2020 Recruiting Thread

[bigskyconf]

Portland State gains a kicker from California:

Gianni [email protected]
I’m coming home.

Is he from here in the area originally?

[forestgreen]

Viks gain a WR transfer from the Nebraska Cornhuskers:

Sean Callahan @Sean_Callahan 26m
Former #Huskers WR Darien Chase lands at Portland State.

Darien Chase @chasedariem · 2h
COMMITTED
let’s work @jojosiofele26


https://twitter.com/search?q=portland%2 ... ery&f=live

[forestgreen]

A couple of highlight videos for Darien Chase

DARIEN CHASE '19 ATH Union HS (Camas, WA)






Nebraska signee Darien Chase '19 WR/DB Union HS (Camas, WA) -- SR YR #NWBMix

[bigskyconf]

Viks gain a WR transfer from the Nebraska Cornhuskers:

Sean Callahan @Sean_Callahan 26m
Former #Huskers WR Darien Chase lands at Portland State.

Darien Chase @chasedariem · 2h
COMMITTED
let’s work @jojosiofele26


https://twitter.com/search?q=portland%2 ... ery&f=live

His story is similar to that of Isaiah Woods.

https://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.c ... struggles/

Wish him luck at PSU and with his future endeavors.

[forestgreen]

Union grad Darien Chase announces his transfer to Portland State
Football standout left Nebraska after one season for personal reasons

https://www.columbian.com/news/2020/may ... and-state/

Football standout Darien Chase has found a new college closer to home and family — Portland State.
The Union High graduate, who left Nebraska in February after one season, announced on social media late Friday.

“I’ve chosen to stay off social media when it came to my recruiting process so I could make a clear decision on my next step and commit to a school that makes the most sense to me,” Chase posted. “Thank you to all the universities who have me the opportunity to play at their program. I’ll be forever grateful. With that being said, I’m proud to announce that I will be staying close to home and attending … Portland State University.”

A three-time All-Region selection, Chase was one of the most prized high school football recruits to come out of Clark County in many years.
In his senior season at Union, he helped the Titans win the 4A state championship and was selected the state co-player of the year by the Seattle Times.

Chase signed with Nebraska and played in four games at receiver last season at Nebraska, preserving his redshirt season. He caught one pass for 13 yards.
In February, Chase decided to leave Nebraska and enter the transfer portal, citing several years of struggle with depression. While he called his time at Nebraska “amazing,” Chase added that family issues and being so far from home exacerbated his mental health issues.

Because he is moving from a NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) program to the second-tier Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), Chase will not be required to sit out a year, making him eligible to play for the Vikings in the fall.

“I would like to thank God for getting me through these difficult times, and my family’s amazing support while being home,” Chase said.

[forestgreen]

Former Nebraska WR Darien Chase Announces Transfer Destination

https://thespun.com/big-ten/nebraska-co ... -state-fcs

After spending one season with the Nebraska Cornhuskers, wide receiver Darien Chase announced that he would enter the NCAA transfer portal. He needed a few months to decide where he’d resume his career, but it finally appears he has found a new home.

Though he didn’t see much playing time during his first year in Lincoln, the coaching staff had high hopes for Chase. The former three-star recruit was the No. 398 overall prospect and No. 21 athlete from his class, per 247Sports.
Chase revealed to his followers on Twitter that he dealt with depression over the last few years, and that it played a part in his decision to transfer. Judging off his latest post, the Washington native appears to be in much better spirits.

On Friday night, Chase announced that he’s transferring to Portland State. This will allow him to continue playing college football while remaining close to home.

During his freshman season at Nebraska, Darien Chase had just one reception for 13 yards.

Chase has three years of eligibility remaining, so Portland State will plenty of time to develop him.
Hopefully moving back closer to home will help Chase both on and off the field.

[forestgreen]

It's official!:

Vikings Add Darien Chase To An Already Talented Wide Receiver Group

https://goviks.com/news/2020/6/1/footba ... group.aspx

Portland State Football has signed local product Darien Chase to an aid agreement for the 2020-21 academic year. Chase, a wide receiver who spent one year at Nebraska, attended Vancouver's Union High School.

Head Coach Bruce Barnum was thrilled to add Chase to his squad and a talented returning offense. "Darien is a proven player and he is local, which we love," Barnum said. "You couldn't ask for a stronger addition to an already impressive corps of receivers."

