The Pac-12 Huskies figure to have the upper hand when they take on the Portland State Vikings Saturday in the first ever meeting between the two programs. Does Nigel Burton’s team have an upset in store for his alma mater?

If you’ve been watching your Sportscenter of late, you’ll know that Big Sky schools upsetting FBS schools is  right up there with Gangnam Style for the trend of the moment. This weekend the Portland State Vikings will take their shot at keeping the trend alive when they take on the Washington Huskies in Seattle in their lone 2012 matchup with an FBS school. So will they be doing the Korean horse dance all the way back down I-5 to celebrate a win, or will they extend their losing streak against FBS programs to nine games?

To help find out, I talked with Bob Condotta, the Huskies beat reporter for the Seattle Times. You will be able to find my answers to his questions about the Vikings on his blog later this week. His answers to my questions are below (slightly edited for length and clarity). His blog also has lots of good background on the Huskies and a transcription of Nigel Burton’s interview on the Big Sky Conference call.

Ian Ruder: After what happened in last week’s 41-3 loss to LSU, are the Huskies looking to prove something this week?

Bob Condotta: I think that after last week they are. I don’t think this is a game where they will be trying to rest guys or anything like that. That might be the case sometimes in FBS-FCS matchups, but after last game – and the San Diego state game as well – especially offensively, they need to get things going and get the confidence rolling. From here on out (their schedule) is (full of) heavy hitters – they play Stanford the week after this – so they really need to get a decisive win and feel good about themselves. (Coach Steve) Sarkisian said this week they need to find something that they feel confident in that works on offense. They’re going to try to focus on the plays that make things run best for them, and then run those against Portland State and get some rhythm going in the offense. I think it’s a pretty pivotal game for them from that standpoint, maybe more so than it might normally be. Obviously they need to win it, but I think they need to get a win they feel good about. I don’t think they’ll hold the playbook back, I think they’ll go out there and try to get it going early and try to get a big lead early and try to get a comfortable win.

IR: How much better is this Husky defense than the one everyone saw against Baylor in last year’s Alamo Bowl?

BC: I think it’s better, how much is a little bit hard to tell because of who they played. San Diego State is kind of rebuilding on offense, (but) they looked pretty good against Army, so it’s kind of hard to read that one. They played really well in that game but it’s hard to know how much of that is San Diego State. You’re definitely seeing a lot more variety (and) you’re seeing a lot more aggressive play from the defense in general, which is something fans really wanted to see and the team felt like it needed to do as well. LSU just physically manhandled them up front but most teams they play are not going to be like LSU. I think we’ll get a clearer picture when they play teams that they played a year ago – like Stanford, USC and Oregon – and you kind of have a year to year comparison to really tell where they are on that. But I think in general they’ve definitely taken a step forward in terms of what they’re doing defensively.

IR: If you were the Vikings offensive coordinator, what area of the defense would you look to exploit?

BC: (The Huskies) biggest issue so far has been defending the run. It sounds like Portland State’s offense can do some damage on the run so I would think they’d try and do that first. The difference in physical talent here might negate their ability to do that. San Diego State ran for about 180 yards on them and then LSU basically ran at will. The thing they did a better job of against LSU than they did a year ago, was LSU didn’t really have any big long runs. That was Washington’s real issue last year, they’d kind of break down late and allow teams to tack on some real big long runs that really helped pad the stats.

The Logo of the Original Paralyzed Player

Yet Portland State coach Nigel Burton remains silent about who will be under center next week when the Vikings host NAIA Carroll College to kick off the 2012 season. As much as I enjoy teasing Burton about his coach-speak and tendency towards secrecy, I don’t think that is what is going on here. With six days until the season I think the competition is genuinely undecided.

Based on Saturday morning’s practice, it seems clear that true freshman Kieran McDonagh has overcome the long odds against him and risen to number one status. But even though he took the bulk of the snaps with the first team and got the most run, I never sensed that he had the position locked down. He wasn’t as sharp throwing the ball as he has been at times in camp. Junior college transfer Collin Ramirez completed some nice passes and sophomore Josh Milhollin tore up a skeleton drill. But honestly, none of the three really did anything to distinguish themselves. For my money, the most impressive quarterback Saturday was true freshman Paris Penn. Penn played with the scout team, which would seem to be an indicator he is running fourth and likely to redshirt, but man, I can guarantee you it won’t be an easy decision. He can throw the ball and he is real fast … real fast. When he is on, it’s easy to picture him not just running the pistol, but embodying it.

So how is this going to play out?

Burton has said he won’t name a starting quarterback until Saturday’s game, and I think in reality we won’t know who is going to lead this team until week two. I’m guessing that Saturday’s game will be more final exam than unveiling. Look to see McDonagh, Ramirez and Milhollin each get an extended test at showing what they can do under the lights. I’m particularly interested to see Ramirez, who brings an impressive resume from Butte Junior College. How many times has a player looked great in practice and struggled on the big stage? How many times has the opposite happened?

