutgers transfer Jalen Chatman (FR, 6-0, 185) may also have something to say at quarterback. He was originally recruited by the Vikings and was able to compete in spring practice.     

Portland State's "by-committee" running game lost senior Darian Green (470 yards), but returns seniors Carlos Martin (5-11, 205) and Sirgeo Hoffman (6-0, 215) to lead that group. Despite injury time for both, they combined for over 600 yards and four touchdowns. Alexander and Eason had nearly 800 yards and 15 touchdowns in the running game.     

Junior college transfers Evyn Holtz (5-9, 190, American River College) and Malik Walker (6-0, 190, Riverside CC) are also expected to have an impact in the backfield.     

The passing game begins with All-American tight end Charlie Taumoepeau (6-3, 245). The senior is so well-respected, that despite missing a big chunk of the middle of last season due to injury, he still garnered first team All-Big Sky Conference recognition and a host of All-America awards. He was leading the nation in touchdowns and yards per catch after three weeks but an ankle injury cost him a couple of games and slowed him in several others. Taumoepeau still finished with 28 catches for 580 yards and five touchdowns to lead the Vikings.     

Right behind Taumoepeau is another talented tight end in junior AJ Ruffin (6-5, 250, 15-177-0) and, returning from injury, sophomore Malik Thirdgill (6-4, 240).     

Perhaps the most improved group on the roster is at wide receiver. The Vikings ran a host of freshmen and sophomores on the field last year, and they had virtually no collegiate experience. A year later, they look very good. Sophomores Mataio Talalemotu (6-1, 180, 23-402-2) and Emmanuel Daigbe (6-1, 200, 23-373-4)  combined to start 20 games last season. They should see a big advancement in their games in 2019.     

Sophomores Davis Koetter (6-2, 195) and George McCorley (6-3, 200) and senior Jacob Bystry (6-0, 180) are all experienced players now adding great depth at the wideout spot.     

The slot receiver position is one area from which Barnum is demanding more production. The Vikings should be loaded with juniors Easton Trakel (5-9, 180) and Antwone Williams (5-8, 170) and sophomore Beau Kelly (5-9, 165). Trakel and Kelly combined for 17 catches last season and would have had more, but both spent significant time on the sidelines with injuries. Williams moves over from running back to take advantage of his open-field running skills.     

In addition, JoJo Siofele (5-10, 205) may find a role at slot receiver or in the backfield as a true freshman.     

The offensive line will be anchored by All-Conference guard Korbin Sorensen (6-6, 305), now a junior. Sorensen is likely to move to the left tackle spot in 2019. Another returning starter is center Garrett Stauffer (6-4, 295), who was granted a sixth year of eligibility after having two injury seasons (2015 and 2017). Stauffer has started at center the last 16 games he has been healthy.     

Speaking of health, the Vikings starting right tackle, Carlos Barraza (6-3, 300), will try to bounce back from a spring leg injury. Whether he is ready to go in the fall has yet to be determined. Fortunately for the Vikings, a number of experienced players are back to compete for starting time. Sophomore Tyson Pauling (6-5, 310) had a preseason injury last year, but came back to start four games at guard for the Vikings. Sophomore Brady Brick (6-5, 285), seniors Larry Brister (6-2, 285) and Spencer Reed (6-3, 270) and junior Tommy Laverde (6-5, 290) have all seen game action at guard. Another letterwinner is Daniel Giannosa, who has spent the past two seasons at tight end. At 6-9, 280 pounds, Giannosa has been moved over to tackle and showed signs of potential during spring practice.     

A group of redshirts, led by Babak Ghadaksaz (6-2, 300), Shiloh Ta'ase (6-3, 275) and Alex Rockwell (6-3, 270) are also ready to go, while the Vikings have brought in a pair of intriguing newcomers at tackle. They include 6-10, 410-pound John Krahn from Riverside Community College and 6-6, 330-pound Dontae Powell from Arizona Western College.     

Krahn has been touted as (though not confirmed to be) the biggest man in college football. His time in spring practice with the Vikings showed he will have a role.     

