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HawgBeat begins its summer preview series on Arkansas’ 2019 football opponents with a closer look at Portland State. The Razorbacks host the Vikings on Aug. 31. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. on the SEC Network.
2018 record: 4-7 (3-5 Big Sky)
After going winless in 2017, the Vikings bounced back by winning four games last season. The highlight of the year was knocking off FCS No. 14 Montana on the road. Portland State overcame three turnovers - two of which were recovered by former Arkansas player Reid Miller - and got a 52-yard field goal with four second remaining to pull off the upset. That sparked a three-game winning streak in Big Sky play.
Head coach: Bruce Barnum (5th season)
In the span of just a few months during the 2015 season, Barnum went from interim head coach to FCS National Coach of the Year, guiding the Vikings to a 9-3 record that included two wins over FBS programs. However, he’s won just seven games since then and has a 16-29 overall record.
Key Returners
~TE Charlie Taumoepeau: First-team All-Big Sky, second-team FCS All-American… Led team with 28 receptions, 580 yards, 5 TD despite two and a half games with an ankle injury… Caught eight passes for 255 yards and 4 TD (all four TD by PSU) vs. FBS foes Nevada and Oregon… Career stats: 81 rec., 1,402 yds., 9 TD
~QB Davis Alexander: Started 13 career games… Completed 52.9 percent of passes (126 of 238) for 1,786 yards, 11 TD and 7 INT… Second-leading rusher with 112 carries for 424 yards (3.8 ypc) and team-high 12 TD
~QB Jalani Eason: Started 6 career games… Completed 52.5 percent of passes (21 for 40) for 343 yards, 3 TD and 0 INT… Third-leading rusher with 59 carries for 362 yards (6.1 ypc) and 3 TD
~WR Mataio Talalemotu: Most yards by a receiver with 402 on 23 receptions… Also 2 TD receptions
~WR Emmanuel Daigbe: Most TD by a receiver with 4 on 23 receptions… Also 373 yards
~OG Korbin Sorenson: Third-team All-Big Sky… Started 21 straight games
~DT Kenton Bartlett: Third-team All-Big Sky… Made 21 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 1 sack, 1 QB hurry, 1 blocked kick
~S Romeo Gunt: Third-leading tackler with 58… Team-high two interceptions… Also 6.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks
~S Anthony Adams: Team-high seven pass breakups… Also 48 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 1 interception
~K Cody Williams: Third-team All-Big Sky as a freshman… Made 11 of 14 field goals, including game-winning 52-yarder at FCS No. 14 Montana… Perfect 37 of 37 on PATs
Significant Losses
~RB Darian Green: Graduated… Transfer from Ball State who led team in rushing (109 car., 470 yds., 2 TD)
~LT Josh Brown: Graduated… Third-team All-Big Sky… Started last 16 games of his career
~OLB Sam Bodine: Graduated… Started 23 games over last three years… Co-team leader with 61 tackles… Made 7 tackles for loss
~MLB Kasun Jackett: Graduated… Two-year starter… Co-team leader with 61 tackles… Had 6 quarterback hurries
~DE Larry Ross: Graduated… Honorable mention All-Big Sky… Two-year starter… Led team with 7.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks
Notable Additions
~QB Jalen Chatman: Transfer from Rutgers… Dual-threat quarterback who redshirted as a true freshman in 2018… Originally from Inglewood, Calif.
~LB Moses Finau: Transfer from Humboldt State, which dropped football… Made 82 tackles and earned second-team all-conference as a freshman in 2018… Candidate to fill in at MLB
~OL Dontae Powell: JUCO transfer from Arizona Western… 5.5 three-star… Previously committed to Washington State, also offered by Arizona and Louisville
~DE Justus Legg: 5.4 two-star… Reported offers from Michigan, Oregon, Oregon State and Utah
~RB Zakhayas Dennis-Lee: 5.4 two-star... Two older brothers played at Oregon State
~CB Greg Oliver: 5.4 two-star… Also offered by BYU and UNLV
~OL John Krahn: JUCO transfer from Riverside C.C. … 6-foot-10, 410 pounds!
~DT Ethan Tela-Porter: Amazing name… 5.2 two-star
2018 Stats (FCS rank, out of 124 teams)
Scoring offense: 27.5 points/game (62nd)
Total offense: 393.6 yards/game (54th)
Rushing offense: 194.3 yards/game (36th)
Passing offense: 199.4 yards/game (75th)
Third down percentage: 40.7 percent (25th)
Sacks allowed/game: 2.36 (t-86th)
Scoring defense: 36.2 points allowed/game (104th)
Total defense: 419.3 yards allowed/game (82nd)
Rushing defense: 196.6 yards allowed/game (85th)
Passing defense: 222.6 yards allowed/game (74th)
Opponents’ third down percentage: 41.0 percent (94th)
Sacks/game: 1.91 (t-66th)
Turnover margin: +0.27 turnovers/game (t-37th)
Series History
This is the first meeting between the two schools, but playing FCS opponents is nothing new for Arkansas. The Razorbacks have won 16 straight such games, dating back to their embarrassing 10-3 loss to The Citadel in 1992. Last season, Arkansas beat Eastern Illinois 55-20.
Portland State also has a tradition of playing FBS schools since making the jump to FCS/DI-AA in 1996. The Vikings have actually 4-28 in those games, beating Hawaii in 2000, New Mexico in 2006 and Washington State and North Texas in 2015. In its winless 2017 season, Portland State gave Oregon State a scare before losing 35-32 on a touchdown pass with 1:08 remaining.
Hutch’s Take
A lot of publications skip FCS schools when doing similar opponent previews during the summer, but Portland State is an important game for Arkansas, even if it should be an easy victory. It’s rare for these games to indicate future success, but they can show - as the last two years have - signs of impending disaster.
Two years ago, the Razorbacks didn’t score until their third possession against Florida A&M and followed it up with a three-and-out before rolling to a 49-7 win. They ended up going 4-8 and Bret Bielema was fired.
Last year, the Razorbacks got a field goal on their opening drive and didn’t score a touchdown until Briston Guidry recovered a fumble in the end zone. The offense’s first touchdown came midway through the second quarter. That was a concerning start to a 2-10 season.
It would be nice to see Arkansas come out and jump all over an inferior opponent from the beginning on Aug. 31. Ben Hicks will likely start, but don’t be surprised if Chad Morris uses a similar plan as last year with Nick Starkel getting plenty of playing time.
Defensively, getting young players will be a key in this game to help develop some depth. With the new redshirt rule being in its second year, we’ll probably see a lot of true freshmen make their collegiate debuts.
All that said, I believe the Razorbacks will give fans something to be excited about by cruising to an easy victory. Does that mean success down the road? We won’t know that until the next week at Ole Miss, but it could build some confidence moving forward.
Arkansas 56, Portland State 10
