Portland State Football opens preseason practice on Wednesday at Stott Community Field at 10:15 a.m. The Vikings are looking to improve upon their 5-6 record of last season, 4-4 in the Big Sky Conference.

This week, we will take a look at the team as it prepares for the 2022 season.
 

TODAY – THE OFFENSE

The 2022 Viking football season will be a mixture of outstanding returning talent and high expectations for newcomers in vital roles.
        
Portland State returns depth and experience at wide receiver, defensive end, linebacker and defensive back. The Vikings will look for newcomers at the key positions of quarterback, nose tackle and running back to step forward.
        
Eighth-year Head Coach Bruce Barnum has 44 letterwinners back, including 19 starters with eight on offense, nine on defense and two on special teams.
 

OFFENSE

The graduation of three-year starter at quarterback, Davis Alexander, will alter the look of the Viking offense. It will be difficult to replace a player who ranks second all-time on PSU's passing lists (9,215 passing yards, 63 touchdowns, as well as 1,254 rushing yards, 25 TDs) but a handful of youngsters will compete during spring practice. They include SO Dante Chachere (6-3, 185) and RS FRs Jaden Casey (6-1, 190), Caden Filer (6-2, 200) and Mason Packer (6-0, 200), and SR Nathan West (6-3, 210). The Vikings also signed two freshmen to national letters of intent, Logan Gonzalez (6-3, 200) and Brooks Ferguson (6-5, 225), and added two transfers, freshman Keegan Stancato (6-4, 210) from Dixie State, and senior Mike Irwin (6-1, 205) from Tarleton State.
        
Chachere has the most experience, having appeared in 10 previous games in his career, but has only attempted two passes, completing one. He is known for his running ability, having compiled 140 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries. Casey, originally a transfer from Cal, played in one game last season, completing 1-3 passes.
        
In the backfield, the Vikings lose another talented senior, but have a host of very promising running backs coming up. Malik Walker (176 carries, 879 yards, 11 TD) had an outstanding senior season, but he is gone. The back receiving the most carries behind him was SO Jalynnee McGee (5-10, 195, 49-259-2), a powerful runner who showed a lot of ability when healthy, averaging 5.3 yards per carry. Speaking of health, SOs Jobi Malary (5-11, 225, 25-130-1 career) and JoJo Siofele (5-10, 205) were the "up-and-comers" two seasons ago. However, a variety of injuries have hindered both players. Expect them to have a big say in the running game in 2022.
        
PSU has added an intriguing player to the mix with transfer Andrew Van Buren (6-0, 240). The senior from Boise State rushed for 1,028 yards and 21 touchdowns in his career as a Bronco.
        
Also returning is JR Ahmir McGee (5-11, 215, 10-38-0), who got spot duty in 2021. He lends size and depth to the backfield. RS FR Treyvon Easterling (5-10, 210) is also vying to get into the mix.
        
Freshmen signees Quincy Craig (5-9, 185) and Elijiah Lux (5-9, 180) are going to push the competition in the fall when they step on campus.
        
Portland State's wide receiving corps is easily the deepest position on the team. The hard part of handling this group won't be figuring out who should play, but figuring out how to get everyone enough reps. The Vikings essentially have four starting wide receivers returning, with a fifth former starter who was an All-Conference performer also expected back.
        
The Vikings were led by SR WR Beau Kelly (5-9, 165) in 2021. The slot receiver not only led PSU, but the entire conference, in receptions (69), receiving yards (981) and touchdowns (10) during the regular season. Inexplicably, he was only selected as a second team All-Conference honoree, but his value is unquestioned.
        
On the outside SOs Darien Chase (6-1, 210, 54-579-4) and Nate Bennett (6-3, 195, 50-616-4) were brilliant as freshmen. Bennett has great length and impeccable route-running ability. Chase was simply a human highlight reel with his penchant for "degree of difficulty" catches. Also back is veteran SR Mataio Talalemotu (6-1, 180). Despite missing three games with injury, he was as effective as ever with 42 receptions for 573 yards and three touchdowns.
        
Kelly and Talalemotu, who have grown up together as Vikings, have combined for 215 receptions, 3,160 yards and 23 touchdowns in their careers.
        
If that group weren't enough, the Viking offense can throw in a wild card with SR Emmanuel Daigbe (6-1, 210). A third team All-Big Sky Conference selection in 2019 (40-651-7 in 2019), Daigbe has been hindered with a groin injury for the past two years, but should be ready to go this fall.
        
PSU also returns another tall and talented receiver in SR Marquis Spiker (6-3, 200, 9-112-0), as well as RS JR Deion Malone (5-7, 155), who will bring depth to the slot position as well as serve as a dynamic return man. Boise State senior transfer Maclaine Griffin (6-2, 200) and as well as 2022 signees Omar Hammond (6-0, 170) and Jaylen Lynch (6-2, 175) have been added.
        
Four redshirt freshmen are back and looking for an opportunity at wide receiver as well: Malcolm Tatum (6-3, 200), Taylor Evans (6-0, 190), Jayden Brannan (6-3, 190) and Chance Miller (6-0, 180).
        
Like the receiving and running backs groups, Portland State has a solid returning group at tight end. The Vikings employed their tight ends more for blocking than receiving in 2021, but have a capable group in both disciplines. SR Malik Thirdgill (6-4, 240, 3-27-0) is one of nine fourth-year letterwinners on the roster. He and SR Anthony Rodriguez (6-3, 235, 4-26-0) have the most experience and figure to see the most snaps. Also back is SO Elias Spence (6-4, 225) and RS SO Kole Allen (6-3, 250). The Viking coaching staff signed talented freshmen Charlie White (6-2, 235) and Tanner Beaman (6-3, 220) for the coming season.
        
Portland State brings back an experienced starting offensive line for 2022. SR Tyson Pauling (6-5, 295) and JR Shiloh Ta'ase (6-3, 310) have combined for 36 starts over the past two seasons and will lead an overall talented, experienced group. SOs Richard Estrella (6-4, 305) and D'Angalo Titiali'i (6-3, 320) were also starters in 2021.
        
RS FRs Manaia Fuertes and Logan Bruce showed promise in brief stints during the 2021 season, will provide depth and should be the future on the line. RS FRs Hayden Engel and Dominic DeBerry did not see action, but will also get a look in 2022. PSU has brought in three NLI signees for 2022: Braylon Cornell (6-6, 285), Jake Cooper (6-5, 260) and Anthony Tena (6-4, 285).
        
Four newcomers expected to compete for playing time are transfers Jaylen Larry (6-3, 275) from UMass and Pedro Timoteo (6-3, 335) from Fresno State, and junior college prospects Sebastian Sias (6-3, 320) and Chandler Ross (6-5, 270) from Butte (CA) College.
 
WEDNESDAY: THE DEFENSE
THURSDAY: SPECIAL TEAMS, TEAM NOTES
PRACTICE UPDATE
 
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