Football returns to the Park Blocks on Thursday as the Portland State Vikings open their preseason practice schedule at Stott Community Field. The Vikings will put in four weeks of practice leading up to an opener at University of Oregon on Sept. 2, an 11-game schedule, and Big Sky Conference home dates that feature Montana, Eastern Washington, Idaho State and Cal Poly.
 
Practice runs each day from 10:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. on the PSU campus. The Vikings will have Sundays off and scrimmages are set for Aug. 12 and Aug. 19. 
 

WHO THEY ARE

The Portland State Vikings return 39 letterwinners for the 2023 season. The Vikings have 14 returning starters, including six on offense, five on defense and three on special teams. The Vikings also have 32 returning redshirts, 20 of whom have game experience but have maintained redshirt status.
     
PSU's 22-man national letter of intent signing class (19 high school, 3 transfer) in February was rated as the top class in the Big Sky Conference and third-best in the nation at the FCS level by 247Sports.com. The coaching staff has since signed six more transfers for 2023.
     
The Vikings should have a dynamic offense, led by returning quarterback Dante Chachere who, as a pass-run threat in the pocket, had 2,565 total yards and 26 total touchdowns in his first season as a starter in 2022. He is backed up by great depth in the backfield, on the outside and the offensive line. Head Coach Bruce Barnum will continue to call the plays for the Vikings offense while elevating Assistant Coach AC Patterson to the role of offensive coordinator in 2023.
     
The Vikings defense will be led by a pair of veteran coaches as Colin Fry and Mark Rhea will share coordinating duties. Fry, in his seventh season, will be co-defensive coordinator for the defensive backfield, while Rhea, in his third season, will be co-defensive coordinator for the defensive line. Rhea is charged with rebuilding a re-stocked line as the Vikings lost four senior starters from 2022. Fry has quality experience at defensive back while the linebacking crew, also loaded with experienced players, will have heated competition for playing time.
 

THE OFFENSE

• DANTE'S DATA: In 2022, JR QB Dante Chachere (6-3, 195) completed 60% of his passes for 1,956 yards, 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He also led the team in rushing with 609 yards (772 positive yards) and seven TDs... Chachere was named Big Sky Conference co-Offensive Player of the Week for his performance against NAU in a 35-27 win (272 yards passing, 3 TDs, 128 yards rushing, 2 TDs)... Chachere had three 100-yard rushing games and 2,565 yards total offense (233.2 per game).
• NATE THE GREAT: JR WR Nate Bennett (6-3, 195) led the team with 47 catches for 517 yards in 2022. His nine receptions against Weber State (10/15) matched his career high set in 2021 against Weber State... Bennett already has 97 career receptions in 22 career games. He has passed 1,000 career receiving yards (1,123).
• RECEIVING ACCOLADES: Among the top players joining Bennett on the receiving corps in 2023 are SR Maclaine Griffin (6-2, 200, 14-175-3), RS SO Darien Chase (6-1, 210, injury redshirt in 2022, 54-579-4 in 2021) and SR TR Jermaine Braddock (6-1, 190, 70-869-6 in 44 games at San Jose State).
• OLD DOGS, NEW TRICKS: A pair of Viking veterans have made a position move and early indicators are good. JR Semaj Bolin (5-10, 170) moves over from defensive back to slot receiver, as does SO Jaden Casey (6-1, 190) from quarterback to slot receiver. Those two will attempt to fill the gap left by the graduation of All-Conference receiver Beau Kelly (career stats: 156-2,288-18). Coach Barnum lauded their respective performances throughout spring football, calling Bolin "perhaps the fastest player on the team" and saying Casey "shines a little more each week."
• YOUTH SHALL SERVE: The tight end position will feature three young players seeking breakout seasons: JR Elias Spence (6-4, 225) and RS FRs Tanner Beaman (6-3, 220) and Charlie White (6-2, 235). Spence has been a special teams mainstay in his early career. Beaman showed flashes in brief action last year and can also play outside. White comes off a redshirt season with an opportunity to get into the mix.
• RUNNING GAME REVIEW: Portland State will have a stable of talented running backs returning in 2023. Though injuries limited any individual from having a big season in 2022, several were featured at different times and all have starts. They include: JR RB Jobi Malary (5-11, 225, 8 games, 58 carries, 355 yards, 3 TD); RS FR Quincy Craig (5-9, 185, 4 games, 38-221-2); JR RB Jalynnee McGee (5-10, 195, 8 games, 53-220-0); RS SR Andrew Van Buren (6-0, 240, 4 games, 36-112-0)... Craig was dynamic during spring football and totaled 120 yards and two touchdowns in the spring game... Van Buren returns from an injury season and provides the big back the Vikings need... McGee and Malary are the most experienced Vikings... as if those backs weren't enough, PSU has added star 2023 signee Delon Thompson (5-9, 200) from St. Bonaventure High School in southern California and UCLA transfer Christian Grubb (JR, 5-9, 170). Thompson led southern California and ranked second in the state in rushing with 261 carries for 2,388 yards and 25 scores in 11 games. Grubb spent three seasons with the Bruins but saw limited action.
• ON THE LINE: Portland State will need to replace first team All-Big Sky Conference center Tyson Pauling who has graduated, but the Vikings have three returning starters and five returners with significant playing time in SR Shiloh Ta'ase (6-3, 310), JRs Richard Estrella (6-4, 305) and D'Angalo Titiali'i (6-2, 320) and SOs Logan Bruce (6-4, 320) and Pedro Timoteo (6-3, 335). Key newcomers that will compete to start right away are SR signee Dallas Holliday (6-3, 315, 34 games at Boise State) and JR Christian Delacruz (6-4, 305, Northern Colorado). The Vikings also have eight returning redshirts, six with game experience... in addition, three impressive freshmen - Tristan Lewis (6-5, 275), Pryce Roberts (6-5, 290) and Isaac Perez (6-3, 305) - are part of the much-hyped 2023 recruiting class.