If one of the three can finish strong this week and build on that in the game, then obviously they’d be in good position. If not, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the situation remain fluid leading up to week two. I also wouldn’t be totally surprised to see Penn remain in the picture. I think his development has really impressed and if he keeps developing he’ll be hard to keep on the sidelines.

The Ruder Line

The New Favorite: Kieran McDonagh, freshman, 6-2, 240 lbs.

Pro: Accuracy, arm strength and a bruising running game have helped the freshman overcome long odds.

Con: Sometimes lacks touch on deep passes. Hasn’t been consistent enough.

Ruder line: 2-1 (Prev. 5-1)

The Improving Talent: Josh Milhollin, sophomore, 6-4, 195 lbs.

Pro: So much better throwing the ball. Fun to watch run. Teammates like.

Con: Sometimes makes bad decisions under pressure. Doesn’t look as good in 11-on-11 as in 7-on-7.

Ruder line: 3-1 (Prev. Even)

The Proven Gamer: Collin Ramirez, junior, 6-2, 205 lbs.

Pro: JC experience should help Saturday. Looked better at times this week.

Con: Lacks the standout arm of McDonagh, legs of Milhollin or all-around athleticism of Penn.

Ruder line: 3-1 (Prev. 5-1)

The Longshot: Paris Penn, freshman, 6-0, 205 lbs.

Pro: Continually improving. Great athlete.

Con: Seems to be 4^th on the depth chart. Hard to not redshirt one of the two freshmen.

Ruder line: 15-1 (Prev. 15-1)

Other Notes

• Redshirt freshman Thomas Carter may have lost out on the quarterback competition, but if this week’s practices are any indication he will see plenty of action as a slot wide receiver. The speedy 5-foot-10 athlete has seen plenty of snaps with the first unit. His hands are a work in progress but as sports information director Mike Lund said, once he catches the ball “he doesn’t get tackled much.”
• My vote for standout offensive performer of fall camp is sophomore wide receiver Alex Toureen. Toureen has been everywhere: making catches, sprinting away from defenders and romping in the endzone. Coaches were stoked about him last fall before he got hurt and it is easy to see why.
• Tight end Kalua Noa has been out of practice all week with an injured meniscus in his knee but could be back for week two.
• Senior Michael Williams has shifted from cornerback to strong safety in attempt to shore up the defensive backfield. The move is a tacit acknowledgment that JC transfer David Edgerson has not worked out. He is currently third on the depth chart behind sophomore Henry Organ. If senior Dean Faddis can ever get healthy he could quickly rise up the chart. I’ve heard he could be back sooner than previously anticipated. Williams’s move is also a recognition of the strong play of transfer corner back Dennis Fite. With his long arms, he has been consistently impressive in braking up pass plays and looks like he could be a star down the line.
• With all the depth the Vikings have imported along the line it will be interesting to see if freshman Jacob Nall cracks the rotation. I’d imagine the Central Catholic product will redshirt but it’s not because he hasn’t impressed. The other day he took some snaps with the first unit and Burton has repeatedly raved about his development.

As a result, the defensive coaches had to switch shoes with their players and run after practice.

“If they get a certain number of takeaways in a practice, we run,” head coach Nigel Burton said. “The last couple of days of practice our offense has done a great job of holding onto the football but this practice (the defense) got the magic number and then some so we had to run, not just one, we had to run three.”

Burton was impressed with the way his defense rallied after giving up touchdowns on back-to-back plays around the halftime intermission.

“They just kind of went back and worked and kept playing,” he said. “They got backed up and not only did they dig themselves out with a great touchdown saving tackle, but they blocked a kick and returned it for a touchdown.”

That the defense did it with a secondary that was missing starting strong safety Joel Sisler, starting cornerback Michael Williams and presumed freshman contributor Nick Rothstein, made its accomplishments even more impressive. The wounded secondary’s job was made easier by a ravenous defensive front that showed the quickness and athleticism that coaches are hoping will cause problems for opponents.

“I think they’re figuring it out,” Burton said of his defensive line. “They’re figuring out that all their talent doesn’t amount to a hill of beans; it’s when they combine their talent with work ethic and effort – that’s when they’re scary.”

Offensively, there wasn’t a whole lot to be excited about Saturday. As he had much of the week, Burton gave the two true freshmen – Penn and Kieran McDonagh – an increased number of snaps with the first and second team offenses. McDonagh came out first, followed by Penn. Both spent the majority of their first stints simply handing the ball off the transfer D.J. Adams. After missing last week’s scrimmage, Adams used his 11 carries to show fans the size and speed that made him a prized recruit. Because he was returning from injury, he was limited to only 30 minutes and didn’t play following the first two series.

