Cru Newman – the do-everything, all-purpose wideout from Portland's own Central Catholic High School – figures to be all over the field for the Portland State football team this season. It was appropriate, then, that Newman appeared all over the Phil Steele Preseason All-Big Sky Teams released Monday, as he headlined a group of five Viking honorees.
Newman made the lists three different times, earning second-team honors as a kick returner to go with third-team honors as a wideout and all-purpose player.
Terence Loville joined him on the second team as a wideout, while
Delon Thompson,
Tanner Beaman and
Brock Fleming earned third-team honors as a running back, tight end and long snapper, respectively.
The preseason honor for Newman follows a 2025 season in which he earned Freshman All-American honors from FCS Football Central and Stas Perform. Newman – who also earned All-Big Sky honorable mention last season – cracked 1,000 all-purpose yards (1,041 to be exact) last season. Newman had four games with 100+ all-purpose yards, including a season-high 170 against Sacramento State on Nov. 8.
Loville, meanwhile, led the Vikings with 517 receiving yards last season. A big play waiting to happen, Loville had three catches of 50+ yards last season while averaging 15.7 yards per catch. He topped 100 receiving yards twice between seven catches for 114 yards at Eastern Washington (Oct. 4) and five catches for 106 yards against Sacramento State (Nov. 8).
Thompson rushed for a team-high 662 yards as a sophomore last season. His biggest game came in the Vikings' win over Cal Poly (Nov. 1), where he had 184 yards on 26 carries to go with three receptions for 54 yards. The 238 total yards came as he accounted for four of the Vikings' five touchdowns in the game.
Beaman will be making his return to the field this season after suffering a season-ending injury before the start of the Vikings' 2025 season. Beaman had been named preseason All-Big Sky Conference before his injury, after earning second-team honors as a sophomore in 2024. He caught 21 passes for 257 yards as a sophomore, including a career long of 56 yards at Montana. Additionally, he brought in an 18-yard touchdown in the Vikings' 58-38 win over Sacramento State.
Fleming started all 12 games as the Vikings' long snapper last season. He was part of a special teams unit that saw place kicker
Mathias Uribe rank third in the Big Sky Conference and 19th in FCS in field goals per game (1.17).
Monday's honors come as the Vikings wrap their first week of fall camp with a late afternoon practice. They'll practice in full pads for the first time Wednesday – after an off-day Tuesday – ahead of their first scrimmage of the fall Saturday at Hillsboro Stadium.
The Vikings open their first year under new head coach
Chris Fisk on Aug. 29, when they host a UC Davis team that made the FCS Quarterfinals last season. The Vikings and Aggies will kick off at noon at Hillsboro Stadium.
UPCOMING PRACTICE SCHEDULE
Monday, Aug. 3 – 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. (Shells)
Tuesday, Aug. 4 – Off Day
Wednesday, Aug. 5 – 9:15 to 11:15 a.m. (Full Pads)
Thursday, Aug. 6 – 9:15 to 11:15 a.m. (Shells)
Friday, Aug. 7 – 11 to 12:15 a.m. (Helmets)
Saturday, Aug. 8 – 9 to 11 a.m. (Scrimmage at Hillsboro Stadium)