 

THE DEFENSE

• RESHAPING THE LINE: Portland State had a very productive defensive line last season as the front four of Jake Porter, VJ Malo, EJ Ane and Moses Finau combined for 114 tackles, 33 tackles for loss and 13 sacks. Unfortunately, all four were seniors, leaving the Vikings in need of a rebuild. Five letterwinners and three redshirts return, but there is not a lot of experience up front. The most experienced of the group are SR DT Dino Kahaulelio (6-0, 285) and JR DE Kennedy Freeman (6-2, 240) who combined for 20 tackles and two sacks as backups. RS FR DT Michael MacNeill (6-1, 280) and SO DE Slade Shufelt (6-3, 225) spent most of the time with those two on the first unit during spring practice... help is on the way to restoring depth and building for the future in the Vikings 2023 recruiting class. PSU signed nine defensive line newcomers. Four of the signees are junior transfers in JRs Billy Lutui (6-1, 310, Sacramento State), Alex Navarro-Silva (6-5, 290, Riverside CC), J'Querian Ladson (6-4, 345, College of the Canyons) and Jordan Tagaloa (6-2, 295, Santa Barbara CC). That group is expected to compete for playing time right away. FRs Bam Afalava (6-3, 240), Elijah Eason (6-5, 235), Spencer Elliott (6-2, 235), Donte Hookfin (6-4, 240), Jayden House (6-2, 250), and Kamren Marsh (6-3, 250) are part of the much-heralded 2023 recruiting class and will boost the PSU line for seasons to come.
• FROM THE SECOND ROW: What the front four lacks in experience is made up for at the linebacker position. PSU returns four letterwinners with significant playing time, including: RS SO Parker McKenna (6-0, 220, 122 tackles in 16 career games), JR LB Jaymason Willingham (6-1, 220, 53 tackles, 5 TFL in 2022), SR LB Isaiah Henry (5-11, 205, 33 career games, 27 tackles in 2022) and SR LB Ian Crocker (6-1, 220, 18 tackles in 2022). A talented group of six redshirt freshman from the 2022 signing class are right behind them, along with true FR Michael Montgomery (6-3, 230) from the 2023 class.
• TAKEAWAY TEAM: Portland State returns three of four starters in the defensive backfield and has eight letterwinners back in that group. In two seasons, JR S Tyreese Shakir (5-10, 175) has been a master of the takeaway, gathering four interceptions and three fumble recoveries to go with 69 tackles in 21 career games. SR CB Isaiah Avery (6-0, 175) started every game at cornerback last season (28 tackles, 4 PBU), while JR Michael Jackson (6-2, 185) and SO Ezriel Vasquez (5-11, 170) shared the starting spot at the other corner for the majority of the season. They combined for 61 tackles... experienced SR David Joseph (6-1, 200, 39 career games, 114 career tackles, 44 in 2022) is tabbed for the free safety spot but is currently working to get healthy enough to play in 2023. Fortunately, RS FR Duhron Goodman (5-11, 190) also earned experience at the position in 2022, and will be ready to go... JRs Davion Gaines (6-0, 170), Day Day Bright (5-10, 170) and Travis West (5-6, 160) are also experienced defensive backs in their third seasons.