Redshirt freshman Thomas Carter was the first quarterback to lead the offense to a score. He scampered for a long run and set up a Zach Brown field goal.

The half ended with McDonagh completing a sweet deep pass to sophomore Alex Toureen and then hitting him again in the end zone on the next play. I couldn’t get the yardage from where I was, but both passes and catches were highlight reel caliber.

Sophomore Josh Milhollin built on the momentum on the first play of the second half by connecting with Keitrell Anderson for a 70-yard touchdown pass wherein Anderson ran away from the pursuing defense. That would prove to be the sole offensive highlight of the second half.

The Quarterback Competition

Burton said not to read too much into McDonagh and Penn coming out first and getting reps with the first and second teams.

“We wanted to get as many reps to our young guys, the true freshmen, as we could,” he said. “That’s really been our plan all week. By giving them a little more experience (we want) to figure out where they stood as opposed to giving them reps with the 3s and 4s and kind of holding them back. We wanted to force the issue and see what they were able to do.”

The verdict?

“I think we’ve got two real guys,” he said. “At some point – whether that ends up being this year, next year or three years from now – we’re going to have a really nice situation.”

Burton said the coaches would watch the video from Saturday before deciding how to proceed, but said moving one of the five to another position – like he did with Nick Green last week – would be an option.

“Every single one of those guys has the ability to play DB, wide receiver, running back, tight end or something. I’m really not interested in having four guys holding clipboards.”

“The beauty of our system is, unlike teams that have to recruit a lot of drop back quarterbacks, all our guys are athletic enough to do something else and help our football team win, as opposed to stockpiling 6 or 7 guys that can only do one thing.”

The current situation in the battle to start remains muddled. With the beautifully thrown deep ball to Toureen and the ensuing well-timed touchdown pass, McDonagh had the best highlights of the day, but two passes alone do not earn you the starting job as a true freshman.

Penn didn’t throw a pass in the first half. He also took three sacks. In the second half a big pass play to Toureen was negated by a penalty.

Ramirez was also sacked twice in the first half and failed to produce a first down. His best play of the second half was a nicely thrown deep ball that Roston Tatum dropped.

Milhollin only got five snaps in the first half. He went 1-3 passing and then took a safety on the first play in a goal line situation. He got the most snaps in the second half though and followed up his early touchdown pass with a drive that ended in a blocked field goal attempt.

Thomas Carter continued to show his running ability and completed 3-6.

The Ruder Line

The Favorite: Josh Milhollin, sophomore, 6-4, 195 lbs.

Pro: The only competitor to lead the team into scoring position twice. Had a nice run too.

Con: Too many mistakes. Needs to be more accurate and make better decisions.

Ruder line: Even (Prev. 2-3)

Sliding: Collin Ramirez, junior, 6-2, 205 lbs.

Pro: Pretty pass to Tatum should have been caught. Maybe would have been better with 1^st or 2^nd units.

Con: Had the worst day of any of the five. Didn’t have any memorable plays.

Ruder line: 5-1 (Prev. 2-1)

The Longshot: Thomas Carter, redshirt freshman, 5-10, 185 lbs.

Pro: Had a good all-around day with nice runs and a few completions.

Con: Of the five, probably the best suited to being shifted to another position.

Ruder line: 50-1 (Prev. 50-1)

The Challenger: Kieran McDonagh, freshman, 6-2, 240 lbs.

Pro: Great goal line series had to make an impression. Ran strong. Didn’t make any big mistakes.

Con: Didn’t dominate the entire time. Still needs to be more vocal.

Ruder line: 5-1 (Prev. 15-1)

Solid: Paris Penn, freshman, 6-0, 205 lbs.

Pro: No big mistakes.

Con: Didn’t make the same kind of impression he did last week.

Ruder line: 15-1 (Prev. 15-1)

Other Stuff

• Aside from the highlights mentioned above, my play of the day pick was senior running back Denzel Davis blowing up the right side of the d-line in a goal line situation to muscle in for a touchdown. My money says Davis, who moved from the secondary last year, is the quickest of the running backs but I didn’t know he had the ability to drive like that. If he sustains that he could be really good.
• One of the more troubling aspects of fall practice has been the poor snapping. It hasn’t just been the second and third teams, but starting center Mitch Gaulke too. “There were a number of bad snaps again yesterday. Still, Burton said he is not too worried. “We had a little bit of that last year,” he said. “It’s something that I’m not worried about, think we’ll be okay in the end.”
• The cornerbacks made several nice plays to break up potential completions. Six-foot-5 transfer Dennis Fite did his best Mr. Incredible impersonation, using all of his length, to make one impressive breakup.
• Your new medical term of the day is: rhabdo (RAB-doe). Its short for rhabdomyolysis, and it’s the reason freshman Nick Rothstein was out yesterday and running back D.J. Adams was out last week. It causes muscle tissue to break down rapidly and can lead to kidney problems and a lot of other bad stuff (look it up).
• While D.J. Adams returned, sophomore running back Shaquille Richard sat out with an injury. Burton said it was not considered serious.
• The scariest moment of the day came when senior tight end Kalua Noa limped off the field and returned in street clothes. He tweaked his knee and said he could miss 2-4 weeks, though he seemed to be walking fine afterwards.
• Freshman linebacker Brandon Brody-Heim also left late in practice with an injury.

