Paris Penn has always believed in the potential of Portland State.
He believed in it following the Vikings growing up in the City of Roses. He believed it his first three years as a Vikings football player. The versatile athlete knew Portland State had talent. He knew the Vikings had a certain toughness that, if harnessed, could thrust them into the Big Sky Conference title race.
PSU utility player Paris Penn in his former role as quarterback
“We’ve always had potential,” the Portland State junior said on Tuesday. “Even losing seasons, we’ve had constant skill at positions and we’ve had really good teams. We just never found ways to put it all together and have complete games. But now, you see the product we are putting on the field, we are winning games, finishing games, even close ones. There is no letdown. Guys are in it all four quarters. This team has come really far and I’m proud of where we are right now.”
Right now, Portland State is off to a 4-1 start that includes two improbable wins over FBS Washington State (24-17) and North Texas (66-7). The Vikings enter Saturday’s matchup against No. 16 Montana State with a No. 17 national ranking of their own and a chance to affirm themselves as true contenders for the conference crown.
“There’s a lot of support here in Portland from all aspects — campus, news, people on the street,” Penn said. “I love the support. Now I just want people to come out to the games. We want to fill the stands. We want people to come watch us. We know we can put on a good show.”
Much of Portland State’s sudden resurgence can be attributed to the change in culture implemented by first-year head coach Bruce Barnum and his staff. The Vikings have adopted Barnum’s blue-collar, fundamental mindset with a priority of winning games with physicality and toughness.
PSU quarterback Alex Kuresa
But the coaching staff’s ability to be flexible and put players in a position to succeed has also been key. On offense, Barnum returned three quarterbacks — senior Kieran McDonagh, Penn and sophomore Josh Kraght — with starting experience, yet he still elected to sign junior college transfer Alex Kuresa. The former BYU receiver ended up winning the starting quarterback job.
Rather than having Penn, a versatile athlete with great elusiveness and field vision, sit on the sideline, Barnum and offensive coordinator Steve Cooper created a new position for him: utility quarterback. Penn lines up out side, in the backfield and occasionally still at quarterback. He has almost 250 yards from scrimmage and has scored three touchdowns. Kraght moved to wide receiver, where he has two catches.
That was only the beginning in the lineup and schematic changes implemented by the staff. David Jones, a speedy but underused wide receiver his first four years in Portland, moved to running back for his final season. He has shared carries this season with power back Nate Tago and diminutive slash back Steven Long.
“Moving guys around, it increases everyone’s confidence because it shows they want to win,” Penn said. “They are trying to find the right fit for the offense. If you are an athlete, they are going to try to find a place for you to be productive. It shows the coaches believe in us which therefore makes us confident in them.”
“We have a lot of selfless guys out here,” added Kuresa in an interview in September. “That might affect other teams but we have a group of guys who are bought in and see the big picture. It’s not about one player in particular and they are seeing how they can all help us have success.”
Defensively, first-year coordinator Malik Roberson has implemented an aggressive system with a priority on not allowing big plays and putting punishing hits on any ball carrier in front of a Viking. PSU has run more zone coverage concepts on the back end in an effort to take advantage of a secondary that might be the most athletic in the league.
PSU defensive tackle Daniel Fusi/by Troy Wayrynen PSU athletics
Senior cornerbacks Aaron Sibley and Xavier Coleman and senior safety Patrick Onwuasor have combined for seven interceptions. At linebacker, PSU was not afraid to thrust redshirt freshman former walk-on AJ Schlatter into the starting lineup. And after a breakout performance in spring drills, senior nose tackle Daniel Fusi has continued to impress in the middle of the defensive line, Barnum said.
Fusi earned four starts last season. This season, the 6-foot, 330-pounder has been given more freedom and, in turn, has been able to play with a high motor thanks to the changes in philosophy.
“Losing weight was the biggest thing for me,” Fusi said. “Coach Barnum always made fun of me so I had to do it. I started out at 365 and I’m down to 335 or 330 now. That has helped me play faster and last longer than I did last year. It was definitely hard but it has paid off.”
Jones has been solid since switching to running back — he rushed for 118 yards in a win over Idaho State in September — but last week, he was a blur. The lightning fast senior scored a 70-yard rushing touchdown and added a 60-yard catch and run against North Texas. He ended the day with 134 yards rushing on nine carries and two touchdowns to go with his touchdown catch.
PSU running back David Jones/by Troy Wayrynen PSU athletics
“It’s been a success from the get-go,” Jones said of his transition to running back. “The change from receiver to running back was very, very hard at first. It worked out to my assets as a ball carrier. I know what to do in open space so it’s actually panned out. I’ve been having fun ever since.
“The physicality, being in the box now is so much different than playing receiver. I’m past that now and I’m loving it.”
Penn, a player who rushed for 112 yards and two touchdowns as a sophomore against Oregon State, has continued to settle into his new role as well. He had just one touch in the blowout of North Texas but he has been PSU’s best big –play threat for most of the season. He rushed for 57 yards and a touchdown against Washington State. He scored a 38-yard touchdown on a wide receiver reverse against Idaho State. He ripped off a 76-yard touchdown reception on the first play of the game in a 19-16 loss to North Dakota.
“Everyone has bought in and everyone trusts each other,” Penn said. “The offense trusts the defense. The defense trusts the offense. The belief in this team as a whole, the confidence is rising as the weeks go on. Coach Barnum has preached to us time after time that we are a blue collar, fundamental football team and everyone has bought into that. With everyone buying into it, the confidence as a team has grown and the belief is there.”
Photos courtesy of Portland State athletics or noted. All Rights Reserved.
