The Vikings will hit the field on Wednesday morning as Spring Football Practice begins. It will be the first of 15 spring practices throughout the month of April that concludes with the Spring Game on April 26.
     
The Vikings will go from 8-10 a.m. each practice day. Approximately 80 players will be available to practice. They include 42 returning letterwinners, 33 redshirts and seven transfers who have entered school either in winter or for the spring term.
     
The Vikings will have 13 returning starters on the roster. Interesting position battles will take place at quarterback, on the offensive and defensive lines, and defensive back.
     
Portland State will scrimmage on the mornings of Apr. 11 and 19. The Spring Game will take place at Stott Community Field on Apr. 26, beginning at 10 a.m.
 
SPRING PRACTICE SCHEDULE
Wed., Apr. 2    8-10 a.m.
Thurs., Apr. 3  8-10 a.m.
Fri., Apr. 4       8-10 a.m.
 
Mon., Apr. 7    8-10 a.m.
Wed., Apr. 9    8-10 a.m.
Thurs., Apr. 10 8-10 a.m.
Fri., Apr. 11     8-10 a.m., scrimmage
 
Mon., Apr. 14  8-10 a.m.
Wed., Apr. 16  8-10 a.m.
Fri., Apr. 18     8-10 a.m.
Sat., Apr. 19    10-Noon, scrimmage
 
Mon., Apr. 21  8-10 a.m.
Wed., Apr. 23  8-10 a.m.
Fri., Apr. 25     8-9 a.m.
Sat., Apr. 26    10 a.m.-Noon, Spring Game
 

2025 SPRING PREVIEW

 
THE QUARTERBACK COMPETITION IS REAL
The Viking program comes off three seasons and 33 starts from former QB Dante Chachere (2022-24, 7,612 yards of total offense and 78 total touchdowns) and prior to that QB Davis Alexander played for four years and 37 starts (2017-21, 10,473 yards of total offense and 88 total touchdowns). So you could say there has been some stability at the position for a long time.
 
Therefore, the most intriguing aspect of spring football (and likely fall camp) is the battle to be the new starting quarterback, replacing Chachere. Certainly, there is an intriguing array of candidates, including three transfers and three young players. SR QB Will Haskell (6-4, 200, 12-19-2-80-2TD) was the backup to Chachere in 2024 after transferring from Washington. Former Idaho and Northern Illinois QB CJ Jordan (SR, 6-2, 220) also has Division I experience and is a native of Portland. The 2025 signing class includes another transfer in former Hawai'i QB John-Keawe Sagapolutele (SO, 6-1, 205).
     
Among the young players is SO QB Gabe Downing (6-0, 185, 1-2-0-10-0), who has seen brief action and RS FRs Cru Newman (6-0, 185) and Tyrese Smith (6-2, 225).        
     
Those six will need all need a lot of snaps in the spring to be evaluated by Barnum and quarterbacks coach Kieran McDonagh.
 
DEPTH AT TIGHT END
The evolution of JR TE Tanner Beaman (6-3, 235) and SO TE Kristian Ingman (6-5, 235) has the Vikings tight end corps in good shape heading into the 2025 season. Beaman (21-257-1) grew into a reliable pass catcher for the Vikings and earned second team All-Big Sky Conference honors in 2024. Ingman saw significant action as a redshirt freshman, and even moonlighted as the team long snapper.
     
Now, junior backups Brooks Ferguson (6-5, 240), Charlie White (6-2, 235) and Seth Lyon (6-3, 245) want to add to the depth at the position.
 
THOMPSON IN THE SPOTLIGHT
The spotlight wasn't too bright for SO RB Delon Thompson (5-9, 200) in his rookie season. As a redshirt freshman he stepped up to carry the ball 139 times for 678 yards (5.3 pc) and seven touchdowns. His spotlight games were against the top competition. Thompson's first game of the season at Washington State was a breakout with 15 carries for 96 yards. Later in the season, Thompson had 84 yards and two scores in a win at Sacramento State. Then, his marquee game was a 22-carry, 117-yard, one-TD effort at Montana that kept the Vikings in contention late into the fourth quarter against the 10th-ranked Griz. More performances like that from Thompson will be key to the Vikings' offensive success in 2025.
     
Backing him up will be burly veteran Jacques Badalato-Birdsell (SR, 5-10, 205, 8-30-1) and a pair of fleet redshirt freshmen in Micah Avery (5-10, 185) and Jordan Herron (5-10, 160). SO WR Eric Denham may also be a situational back for the Vikings.
 