A few hours later everyone was buzzing about him and wondering if a true freshman from Grant High School could really be the Vikings opening day quarterback. That’s what happens when you lead the team to score on all three of your opportunities and complete 8 of 12 passes for 158 yards.

Today, in the team’s second scrimmage, he will find himself under more scrutiny. There will be pressure to show last week wasn’t a fluke and perhaps even more pressure to show he has continued to improve. After another sharp practice this week, Penn seemed confident beyond his years.

“A lot of things have come to me he past week and a half – a lot of plays,” he said. “I’ve taken it slow with doubles and single practices and the practices have really helped me … things are coming easier to me but there’s still a long way to go.”

Talking with Penn it’s hard not to be impressed by his maturity. When I asked him what he thought his strength as a quarterback was his answer caught me off guard.

“My leadership,” he said. “My ability to lead and get the guys to understand why I’m here – I’m here to win.”

I asked him if it was hard to lead a team of older guys.

“I definitely thought it would be a difficult task to lead older guys coming in as a freshman but these guys have taken me under their wing and listened to everything I say,” he said. “Once I step in the huddle all eyes are on me and they definitely respect me.”

It would be easy to dismiss those answers as freshman bravado, but I think it would be a mistake. Penn’s teammates do see to respond to him and I think everyone has been impressed with  the leadership he has shown. That said, the coaches still have a lot of questions. To be convinced he is a viable option to start – or even play – he’ll need to do much more. He is aware of the challenge and says the competition has helped him.

“It gets your confidence up,” he said. “You always strive to do better when you know that somebody else has your spot.”

A good showing Saturday could go a long way towards helping Penn make that his spot.

Notes: For proof that living on campus and working out with the team helped the freshmen, you don’t need to look any farther than Penn. He is noticeably more muscular and looks much more like a college quarterback – physically – than he did last year as a senior at Grant. He said he probably has added 5-10 pounds, not to mention he has a deeper understanding of the offense. “We did a lot of workouts this summer,” he said. “I think we worked out every day in the summer so I think that helped me a lot.”

As the sun broke through the clouds, I could hear some of the 100+ onlookers beginning to get restless. The people wanted a scrimmage. Well, once that scrimmage finally started it did not disappoint.

Continuing with his commitment to an Oregon Duck-like up-tempo practice, head coach Nigel Burton crammed in a whopping 98 plays before shutting things down just before 1:30. So Burton was happy with the pace, right?

“No, not at all,” he said. “We allowed the young guys who are inexperienced to slow the tempo down. I think we’re going to force the issue a little bit more.”

Burton looked at me like I was an idiot when I noted that the tempo was significantly improved from last year and said he was far from satisfied. I think it is important to point out how far the program has come in the three years since he replaced Jerry Glanville though. Whether Burton was happy or not, players shuttled on and off the field quickly, units swapped smoothly and there was the feeling of a genuine college football scrimmage that was lacking even at times last year. I think that explains Burton’s seemingly contradictory comment that:

“It was great scrimmage from top to bottom. We saw playmakers, we saw the ability to run the football, we saw the ability to stop the run.”

The Quarterback Competition

Fans got a great glimpse of five of the six quarterbacks today. Freshman Thomas Carter didn’t play for an undisclosed reason, but each of the other five  showed a little of what they bring to the table.

Sophomore Josh Milhollin showed off his continued improvement on a slick two-play touchdown drive where he completed a 32-yard pass down the sideline to tight end Kalua Noa and then a 38-yard run-and-catch touchdown over the middle to senior Nevin Lewis. Milhollin’s passing is night and day from where it was during his redshirt year and he has the potential to be a great runner.

Senior Nick Green showed off his scrambling ability on a nice 70-yard drive. He ran five times for 40 yards on the drive.

Yet most of the post-scrimmage buzz surrounded the two true freshman, Paris Penn and Kieran McDonagh.

“You know what? Those two young quarterbacks are making it interesting on us,” said Burton. “(It will come to) their ability to master the offense. Talent-wise there is no question they have what it takes.”
Penn, a two-way weapon from Grant High, shined in the spotlight. He led the offense on scoring drives on all three of his drives, including one in the final two-minute drill. He completed back-to-back deep balls to Justin Monahan for 41 and 48 yards on one drive. In the two-minute drill he showed an ability to improvise and found tight end Gage “Joe Dirt” Loftin in the end zone. He finished 8-12 for 158 yards and two touchdowns.