 

SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES

• FOOTNOTES: Portland State returns three experienced starters on their special teams unit. SR P George Triplett (5-10, 190) averaged 40.6 yards with a long of 57 last season. JR K Gianni Smith (6-1, 205) is now 10-14 on field goals, 66-67 on extra points in his two seasons. JR LS Ryan Alvidrez (5-11, 215) has not missed a start or a snap in his two seasons... RS FR Fyodor Henrichs-Tarasenkov (6-4, 200) serves as a capable backup at kicker.

 

BEAMING UP FROM THE TRANSFER PORTAL

Two Vikings signed grant-in-aid agreements on signing day (Feb. 1): SR WR Jermaine Braddock, a transfer from San Jose State, and SR OL Dallas Holliday, a transfer from Boise State. Both competed in spring football.
     
Three more were added from the portal during the second wave (April 15-30) as well as two more junior college transfers during the summer.
     
Here is a look at the portal newcomers:
     
Braddock competed in 44 games at San Jose State in his career, making 70 receptions for 869 yards and six touchdowns. He was a member of the 2020 Mountain West Champions and has one year of eligibility remaining due to the NCAA COVID-waiver season. Braddock played for the Spartans against the Vikings in the 2022 season opener, catching two passes for 42 yards.
     
Holliday competed in 34 games over four seasons at Boise State. He too has one season left due to NCAA's COVID-waiver season. Holliday was teammates with current Vikings Maclaine Griffin and Andrew Van Buren at Boise State and a teammate with Michael Jackson at Oaks Christian High School.
     
Among the five late-signing players are three defensive tackles who will help bolster the Vikings interior line, former UCLA running back Christian Grubb and former Northern Colorado offensive lineman Christian Delacruz.
     
Aiming to stuff opponent running games will be transfer defensive linemen Billy Lutui (6-1, 310, Sacramento State), J'Querian Ladson (6-4, 345, College of the Canyons) and Jordan Tagaloa (6-2, 295, Santa Barbara CC).
     
Grubb (5-9, 170) was a star at Notre Dame High School in southern California before matriculating to UCLA. He saw limited playing time with the Bruins, but had eight carries for 57 yards and a touchdown in 2022.
     
Delacruz (6-4, 305) played last season for Big Sky Conference opponent Northern Colorado.
 

THE 2023 SCHEDULE

FBS opponents and a rigorous eight-game Big Sky Conference slate that includes defending Big Sky Conference co-Champion and NCAA semifinalist Montana State are included on Portland State's 2023 schedule. The Vikings will host Montana, also an NCAA playoff team in 2022, and Dam Cup rival Eastern Washington among other games. The Vikings have five games at home and six on the road in 2023.
 
SCHEDULE NOTES

• This will be the 77th season of Portland State football (1947) and 28th season as a member of the Big Sky Conference.
• PSU faces five teams in 2023 that were on the schedule in 2022 (Cal Poly, Northern Arizona, Eastern Washington, Montana, Northern Colorado). The Vikings went 3-2 against that group… PSU plays eight of 11 possible Big Sky opponents. The Vikings will miss Weber State, Sacramento State and Idaho in 2023.
• The Vikings play at Northern Colorado and Northern Arizona for the first time since 2019. They play at Montana State for the first time since 2017, and for the first time at UC Davis since 2016. In fact, the Vikings have not seen the Aggies on the gridiron at all since 2019.
• The two FBS-level programs are Oregon and Wyoming. PSU is 4-44 all-time when playing "up" against FBS programs. Wins have come over Hawai'i (2000), New Mexico (2006), Washington State (2015) and North Texas (2015)… this marks the ninth consecutive season that Portland State has played two FBS opponents. PSU has done so a total of 13 times, including three in 2006.
• Portland State is playing one lower division program in 2023, NAIA North American University. The Vikings are 20-0 in games against lower division opponents since moving to Division I in 1996.
• Portland State opponents were a combined 59-74 last season.