YOUNG RECEIVERS TO STEP UP
The Vikings return their three starting wide receivers from 2024 in SR Branden Alvarez (5-11, 180, 36-480-5), SO Eric Denham (5-11, 190, 35-516-3) and JR Jaylen Lynch (6-2, 185, 16-246-0). Also back is a player that was projected to possibly be the Vikings' best wideout in 2024 in JR Terence Loville (6-0, 185). Unfortunately, a hand injury in the first game cost Loville the entire season. He is back and healthy and, with the other three, gives PSU an excellent combo of talent and experience at wide receiver in 2025.
     
Returning letterwinners Chance Miller (SR, 6-0, 185) and Eddy Schultz (SO, 6-1, 195) give the Vikings more depth.
     
And it gets even better from there. Portland State has no fewer than six redshirt freshman wide receivers on its roster. Who among the six will step forward to become major contributors? Certainly, options abound. The Vikings have three lanky receivers in the group, including Ben Stevens (6-4, 220), Daulton Beard (6-5, 200) and Marcus Angiuli (6-3, 215). The other three are more of the slot variety in Kiwan Sims (5-9, 165), Kenen Elder (6-0, 175) and Andre Miller (6-0, 180).
 
UP FRONT
Portland State's offensive line will have a different look in 2025, but not without experience. The Vikings return two starters in SR OTs Pedro Timoteo (6-4, 320) and Jakob Belton (6-7, 320). However, three others have started games for the Vikings. RS FR OGs Pule Leatigaga (6-4, 335) and Shaun Torgeson (6-4, 290) combined for eight games and six starts at guard in 2024. They were limited in their playing time to maintain their redshirt seasons. That talented tandem should be strong favorites to start in 2025. JR OL Anthony Tena (6-4, 290) has actually played in the most games of anyone on the offense (26) and has a pair of starts in his past.
     
Other players with experience include SO OLs Pryce Roberts (6-5, 300) and Tristan Lewis (6-5, 305) and JR OL Hezephaniah Po Ching (6-2, 310). JR OL Braylon Cornell (6-6, 285) has been highly thought of in his time at PSU, but hasn't been able to get out of the training room due to injuries. He could be a wild card in the mix in 2025.
     
Three offensive line transfers will increase the competition. They include JRs Semisi Latu (6-2, 305) and James Minot (6-2, 290), both from College of San Mateo, and Kapeliele Hausia (6-4, 305) from Riverside Community College. Lato and Minot will be competing the spring.
 
BATTLE IN THE TRENCHES
Portland State has a cadre of defensive linemen returning in 2025 - its largest position group prior to the season - ensuring heated competition for playing time. The Vikings have 12 returning letterwinners, three redshirts and two transfers.
     
SR DE Slade Shufelt (6-3, 255, 13T-2.5TFL) is the most experienced player in the group. But JRs Spencer Elliott (6-2, 235, 17T-2.5TFK-INT), Elias Sanders (6-2, 265, 8T-TFL) and Elijah Eason (6-5, 250, 16T-1.5TFL) also have significant field time. SO Nate Richter (6-3, 225, 14T-TFL) stepped up in his redshirt freshmen season as well. At defensive end, SR DE Jayden Brannan (6-3, 210, 5 tackles) is back after showing promise early in 2024. Unfortunately, an injury limited him to three games.
     
A big addition is actually a returning player. SR DT J'Querian Ladson (6-3, 330, 8T-TFL-FR) got a year of eligibility back from the NCAA due to his previous status as a junior college player. He is a favorite to be the Vikings nose tackle.
     
Those players, along with transfers Tuaoa Tauili'ili (SO, 6-3, 330, Idaho State) and Daniel Matagi (SO, 6-0, 285, Central Washington), should form a deep, veteran group up front for the Vikings.
 
WING STOP
JR LB Peyton Wing (6-0, 225) comes off an excellent season for the Vikings in which he led the team with 93 tackles and seven tackles for loss. That was the most tackles by a Viking since 2013 and earned Wing second team All-Big Sky Conference honors. He will anchor the defensive unit in 2025 and be expected to lead on the field and off.
     
Two other junior linebackers need to elevate their games in the coming year. Davin Beason (6-1, 235) competed at middle linebacker, making 24 tackles in mostly a backup role last season. Jaxton Helmstetler (6-2, 220) had two starts and made 15 tackles with two tackles for loss.
     
After that, the Vikings will look for help from newcomers. JR Jordan Allen (6-0, 225) was expected to have an impact last year after transferring in from San Jose State. But a knee injury wiped out his season. If he can get to full strength, Allen should see a lot of action. JR Solomon McDaniel (5-11, 225) is a local player who is a transfer from nearby Lewis & Clark College.
     
