Complete Spring Prospectus in pdf

For the second year in a row, Portland State Football will make an early turn of the calendar to spring. The Vikings open spring practice on Feb. 19 at Stott Community Field.

PSU returns 48 letterwinners to the 2020 roster. Ten others gained game experience in 2019, but were able to maintain their redshirt status. The Vikings have six starters back on offense, five on defense, as well as their kicker and punter. In addition, two starters on defense and one on offense who missed most of last season due to injury also return. So, PSU may have its most experienced roster in the past four seasons taking the field. 

Including redshirts, the Vikings should have approximately 73 players available to compete in the spring. From its recent signing class of 19, two members will also be on campus to compete in the spring.

Head Coach Bruce Barnum begins his sixth season at the helm. The Vikings were 5-7 in 2019, 3-5 in the Big Sky Conference. PSU averaged 34.7 points and 453.8 yards of total offense while allowing 30.0 points and 408.6 yards on defense.

The Vikings will practice 15 times over four weeks, culminating in the Spring Game on Mar. 14 at Stott Community Field.

OFFENSE
Senior quarterback Davis Alexander (5-11, 195), who has started 25 career games for the Vikings, will lead an offense loaded with talented receivers. PSU led the nation in time of possession last season, as Alexander's superb pass-run skills led him to 3,445 yards of total offense and 30 total touchdowns for the Vikings. As effective as he has been, Alexander will look to improve his 57% completion mark in 2020.

There is a wealth of depth at quarterback behind Alexander. Junior Jalani Eason (5-11, 185) is back after taking a redshirt season due to a nagging ankle injury. He has played in 20 career games with six starts. Eason, a bit more of a run-oriented signal caller than Alexander, has 1,875 yards of total offense and 18 total touchdowns in his career.

Then come redshirt freshman Dante Chachere (6-3, 170), sophomore Jalen Chatman (6-0, 185) and junior Nathan West (6-3, 220), all of whom saw brief action in 2019. Redshirt freshman DeMontre Thomas (6-1, 210) also returns after being scout team quarterback last season.

Alexander has a big arm and plenty of weapons from which to choose. His top four wide receivers return as juniors Beau Kelly (5-9, 165), Mataio Talalemotu (6-1, 180) and Davis Koetter (6-2, 195), and senior Emmanuel Daigbe (6-1, 210) combined for 140 receptions, 2,178 yards and 22 touchdowns in 2019.

Experienced receivers George McCorley (6-2, 200) and Easton Trakel (5-9, 180) and redshirt freshmen Marshaun Tucker (6-2, 170) and Zach Folsom (5-10, 170) give the Vikings great depth on the outside. Kick return specialist Deion Malone (5-7, 150), a junior college signee from Los Angeles Southwest College, should also offer depth at slot receiver when he arrives in the fall.

One area the Vikings need to shore up will be tight end. PSU lost All-American Charlie Taumoepeau, who is vieing to play in the NFL. The Vikings have plenty of candidates to play and will benefit from the return of AJ Ruffin (6-5, 250), who was a redshirt last year. As a sophomore backup in 2018, he had 15 receptions for 177 yards. Other returning letterwinners who will need to expand their contributions are junior Malik Thirdgill (6-4, 250), senior Daniel Giannosa (6-10, 255) and sophomore John Schulte (6-5, 230). Junior college signee Anthony Rodriguez (6-3, 235), who arrives in the fall, and redshirt freshman Elias Spence (6-4, 220) are wildcards in the mix. 

At running back, young players Jobadiah Malary (5-11, 215, 12-93-1 in one game) and JoJo Siofele (5-10, 205, 2-6-0 in one game) will step into primary roles along with returning senior Malik Walker (6-0, 195, 66-284-4) and junior Bishop Mitchell (5-9, 180), who returns from an injury season.

A pair of signees may also have something to say about playing time when they arrive in the fall. Jarmar Julien, a sophomore from San Francisco City College, gives the Vikings the big back (5-11, 230) that Coach Barnum has been looking for. Jalynnee McGee (5-10, 195), a freshman from Skyview High School in Vancouver, was the Greater St. Helens League Offensive Player of the Year.

Redshirt Ahmir McGee (5-11, 185) gives Portland State a stable of seven backs heading into the season.

The Vikings will have veterans up front in returning senior starters Babak Ghadaksaz (6-2, 290), Carlos Barraza (6-3, 300) and sophomore Shiloh Ta'ase (6-3, 290), as well as experienced veterans in juniors Tyson Pauling (6-5, 310) and Brady Brick (6-5, 290), and seniors John Krahn (6-10, 410) and Tommy Laverde (6-5, 290). Redshirt freshman Richard Estrella (6-4, 315) will also compete for a starting role.

Barazza and Ta'ase finished the 2019 season as the starting tackles, bracketing the offensive line. Ghadaksaz spent the year at guard, but is likely to move over to center to replace the graduated Garrett Stauffer. Estrella started the season finale at right guard and played well. Brick and Pauling also have starts in their careers at guard, while Krahn and Laverde are experienced players as well. 

The Vikings can add redshirt Alex Rockwell (6-3, 270) to the depth on the line, while graduate transfer Carlton Lorenz (6-4, 290) from Vanderbilt should compete to start as well when he arrives later this year.

One thing is certain on the line: the Viking coaching staff will experiment throughout the spring moving players to different spots from practice to practice to see which combination and locations work the best. 

DEFENSE
All-American safety Anthony Adams (6-0, 185) is the feature player on a Viking defense that returns five starters. In addition, the Vikings benefit from the return of starters at safety, Ryan Lesch, and defensive end, Noah Yunker, who missed most of last year due to injury, effectively giving them seven starters back. 

