The Vikings went through a brisk one-hour workout on Thursday morning as a start to their 2024 season. More than 100 players were in uniform as the team began preparation for their ultra-challenging 12-game schedule starting Aug. 31 at Washington State.

DEFENSIVE PREVIEW

RE-ESTABLISHING THE RUSH: Portland State had a disappointing total of 10 sacks as a team last season. But, on the defensive line, it was apparent that a lot of young talent was emerging. The 2024 season should reveal those talents of a group that was a feature of PSU's top-ranked 2023 recruiting class. SOs Elijah Eason (6-5, 235, 3 starts), Jayden House (6-2, 250, 2 starts) and Spencer Elliott (6-2, 235) all saw action at defensive end as true freshmen. They should take a big step forward in the coming season while classmates (and 2023 redshirts) Donte Hookfin (6-3, 240), Bam Afalava (6-3, 240), Frederick Lujan (6-1, 250) and Austin Goetz (6-2, 225) join the mix... the Vikings return their starting defensive ends in JR Slade Shufelt (6-3, 255, 3.5 sacks) and SR Kennedy Freeman (6-1, 240, 2 sacks), though Freeman is still recovering from a knee injury... on the inside, starting SR DT Jordan Tagaloa (6-2, 285) is back. He is joined by SR J'Querian Ladson (6-4, 345) and SOs Elias Sanders (6-2, 265) and Michael MacNeill (6-1, 280)... the Vikings picked up a pair of FBS transfers in DT Sosefo Moeaki (Nevada, JR, 6-1, 290), who is originally from Portland, and DE Cyrus Moss (Miami, SO, 6-5, 215), a high school teammate of House in Las Vegas. They should make an impact right away... JR walk-on Jayden Sandusky (6-1, 260) transferred in from College of the Redwoods during the spring.

HIT MAN: SO LB Michael Montgomery (6-3, 230) got his career started in a big way, making 14 tackles against Oregon in game one of 2023 - all in the second half. That was the most by any player in the Big Sky Conference on the opening weekend of games. He went on to start five games and ranked second on the Vikings in tackles (69, 3.5 TFL, 1 FR). He was named a Freshman All-American by both Stats Perform and FCS Football Central at the end of the season, and is a preseason All-Big Sky Conference selection. Still young, Montgomery will lead the linebacker corps along with SR Jaymason Willingham (6-1, 220, 89 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss in two seasons). The Vikings have a very athletic group of sophomores in Peyton Wing (6-0, 210), Jaxton Helmstetler (6-2, 200) and Davin Beason (6-1, 225). RS FR Nate Richter (6-3, 220) will bring excellent size and athleticism as well. JR TR Jordan Allen (6-0, 225), a signee from San Jose State, and walk-on JR JC transfer Chase Beardsley joined the Vikings in time for spring football. A spring injury will cost Allen this season.

TAKEAWAY TYREESE: SR CB Tyreese Shakir (5-10, 175) moves over from the safety position to cornerback for 2024. Shakir and SR CB Michael Jackson (6-2, 185) lead an experienced defensive backfield. With 31 career games and 25 starts behind him, Shakir has 122 career tackles, eight career takeaways (5 INT, 3 FR) and nine career pass breakups... Jackson has played in 30 career games and has 14 starts. He has 63 career tackles, six pass breakups and three interceptions... another starter back is SO FS Michael Hurst (5-11, 190), who had 51 tackles, four tackles for loss and five pass breakups in his freshman season... depth is not an issue in the defensive backfield as other key players are JR NICK Ezriel Vasquez (5-11, 170) and RS FRs S Zach Wusstig (6-1, 185), NICK Jaden DeCosta (6-1, 195), CB DeMarcus Houston (6-2, 185) and S Isaiah Green (6-1, 180). Wusstig, Vasquez and Dacosta all have starts in their careers... Missouri State transfer Jamal McMurrin (SR, 5-11, 190) should contend to start at cornerback. He is originally from West Salem (OR) High School... another cornerback transfer is JR Jeffrey Robinson (Arizona, 5-9, 180) who had the benefit of competing in spring football, while JR Jayden Brannan (6-3, 190) is making the move to defensive back after spending two seasons as a receiver.

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