McDonagh didn’t have the highlights Penn did, but showed his strong arm and burly running skills.  He finished 5-7 for 35 yards with five rushes for 39 yards.

The other competitor, transfer Collin Ramirez, had a forgettable day, failing to lead any scoring drives or make much of an impression.

Where Things Stand

After the scrimmage Burton said to expect the quarterback rotation to tighten up this week.

“We’ll go 1-2-3-4-5-6, guys who are 4-5-6 will still get reps, but it won’t be the same and they’re going to do what they have to do to move up,” he said.

I honestly don’t think anyone knows who will be the starting quarterback at this point. Here’s the latest Ruder Line on each competitor.

The New Favorite: Josh Milhollin, sophomore, 6-4, 195 lbs.

Pro: Two nice passes on a TD drive and good chemistry have moved him to the head of the list.

Con: A bad read that turned into a pick-six for Khalil Bass and a few missed receivers are signs his passing game is still a work in progress.

Ruder line: 2-3 (Prev. 2-1)

Down, But Far From Out: Collin Ramirez, junior, 6-2, 205 lbs.

Pro: Still has the pedigree and experience and the ability to throw a nice ball despite a disappointing day.

Con: Hasn’t shown the ability to take control many expected.

Ruder line: 2-1 (Prev. Even)

The Veteran: Nick Green, senior, 6-2, 200 lbs.

Pro: Fun to watch run.

Con: Experience and athleticism seem to make him the ideal guy to move to help shore up safety.

Ruder line: 50-1 (Prev. 25-1)

The Up-and-comer: Thomas Carter, redshirt freshman, 5-10, 185 lbs.

Con: Tough to come back from missed time. Will need to show he’s better than freshmen.

Ruder line: 50-1 (Prev. 25-1)

The Big Man: Kieran McDonagh, freshman, 6-2, 240 lbs.

Pro: Showed his surprising running skills and pass accuracy. Clear his receivers love him.

Con: How much better would he be with a year to learn the system?

Ruder line: 15-1 (Prev. 10-1)

The Big Mover: Paris Penn, freshman, 6-0, 205 lbs.

Pro: He did it all Saturday in a near perfect audition.

Con: How much better would he be with a year to learn the system?

Ruder line: 15-1 (Prev. 100-1)

My Current Guess

I wouldn’t be surprised to see Nick Green shifted back to safety later this week. That will free up some more reps to get a better look at Penn and McDonagh. I also think some of Thomas Carter’s snaps have to start going to the true freshmen. Carter is a known commodity and has a limited ceiling because of his size arm. I think both the freshmen showed they have much higher ceilings than Carter. The coaches need to figure out if they have enough confidence in Milhollin and Ramirez to redshirt Penn and McDonagh, or if one or both of those guys is ready to play this year. My guess? One of them will redshirt, one will battle to the end of camp.

Other Notes

• Monahan, Lewis, Noa and sophomore Alex Toureen all looked good today. If they can stay healthy, whoever wins the quarterback competition should have some good targets to throw to.
• After watching Penn and Milhollin repeatedly connect for deep passes, Burton conceded that the secondary has lots of room to improve. I actually think between senior Michael Williams, sophomore Karrington Jones and senior Aaron Kincy, the Viks have a decent trio at cornerback. The safety spots remain a big question. Senior Joel Sisler is a smart, solid playmaker but his speed and coverage ability are somewhat untested. The group’s development bears watching over the next three weeks.
• Carter was one of a large group of players who watched from the sidelines, including: running backs D.J. Adams and Shaq Richards, punter Thomas Duyndam and defensive lineman Sadat Sulleyman.

“That’s when you know you’re moving the program in the right direction and bringing in the right people,” Burton said. “I think our players’ expectations of themselves are phenomenal and I think the work they’ve done has been phenomenal.”

Freshman Kieran McDonagh is one of six players vying to be the starting quarterback for the Vikings.

For a full recap of Sunday’s first practice, check out my article in Monday’s Oregonian. If you read the article, or simply live in Portland, you know how hot it was Sunday. I darted between the few shady spots to check out all the new faces and see who was doing what. Here are a few observations and thoughts that didn’t make it into the paper …

1)      Passing the look test

I briefly talked about Marquis Jackson and Nick Alexander, two of the new transfer defensive ends, in the Oregonian article, but trust me when I say, words do not do them justice. As soon as I arrived I instantly found myself looking at the roster to see who the new #7 on defense was. I wasn’t surprised to find out it was Jackson. It’s easy to see why NFL draft experts had the 6-foot-5 senior as a late round pick should he have entered the draft last April. He is ripped, huge and looked quick in drills. And based on the accolades he has earned – he was a first team All-Southwest Athletic Conference selection at Texas Southern in 2010 and 2011 – he can play. Alexander is almost as big, but doesn’t bring the same resume. He redshirted last year at Boise State and only saw limited action the year before. Still, he is big and looked physical. Fellow defensive end Jeremy Boone, who sat out last year for academic reasons, is also 6-4 and huge and has coaches excited about his potential.