"Somebody is going to have to run around him," Barnum said of the big man. "Very few will run through him, and if they do they have to climb a mountain and run back down the other side he's so big."     

Powell is no "pee-wee" himself and has drawn significant interest, previously committing to Washington State.

DEFENSE
On the defensive side of the ball, the Vikings also return a solid group of players. Defensive Coordinator Payam Saadat will have to answer the question at middle linebacker though as last year's two anchors, Kasun Jackett and Houston Barnes, were seniors.     

Up front, the Vikings may have the most experience with senior tackles Kenton Bartlett (6-3, 275) and Anthony Del Toro (6-2, 295). Bartlett was third team All-Big Sky. Those two, along with junior Semise Kofe (6-1, 310, HM All-Big Sky) provide a big, strong rotation in the middle.     

Improved pass rushing is a continued area of emphasis for the Viking defense. It will come from a number of sources, but PSU needs it from the defensive end spot.      

Starting defensive end Noah Yunker (6-4, 250) is back following a break-through season. An ankle injury ended his year early, but the junior should be healthy for fall camp. Senior Shawn Richard (6-2, 235) and sophomore Jake Porter (6-4, 245) are the other two letterwinners back at defensive end.     

A transfer from Washington, Jarryn Bush (6-1, 265), will be counted on to contribute at the rush end position. Junior college transfer Jayson Pace (6-2, 260) and redshirt freshman James Thomas (6-1, 245) will be looked to to break through and contribute at defensive end as well.     

The whip linebacker role is a type of hybrid stand-up defensive lineman, and the Vikings have returning experience there as well with juniors Nicolas Ah Sam (6-1, 250) and Dylan Hanley (6-2, 225) and sophomore Boogie Davis (6-3, 255) returning. Sophomore transfer Moses Finau (6-1, 240) also brings an intriguing talent and size to the role. Finau has one year experience at Division II Humboldt State where he was named the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year.     

A number of players contended for the middle linebacker role during spring practice. Junior Steffen Jacobsen (6-2, 220) may have a chance to fulfill his promise at the position as he enters fall camp at the top of the depth chart. Isaiah Henry (5-11, 205) and Storm Crozier (6-1,185) are a pair of redshirt freshmen who are trying to break through at the position as well.      

Senior Romeo Gunt (5-10, 190) is likely to lead the rover position in 2019. Gunt became a big factor on defense from mid-season forward last year and was one of PSU's top playmakers. He is the team's top returning tackler with 58 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, two interceptions and a fumble recovery last year. Sophomore Robert Holt (6-2, 215) returns at the position and redshirt freshmen David Joseph (6-1, 200) appears ready to go as a contributor.     

Portland State's defensive backfield has the most overall experience with six returning letterwinners and all four starters. Barnum feels that group could be the strength of the team in 2019.     

Safeties Ryan Lesch (6-1, 200) and Anthony Adams (6-0, 180) combined for 90 tackles. Adams added seven pass breakups, an interception and a fumble recovery. He is just a sophomore and will be a key member of the defense for seasons to come.     

Junior Sam Inos (5-11, 190) is experienced after four starts last year and provides depth at the safety positions as does transfer KJ Walker (6-0, 175), a redshirt at Boise State last year.     

At cornerback, starters Maxwell Howell (6-2, 190) and Deon Crayon (6-2, 180) both return as well as key backup Montre Brown (6-1, 185). All three had interceptions last season and combined for more than 50 tackles.

SPECIAL TEAMS
Portland State should be solid on special teams with the return of senior long snapper Riley Shackelford (6-1, 235) and sophomore kicker Cody Williams (5-10, 190). Shackelford started every game of his career until a mid-season knee injury last year. He will be available when the season starts and delivering to Williams on a regular basis. As a true freshman, Williams opened eyes with a 52-yard game-winning field goal at Montana in the closing seconds. He produced 11-14 field goals overall, all 37 extra point attempts, and earned third team All-Big Sky honors.             

The Vikings have brought in junior college transfer Seth Vernon (6-5, 230) to handle punting duties this season.