When Portland State Football begins its 2021 season practice this Friday morning at Stott Community Field, it will be confident in its team, talent and plan.

However, putting all the pieces together after not playing a season of football since 2019 will be a challenge for the players and the coaching staff. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, PSU was away from football for nearly a year with not so much as a team workout or lift together until late January 2021. The Vikings were able to put in a full spring practice session and compete in one game in April against Montana. But, there are still plenty of questions to be answered from the long layoff.     

Portland State has deepened its offensive skill positions, has filled the appropriate gaps on defense and expects to be a team to contend with in the Big Sky Conference. Now 20 months distant from PSU's last full season, it will be hard to predict anything.     

PSU returns 35 letterwinners from 2019 to the 2021 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 2019 due to injury also return. In addition, the 2020 signing class competed in spring football and the lone game against Montana. So, the Vikings may have its most experienced roster in the past four seasons taking the field.

Head Coach Bruce Barnum begins his seventh 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.

EARLIER THIS WEEK
2021 Preseason Football Practice Schedule
Barnum Adds Veteran Group To Viking Football Coaching Staff

A LOOK AT THE OFFENSE

Senior quarterback Davis Alexander (6-0, 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 in 2019 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 2021.     

There is a wealth of depth at quarterback behind Alexander. Redshirt freshman Dante Chachere (6-3, 185) and junior Nathan West (6-3, 210), both of whom saw brief action in 2019, will compete for a backup role. Redshirt freshman DeMontre Thomas (6-1, 210) also returns after being scout team quarterback in 2019.     

A pair of intriguing prospects have also joined the Vikings' quarterback room. One is Caden Filer (6-2, 200), whose high school career included 7,690 passing yards and 89 touchdowns at Lincoln High School in Tacoma. The other is Jaden Casey, a Cal transfer, with four remaining years of eligibility. He threw for 9006 yards with 101 touchdowns and 27 interceptions in his career at Calabasas (CA) high school. Freshman Mason Packer (6-0, 200), a talented all-around athlete, will get a look at quarterback as well.

New quarterbacks coach Jon Eagle, a multi-state champion-winning high school coach in Washington, will have a lot to work with as prepares that group.

Alexander has a big arm and plenty of weapons from which to choose. He has three key wide receivers returning in juniors Beau Kelly (5-9, 165, 31-442-3) and Mataio Talalemotu (6-1, 180, 31-459-4) and senior Emmanuel Daigbe (6-1, 210, 40-651-7).     

George McCorley (6-2, 200) and Jerad Toman (5-10, 165) both experienced receivers, return in 2021. Junior Bishop Mitchell (5-9, 180) returns from an injury season in 2019 and will try to get into the mix.     

Along with Kelly at slot receiver will be Job Dockery (5-11, 190), a junior transfer from Oregon State. 2020 signee Nate Bennett (6-3, 195) adds depth at the position.     

At the outside receiver, the Vikings made a big pickup with the addition of transfer wideout Darien Chase (6-1, 210), who spent the 2019 season at Nebraska, but is originally from Vancouver. Signees from the 2021 class Tre Anderson (6-3, 190), as well as Malcolm Tatum (6-3, 200) and Jayden Brannan (6-3, 190) are young players with size as well.     

One area the Vikings need to shore up will be tight end. PSU lost All-American Charlie Taumoepeau to the NFL after 2019. The Vikings will have plenty of candidates to play in 2021. Returning letterwinners who will need to expand their contributions are junior Malik Thirdgill (6-4, 240) and senior Daniel Giannosa (6-10, 270). Junior college signee Anthony Rodriguez (6-3, 235) and redshirt freshman Elias Spence (6-4, 220) are wildcards in the mix, as is late signee Kole Allen (6-3, 250).     

At running back, young players Jobi Malary (5-11, 225, 20-117-1 in two games) 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 in 2019).

A pair of signees may also have something to say about playing time. Jarmar Julien, a sophomore from San Francisco City College, gives the Vikings the big back (5-11, 250) 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 in 2019.     

Redshirt Ahmir McGee (5-11, 215), newcomer Treyvon Easterling (5-10, 210), who competed in the spring, and freshman Keenan Harpole (6-0, 190) give Portland State a stable of eight backs heading into the season.

Coach Skyler Fulton will work with the young, but talented running back group and assist Barnum with game planning as the team's new offensive coordinator.     

The Vikings will have veterans up front in returning senior starter Carlos Barraza (6-3, 290) and sophomore Shiloh Ta'ase (6-3, 310), as well as experience in juniors Tyson Pauling (6-5, 295) and Brady Brick (6-5, 290), and senior John Krahn (6-10, 395). Redshirt freshman Richard Estrella (6-4, 315) will also compete for a starting role.    

Barraza and Ta'ase finished the 2019 season as the starting tackles. Estrella started the season finale at right guard and played well. Brick and Pauling also have starts in their careers at guard, while Krahn is an experienced player who earned the start at guard against Montana in the spring.    

The Vikings have added graduate transfer Carlton Lorenz (6-4, 290) from Vanderbilt and redshirt freshman transfer Bubba Wa'a (6-2, 315, four games, two starts at Hawai'i in 2019) who should compete to start as well. Signees from 2020, D'Angelo Titialii (6-2, 320) and Hayden Engel (6-5, 250) are also ready to be added to the mix. Titialii saw game time at center against Montana.

Logan Bruce (6-2, 320) is a freshman transfer from Washington, while newcomers Ethan Wallis (6-4, 320), Manaia Fuertes (6-5, 340) and Dominic DeBerry (6-4, 285) add depth on the line.     