2)      The kids are alright

One of my favorite stories from covering PSU centers around a California prep quarterback whose father inundated me with emails about how his son was the best unknown QB in the state. He all but guaranteed me his son would lead Portland State to the promised land if he got a scholarship. After he did get a scholarship, I eagerly awaited his fall debut. And? He literally could not throw a 20-yard out route. It was embarrassing. It was also a great lesson in the hype around college football recruiting: don’t believe it until you see it with your own eyes. Having now seen the much-hyped class of freshmen, I can say they don’t look like phonies. There is a noticeable jump in size, athleticism and, perhaps equally important, attitude, from the Glanville era. How will that translate to the field? I have no idea, but based on skills alone, the potential is there.

3)      Summer of love    

I mentioned that all the freshmen were on campus for the first time this summer and the importance given to that by the returners and coaches, but I don’t think I can emphasize how important that seems to have been. In addition to being more familiar with the plays and systems, I sensed all the players knew each other and got along better than in the past. Jesuit High grad Nick Rothstein said he and his fellow freshman felt at home on day one. “We’re all really close,” he said. “We were in the dorms together all summer and there was a lot of bonding.”

4)      Who’s the man?

I’m not referring to the ill-fated 1993 comedy starring the hosts of Yo! MTV Raps, but rather the six-man battle to be Portland State’s opening day quarterback. Transfer Collin Ramirez and sophomore Josh Milhollin are the clear favorites, but no one has seized the reins yet. Here’s my breakdown of where things stand and the Ruder line on each candidate’s chances to start.

The Favorite: Collin Ramirez, junior, 6-2, 205 lbs.

Pro: He has the most experience and probably the best touch of any of the contenders.

Con: He doesn’t have the system down yet and is still developing relationships with his teammates.

Ruder line: Even

The Athlete: Josh Milhollin, sophomore, 6-4, 195 lbs.

Pro: He has two years in the system and is the best runner in the group. He has also shown steady improvement in his passing ability. His teammates like him.

Con: He still needs to improve his accuracy and show ability to pass under duress. Needs to prove he can lead.

Ruder line: 2-1

The Veteran: Nick Green, senior, 6-2, 200 lbs.

Pro: A good runner. Well respected.

Con: Makes questionable decisions, lacks polish.

Ruder line: 25-1

The Up-and-comer: Thomas Carter, redshirt freshman, 5-10, 185 lbs.

Pro: Very athletic, has shown an ability to make plays.

Con: May not have the arm strength or size needed.

Ruder line: 20-1

The Dark Horse: Kieran McDonagh, freshman, 6-2, 240 lbs.

Pro: Best arm on the team. Looked very accurate. Moves well with a big body.

Con: Has to be more vocal and show he can lead. Needs to master the offense.

Ruder line: 10-1

The Longshot: Paris Penn, freshman, 6-0, 205 lbs.

Pro: Great two-way athlete with a strong arm.

Con: Seems a perfect candidate to redshirt.

Ruder line: 100-1

5)      Wait, 10-1? On a true freshman?

Okay, any of my friends will tell you that I’m prone to hyperbole, and have a tendency to oversell some things. That said, I really like what I saw of freshman quarterback Kieran McDonagh. I’d heard good things from coaches and a few receivers heading into Sunday but had never even seen a picture of McDonagh. On first glance, it’s easy to see why the Skyview High (Wash.) product was overlooked by bigger programs. He is thickly built and doesn’t look like he’d be able to move. But he can. And boy can he throw. If Mouse Davis was still around the competition would be over as soon as he saw McDonagh zip a pass into tight coverage. I watched him as much as I could Sunday, and while he had his slip ups and bad passes, he had more impressive passes that hit receivers between the numbers than anyone else. He also showed an ability to put touch on deep passes. Despite his physical gifts, he has a lot of work to do if he wants to beat out his more seasoned rivals. He was noticeably quiet calling out plays and doesn’t yet carry himself with the confidence I’m sure his coaches would like to see. Still, he has the skills to make this competition more than interesting.

6)      What, me worry?

The red alert along the defensive line seems safe to downgrade thanks to the influx of talent. I’m not sure the same can be said about the defensive backfield. In my fall camp preview I mentioned that senior Joel Sisler is moving from linebacker to safety. No reason was given for his absence. Moving Sisler will test his speed and coverage ability, but he has shown a knack for making plays, so it makes some sense.  The fact that transfer David Edgerson has yet to claim a spot with the first defensive unit also has to be concerning. Right now the first team safeties are Sisler and sophomore Henry Organ, who I believe is a former walk-on. Not on the field yesterday was Dean Faddis, the promising safety who looked good after transferring from Nevada last year only to go down to a foot injury.