Yunker (6-4, 255, 9 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, 1.5 SKs in four games) and Jake Porter (6-4, 250, 35 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, 4.5 SKs, 3 PBUs, FR), fellow Oregonians, are experienced defensive ends with 30 career starts between them. They will be pushed to improve the Vikings' pass rush in 2020. Sophomore James Thomas (6-1, 245, 10 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, 1 SK) will push those two for playing time, as will redshirt freshman Kennedy Freeman (6-2, 240).

Senior Cody Brown (6-3, 250) and redshirt sophomore Jayson Pace (6-1, 240) will be counted on to contribute at defensive end as well.

PSU will miss defensive tackles Kenton Bartlett and Anthony Del Toro, who have graduated. Senior defensive tackle Semise Kofe (6-2, 315, 30 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, 2.5 SKs) is the most experienced returner and should lead up front with 32 career games and 12 career starts. 

Junior Boogie Davis (6-3, 255, 17 tackles, 3 TFLs) is the only other experienced player at the tackle spot. So the coaching staff has brought in transfer defensive tackles Holden Williams (6-0, 285, Bakersfield College) and VJ Malo (6-1, 270, Golden West College). Both will be on the field in the spring learning the Vikings' flex defense.

Depending on their development, redshirt freshman Ethan Tela-Porter (6-2, 285) and true freshman Martin Salazar (5-10, 275) may find time on the field at tackle as well.

Linebackers Nicolas Ah Sam (6-1, 250), Dylan Hanley (6-2, 225) and David Joseph (6-1, 200), who ranked 3-4-5 in tackles for the Vikings are also back.

Hanley (45 tackles, 2.5 TFLs), a senior, sophomore Zack Mandera (6-1, 220, 27 tackles, FR) and junior Robert Holt (6-2, 215, 29 tackles, 2 TFLs, INT) all had starts at middle linebacker in 2019.  In spring ball, Hanley is slated to work out at buck linebacker, while Holt will be at the whip and Mandera will stay in the middle. They should all battle for significant playing time in 2020. Defensive coordinator Payam Saadat will have a lot of options at linebacker as he has added to the mix junior college transfer Tevita Tuitavake (6-0, 215), who will arrive in the fall. 

The whip linebacker spot returns a pair of experienced players. Ah Sam (36 tackles, 7 TFLs), a senior who has 16 career starts, will likely hold down the spot again. However, junior Moses Finau (6-1, 240, 17 tackles, 1.5 TFLs) earned two starts at the whip in 2019. He is likely to move to the Buck and compete with Hanley and redshirt freshman Justice Pagan (6-2, 220) for playing time. Redshirt sophomore Monquel Glasow (6-2, 235) adds depth at linebacker as well.

Senior Steffen Jacobsen (6-2, 215), a talented player who has managed only 16 career games due to a variety of injuries, will get a look at middle linebacker once again. He was slated to compete to start there last season before injuries limited him to two games late in the season. Sophomore Isaiah Henry (5-11, 205) is another experienced player who will compete for time in the middle.

The rover back position lost third-leading tackler Romeo Gunt, who has graduated. But Joseph (39 tackles, 4.5 TFLS, FR), a sophomore, actually had the most starts at rover with seven. He should hold down that spot in 2020. Benton Hoge (5-10, 180), a sophomore, played almost exclusively on special teams in 2019 and should back up at rover. 

Adams, a junior, will provide leadership in the defensive backfield after a banner sophomore season. He led the nation in passes defensed in 2019 with five interceptions and a school-record 19 pass breakups. He also made 56 tackles to rank second on the team. Due to the Vikings inexperience at cornerback, Adams is expected to move over to boundary cornerback, a position he played in high school. As a result, Saadat will evaluate senior Arin Mannery (6-0, 180, 10 tackles, sophomore Greg Oliver (5-10, 165, 2 interceptions) and senior KJ Walker (6-0, 185) at the strong safety (Sam) position.

Lesch (6-1, 200, 13 tackles, 1 INT in three games) would have been one of the Vikings' key players in 2019 had he not gone down early with an injury. A senior, Lesch was able to take a redshirt season. His 14 games of experience, including 10 starts, includes 55 tackles and two interceptions. Along with Adams, their experience will be vital alongside an inexperienced cornerback group.

Redshirt freshman Karsonne Winters (6-3, 195) will bring excellent size to the competition for playing time at free safety along with Ty Apana-Purcell (5-9, 185).

Perhaps the most interesting position battle will be at cornerback (Adams notwithstanding) as no less than six redshirt freshmen vie for a starting role.

Emonte' Scott (6-3, 185) got a brief look at corner in 2019, and he is joined by Davion Gaines (6-0, 170), Semaj Bolin (5-10, 170), Michael Jackson (6-2, 185), Darius Harrison (5-11, 185) and Travis West (5-6, 155) among that redshirt group. 

Sophomore transfer Bobby Blandino (5-11, 185, Saddleback JC) will join the competition for playing time in the fall. 

SPECIAL TEAMS
Portland State can boast two of the best special teams performers in the Big Sky Conference. Junior kicker Cody Williams (5-10, 190) booted 15 field goals last season and holds three PSU records, including longest field goal (56 yards) and consecutive extra points (82). 

Senior punter Seth Vernon (6-5, 230) averaged 43.2 yards per punt last season, ranking 12th in the nation.

The Vikings look forward to having long snapper Riley Shackelford (6-1, 225) back after a redshirt season due to a knee injury. A senior, Shackelford had started 27 straight games prior to his injury in 2018.

PSU has added to its return game as well. JC transfer Deion Malone (5-7, 155). He averaged 39.8 yards per return, scoring two touchdowns last season.

In addition, wide receiver Emmanuel Daigbe was named first team All-Big Sky Conference at the special teams position with 11 tackles, a fumble recovery and a 19.5 yard kick return average.