SR Keegan Stancato (6-4, 210) and RS JR Deon Cavitt (6-1, 200) bring depth at the position.
 
DEFENSIVE BACKFIELD
The Vikings defensive backfield is young and hungry to make its mark. There is little experience beyond three returning sophomores. FS Isaiah Green (50T-3PBU-INT) and CB Bryson Ross (19T-3PBU in seven games) are athletic and evolved into starters as the 2024 season progressed. Their success will be vital to the defensive backfield's overall performance.
     
The real wild card will be NICK Zach Wusstig (6-1, 195). A supremely talented player, Wusstig has seen each of the past two seasons end prematurely due to a shoulder injury. His career consists of nine total games with six starts. He has 40 tackles and three pass breakups in that brief action. A healthy 2025 will make a big difference in the defensive backfield.
     
The coaching staff is high on redshirt DBs Pierce Walker (FR, 5-10, 180), Carsten Mamaril (JR, 5-9, 180), Elyjah Gordon (FR, 6-4, 190), DaMari Washington (FR, 6-0, 185) and Boise State transfer Dionte Thornton (SO, 6-0, 205). How all those players sort themselves out will be as interesting as the battle at quarterback.
 
GET ON THE GOOD FOOT
Coming off strong first seasons with the Vikings, SR K Mathias Uribe and SR P Tony Johnson should give PSU one of the better special teams units in the conference.
     
Uribe was an honorable mention All-Big Sky Conference choice and a Fred Mitchell Award finalist, given to the top placekicker at the FCS, Division II, III, NAIA or JC level. He was 11-12 on field goals and 37-38 on extra points.
     
Johnson averaged 41.0 yards per punt, and was a key to holding opponents to just 72 return yards all season (3.3 pr).
     
SO LS Kristian Ingman (6-5, 235) and RS FR LS Brock Fleming (6-1, 180) both return as well.
 
REINFORCEMENTS
In the world of the NCAA Portal, it is always important to have quality transfers. Among Division I transfers, the Vikings have added SO QB John-Keawe Sagapolutele (Hawai'i), SO CB Dionte Thornton (Boise State) and SO DT Tuaoa Tauili'ili (Idaho State), and Division II transfer SO DT Daniel Matagi (Central Washington). Expect more transfers when the Portal opens again in May.
     
Portal transfers from last year that had a big impact included WR Branden Alvarez, DT Joe Moeaki, OL Jakob Belton and CB Jamal McMurrin - all starters. Also among last year's transfers who could be key this year are QB Will Haskell, WR Terence Loville, QB CJ Jordan, RB Jacques Badolato-Birdsell and LB Jordan Allen.
 
GOOD HEALTH
A team can amass all the talent in the world, but if it isn't healthy, the talent can mean very little. With that preface, the Vikings hope to have healthy seasons from a handful of players expected to be in the two-deep last year that missed significant time with injuries. They include:   
     
JR WR Terence Loville (hand, one game), FR S Zach Wusstig (shoulder, 7 games), JR LB Jordan Allen (knee, DNP), JR DE Jayden Brannan (shoulder, 3 games), SO OL Braylon Cornell (knee, DNP for two seasons), SO TE Charlie White (knee, DNP).
 
COACHING STAFF UPDATE
Portland State has two new assistant coaches, both former Viking players. Head Coach Bruce Barnum has also made a few assignment changes for 2025. Here is the Viking Football staff.
 
Head Coach: Bruce Barnum, Eastern Washington, '87 (11th year/16th year at PSU)
Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line: Matt Leunen, Portland State, '10 (14th year)
Defensive Coordinator: Bryant Thomas, Washington State, '98 (3rd year)
Defensive Line/Assistant Head Coach: Mark Rhea, Toledo, '92 (5th year)
Linebackers: John Ely, Western Washington, '87 (16th year)
Special Teams Coordinator/Safeties: Robby Hauck, Montana, '22 (3rd year)
Wide Receivers: Colin Fry, Nevada, '11 (9th year)
Quarterbacks: Kieran McDonagh, Portland State, '22 (5th year)
Tackles/Tight Ends: Shiloh Ta'ase, Portland State, '24 (1st year)
Defensive Ends: VJ Malo, Portland State, '23 (1st year)
Offensive Assistant/Running Backs: Mason Packer (3rd year)
Defensive Assistant: Jessie Brown (2nd year)

OTHER VIKINGS FOOTBALL HIGHLIGHTS
2025 Season Schedule
Vikings Return To Providence Park For Homecoming Game
2025 Viking Football Signing Class
Vikings Football Season Tickets