7)      Other stuff

1. Freshmen Nick Rothstein and Daniel Halverson both look like they have the skills and size to contribute early on, but Burton said the freshman who is guaranteed to have the biggest immediate impact is long snapper Kameron Canaday. “He will definitely be the snapper,” Burton said. “From what I heard from the punter, we may have to talk to him about slowing down because he’s firing the thing back so fast he might break his fingers.”
2. One guy to watch for is sophomore receiver Alex Toureen. Everyone seemed high on the Cottage Grove product until injuries sidelined him last year. The wide receiving corps could use a quick, reliable target and he could be one.
3. Grayshirt defensive end Sadat Sulleyman, perhaps the most eye opening player from spring football was in attendance but not in uniform. I was told he will be eligible sometime in September.
4. The award for worst/best haircut goes to senior tight end Gage Loftin. If the mullet comes back into style, you’ll know who to thank.
5. For the first day of practice, there were surprisingly few fans on hand – likely because of the heat. That didn’t mean the sidelines weren’t packed. The addition of four former players as quality control assistants clearly played a part, but it just seemed like there were more people than usual. PSU sports information guru Mike Lund explained the reason why, “That’s what happens when you become an elite program.”
   

Portland State football: Vikings open fall practice with optimism, sights set on challenging for titles (The Oregonian)

Vikings kick things off despite the heat (The Oregonian)

1)      Collin Ramirez will eventually win the quarterback competition

1. It’s the question everyone wants answered and after yesterday’s game the answer would appear more muddled than ever. Ramirez finished 3-10 with an interception and showed little pocket mobility Saturday. On the other side, his 70-yd touchdown pass to Nevin Lewis was easily the highlight of the day, showing his ability to put perfect touch on a deep route. The rest of the day Ramirez looked like what he is: a quarterback still learning the system and his teammates.

   Josh Milhollin looked infinitely better than he did a year ago at the spring game, showing an improved ability to progress through his reads and make the short passes that open up thanks to his scrambling ability. Afterwards, he said he felt the best he has since injuring an ankle early in spring. Still, he said that he is still far from 100 percent following that injury and the knee injury he sustained last year. Still, watching him connect with D.J. Adams on a broken play may have been the first time I could legitimately see him leading the offense next fall. If he can improve as much as he has in the last year again he could be a dual-threat, perfectly suited for the pistol.

   Looking at Nick Green’s stats you might want to anoint him the leader in the locker room, but anyone who saw his wobbly passes know he is not in the competition. Thomas Carter showed flashes of potential but is still very raw and doesn’t have a great arm.

   So why will Ramirez win? Two reasons: First, he is the only contender who has shown the ability to consistently throw the ball down the field with accuracy and touch, and with another three months of practice he can learn the system and erase the errors that have hindered him. Second, the Vikings have too much athleticism and talent with Justin Monahan, Kalua Noa, Nevin Lewis and potentially Roston Tatum and David Jones to not expand the passing game. I think Ramirez gives them the best chance to do that.

2)      Sadat Sulleyman will eventually be an All-Big Sky player

1. It was hard to keep track of who was who on the defense’s roster because of all the number changes, but it was never hard to find the 6-foot-2 grayshirt defensive end. He was everywhere, most frequently in the offense’s backfield. He is an explosive pass rusher with the kind of quickness and savvy coaches dream of. He and tackle Julious Moore have been the most consistent defensive forces up front all spring. They are both good players now but have room to improve and become the kind of anchors the defensive font so desperately needs. If you haven’t already, make sure to read SID Mike Lund’s excellent piece on Sulleyman’s long road to Portland.

3)      The secondary has actually improved

1. If you were paying attention yesterday, you probably noticed that transfer safety David Edgerson was not taking snaps with the first unit. That’s not a good sign, and likely a reflection of what was an underwhelming spring debut for him. In his place was Henry Organ, who I believe is a walk-on. That red flag and a couple of lucky deep passes from Nick Green aside, the secondary did a good job containing the offense – something it has struggled with in the past. I liked what I saw from senior safety Dean Faddis and transfer cornerback Dennis Fite. Faddis made good decisions and showed the same toughness and instinct that had fans excited before his injury last year. Fite may or may not be the tallest corner ever at PSU (he’s listed at 6-5) but he showed the closing and cover ability to make that a mere footnote. Adding all the returning players and incoming freshman Nic “Rocky” Rothstein (expected to play safety) and there appears to be hope for an improved secondary.

4)      Kameron Canaday could quietly be your impact freshman

1. I qualify this by saying I have never seen the freshman from Eugene play, but if he is half the longsnapper he is reported to be he should be starting in the fall. The longsnapping has not been good this spring and wasn’t again yesterday. The Viks need him, or someone, to step up.

5)      Fly-ing Viks?