One thing is certain: offensive line coach Matt Leunen will experiment throughout fall camp, moving players to different spots from practice to practice to see which combination and locations work the best.

A LOOK AT THE DEFENSE

All-American defensive back 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 2019 due to injury, effectively giving them seven starters back.     

Fellow Oregonians Yunker (6-4, 255, 9 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, 1.5 SKs in four games in 2019) and Jake Porter (6-4, 250, 35 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, 4.5 SKs, 3 PBUs, FR) are experienced defensive ends with 30 career starts between them. They will be pushed to improve the Vikings' pass rush in 2021.     

Among the returners at end are redshirt freshman Kennedy Freeman (6-2, 240) and redshirt sophomore Jayson Pace (6-1, 240). They will be counted on to step up and contribute in 2021.     

True freshmen Spencer Delacruz (6-1, 220) and Zane Maningo (6-2, 250) have been added at defensive end. Transfer VJ Malo (6-1, 270), who came to PSU in 2020, can play both end and tackle for the Vikings.     

PSU will miss defensive tackles Kenton Bartlett and Anthony Del Toro, who have graduated. Senior defensive tackle Semise Kofe (6-2, 305, 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, 280, 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, 270, Bakersfield College), Malo and Tiano Tialavea (6-3, 325, UTEP). All three should compete right away for significant playing time.

Depending on their development, true freshman Martin Salazar (5-10, 275) and sophomore newcomer Serge Rusnak (6-2, 280) may find time on the field at tackle as well. Freshmen Jessie Brown (6-2, 280) and Slade Shufelt (6-3, 255) are newcomers on the line as well.     

Linebackers Nicolas Ah Sam (6-1, 250) and David Joseph (6-1, 200), who ranked third and fifth in tackles for the Vikings in 2019 are also back.          

Sophomore Zack Mandera (6-1, 220, 27 tackles, FR) and junior Robert Holt (6-2, 215, 29 tackles, 2 TFLs, INT) both had starts at middle linebacker in 2019. Holt can play the whip and Mandera will likely stay in the middle. They should all battle for significant playing time in 2021.     

Look for freshman Parker McKenna (6-0, 220), a signee from Beaverton High School in 2020, to surprise and impress at middle linebacker this fall. He earned the start against Montana last spring and led the team with 10 tackles. His speed from sideline to sideline can be a difference maker.     

Another newcomer in the middle is Tevita Tuitavake (6-0, 225), a junior college transfer who will provide depth. Sophomore Isaiah Henry (5-11, 205), who opted out of spring play, is another experienced player who will compete for time in the middle.     

The whip linebacker spot returns one of the most experienced Vikings in Ah Sam (36 tackles, 7 TFLs), a senior who has 16 career starts. Redshirt freshman Justice Pagan (6-2, 235) impressed during the spring and made nine tackles in the game at Montana. His value may be at linebacker or defensive end. Junior Moses Finau (6-1, 240) has one year experience at linebacker for the Vikings, making 17 tackles in 2019. 

defensive coordinator Payam Saadat will also incorporate grad transfer Alex Lozano (6-2, 240), a three-year starter at Delaware State, into his second row defense. True freshman Tom Lambert (6-0, 215), redshirt sophomore Levi O'Connell (6-0, 220) and sophomore transfer Ian Crocker (6-1, 220) add depth at linebacker as well.     

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 in 2019 with seven. He should hold down that spot in 2021. Senior Steffen Jacobsen (6-2, 215), a talented, athletic player who has managed only 16 career games due to a variety of injuries, may get a look at rover or in another linebacker role. Benton Hoge (5-10, 180), a sophomore, played almost exclusively on special teams in 2019 and should back up at rover.     

Adams, the junior All-American, 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 moved Travis West (5-6, 160) to the strong safety (Sam) position in the spring and he performed well. Saadet will evaluate senior KJ Walker (6-0, 185), Xavier Bell (6-2, 200) and Daluan Bright (5-10, 160) and at Sam as well. The Vikings made a big pickup with Bell, an Arizona transfer. He played in 22 games for the Wildcats over two seasons.     

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.     

Another transfer, De'jon Fort (6-0, 190, Foothill College), joins the competition at safety as well, as does senior transfer Broderick Harrell (5-11, 200) from UTEP. Harrell is versatile, and may turn up at the sam or rover positions.     

Senior free safety with Ty Apana-Purcell (5-9, 185) is experienced and brings depth at defensive back.     

Perhaps the most interesting position battle will be at cornerback (Adams notwithstanding) as no less than four redshirt freshmen vie for a starting role as well as some 2020 signees.     

Davion Gaines (6-0, 170), Semaj Bolin (5-10, 170), Michael Jackson (6-2, 185) and Tyrese Shakir (5-10, 175) are among the redshirt group competing at cornerback. However, it was junior college transfer Evan Camarena (6-0, 185) who earned the start last spring at Montana.     

Also checking in at defensive back and battling for roles are sophomore transfer Jake Urena (5-9, 180), true freshmen Jalen Boston (5-11, 170),  Stetler Harms (5-10, 185) and Ronan Gay (6-1, 185), and junior transfer Shea Carstens (5-10, 185).

A LOOK AT 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 in 2019 and holds three PSU records, including longest field goal (56 yards) and consecutive extra points made (82).     

Senior punter Seth Vernon (6-5, 230) averaged 43.2 yards per punt in 2019, ranking 12th in the nation. At Montana in the spring, he punted six times, with all of them traveling 51 yards or farther.     

Freshman Gianni Smith (6-1, 205) has come in to backup the kicker and punter spots.

Freshman Ryan Alvidrez (5-11, 215) is the Vikings' new long snapper.