1. How do you mix up a run-heavy offense with lots of running backs you like? How about incorporating a package of fly plays. I didn’t count how many plays the offense ran out of its new fly package yesterday, but it was there for the public. I’d expect to see more in the fall.

6)      Bonus

1. If you’re a fan you had to be excited seeing the strong turnout of NW high school talent, including the majority of the local kids who signed in February. Nigel Burton posted a photo of part of the group here. He noted why their attendance excites him. “The best part is those guys have been around all spring. They’ve come in and out to a lot of things. The best part about recruiting so many northwest kids is they’re already a part of it, they’ve got great relationships with our current team, they’ve started learning our system and they have a great chance to come in and play right away.”

Here’s the recap I wrote for the Oregonian.

See ya in the fall!

The Vikings looked flat, tired and uninspired Monday despite the frenetic pace of a practice that saw the team squeeze in over 90 plays from scrimmage. Head Coach Nigel Burton said afterwards that he hoped the struggles were merely a road bump.

“We were getting better so fast. It was just like, ‘Scrimmage day is the day to take a step back?’ Burton said. “Come on, do it like the day after.”

The one thing that did bring a smile to Burton’s face was freshman defensive end Sadat Sulleyman. I’ve mentioned the 6-foot-2, 240-pound grayshirt before, and he has been solid early in spring. Today he was dominant. Going against a mix of 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd team defenses, Sulleyman was practically unstoppable. Displaying quickness off the edge and the strength to get by bigger o-linemen, Sulleyman racked up at least five sacks and literally spent more time in the opponents’ backfield than on the defensive side of the ball.

“He’s different,” Burton said with a smile. “He’s about the closest thing I’ve seen to (former Nevada and current NFL linebacker) Dantay Moch and (former OSU and current NFL linebacker) Slade Norris in his ability to change direction (and) come off edges.”

And one more thing …

“He’s out of shape too,” Burton added. “When we finally get him in shape all hell could break loose.”

There weren’t any similar offensive standouts Monday. None of the quarterbacks looked sharp and the receivers looked equally lost. Freshman running back Julian Cruell broke one nice run for a touchdown and, well, the rest of the highlights came on quarterback keepers and broken plays. After missing two practices with a sprained ankle, sophomore quarterback Josh Milhollin took some snaps early but then sat out the rest of the practice.

I lost count of the number of bad snaps that resulted in broken plays. With center Mitch Gaulke only out temporarily, it’s not that big of a concern, but should anything happen to Gaulke next year it might bear watching.

Despite the disappointing day, Burton remained optimistic about his team’s spring progress.

“The offense has been smoking and the defense has been doing great,” he said.

Two Guys, Lotsa Muscles: Justin Monahan and Kalua Noa are ripped. The two seniors were already the easy picks for the team’s two best returning receivers and it is hard not to be impressed by their added bulk. More impressive is that neither seems to have lost any of their speed. I’d bet they have scored 90% of the touchdowns in practice.

Who’s #2: If you go to practice, don’t be deceived by the order the QB’s take snaps – barring an injury or stellar debut by a freshman in the fall, junior transfer Collin Ramirez is going to start at quarterback. He throws the best ball and is the most accurate passer. Who plays behind him is anybody’s guess. Sophomore Josh Milhollin has improved from last spring but still looks completely lost in the passing game. Senior Nick Green loos every bit as rusty as you’d expect following a long layoff from quarterbacking. Redshirt freshman Thomas Carter is sort of in between, some of Milhollin’s athleticism, some of Green’s arm. Not enough yet of either.

A Cruell world: Despite all the hype around transfer D.J. Adams, don’t be surprised if redshirt freshman Julian Cruell is starting at running back in the fall. He is bigger than Shaquille Richard and quicker than Adams. He showed it today in scrimmage when he snuck through the center of the line for a 10-yd TD on a 1^st and goal drill.

Safe(ty) and healed: Senior Dean Faddis tantalized Viking fans by making an instant impact after transferring from Nevada last year. Then he got hurt and the secondary went back to struggling. He’s healthy again and looked sharp today, making perhaps the tackle of the day behind the line.

First glimpse: A handful of the Vikings’ touted recruiting class was on hand Friday to observe practice. Lake Oswego running back Steven Long, Jesuit safety Nicolas Rothstein, Eastside Catholic (Wash.) running back/defensive back Chevy Walker, Lake Oswego linebacker Zach Walen and one other player (maybe Jacob Nall?) got a taste of their future alongside a good number of high school coaches taking part in a PSU clinic. One observation: Long may be the smallest player to ever play at Portland State … and that’s saying something.

Other guys to watch: Greyshirt Sadat Sulleyman plays with an obvious passion. Don’t be surprised if he ends up in the rotation come fall … Another guy who could be ready to make the jump is sophomore cornerback Karrington Jones. The guy carries himself like a player and has shown signs of translating that on the field … Senior linebacker Khalil Bass got big this winter. I almost didn’t recognize him.