Chase, a 6-1, 200-pounder, will bolster PSU's potent wide receiver group. He played on the 2018 Washington Class 4A state champion team, catching 65 passes for more than 1,000 yards and 14 touchdowns. Chase earned Seattle Times co-Player of the Year, Washington Offensive Player of the Year and was named first-team All-Washington by USA Today.

A first team All-State choice by the Associated Press following his junior and senior seasons, Chase also had a 1,000-yard receiving season with 14 touchdowns as a junior and was a standout defensive back. He was a teammate of current Viking JoJo Siofele, a redshirt freshman running back.

Chase signed with Nebraska and played there in 2019. He competed in four games, preserving his redshirt status, and made one reception for 13 yards. Following the season, he elected to transfer back closer to home.

Chase will join what should be a dynamic Viking offense in 2020. The Vikings return four talented wideouts in senior Emmanuel Daigbe and juniors Mataio Talalemotu, Davis Koetter and Beau Kelly. Those four combined for 140 receptions, 2,178 yards and 22 touchdowns in 2019. Also back is two-year starter at quarterback Davis Alexander, who had 3,445 yards of total offense and 30 total touchdowns in 2019.

[forestgreen]

Vikings receive a commit from an UTEP Graduate transfer:

Tiano Tialavea (TT) @TTLOWKEY15

PROUD TO ANNOUNCE IM 100% COMMITTED TO PORTLAND STATE

https://twitter.com/TTLOWKEY15

[bigskyconf]

Vikings receive a commit from an UTEP Graduate transfer:

Tiano Tialavea (TT) @TTLOWKEY15

PROUD TO ANNOUNCE IM 100% COMMITTED TO PORTLAND STATE

https://twitter.com/TTLOWKEY15

Better post this before Alan finds it.

https://kfoxtv.com/news/local/second-ut ... d-saturday

Although it does sound like the other guy went crazy and Tialavea was just along for the ride.

[Alan]

Vikings receive a commit from an UTEP Graduate transfer:

Tiano Tialavea (TT) @TTLOWKEY15

PROUD TO ANNOUNCE IM 100% COMMITTED TO PORTLAND STATE

https://twitter.com/TTLOWKEY15

Better post this before Alan finds it.

https://kfoxtv.com/news/local/second-ut ... d-saturday

Although it does sound like the other guy went crazy and Tialavea was just along for the ride.

Nothing to see here. Just a couple of upstanding UTEP scholar athletes in El Paso celebrating a graduate WR transferring to Portland State. Lucky us. Thanks for the post @bigskyconf!

[bigskyconf]

Vikings receive a commit from an UTEP Graduate transfer:

Tiano Tialavea (TT) @TTLOWKEY15

PROUD TO ANNOUNCE IM 100% COMMITTED TO PORTLAND STATE

https://twitter.com/TTLOWKEY15

Better post this before Alan finds it.

https://kfoxtv.com/news/local/second-ut ... d-saturday

Although it does sound like the other guy went crazy and Tialavea was just along for the ride.

Nothing to see here. Just a couple of upstanding UTEP scholar athletes in El Paso celebrating a graduate WR transferring to Portland State. Lucky us. Thanks for the post @bigskyconf!

He'll soon find out that any bad day in Portland is a helluva lot better than any good day in El Paso.

[golfer]

Some 50 years ago, I spent the last year of my Army stint in El Paso. While I did not like it nearly as well as my home town of Portland, it was a really nice town. A little hot at times but not as politically backward as places like Dallas.

[bigskyconf]

Some 50 years ago, I spent the last year of my Army stint in El Paso. While I did not like it nearly as well as my home town of Portland, it was a really nice town. A little hot at times but not as politically backward as places like Dallas.

Sorry. I was listening to my Duck friends who tell me that the worst bowl to attend is the Sun Bowl...in El Paso.



Maybe there is a difference between the "west Texas town" that Marty Robbins sang about, and the raging metropolis it is now.

[forestgreen]

Vikings add to their defensive backfield:

Foothill College Football
@OwlFootball_

Sophomore safety De’Jon Fort has officially committed to play at Portland State University.
#OwlEra | #FoothillCollege |

https://twitter.com/OwlFootball_

[forestgreen]

Football Team Signs Three More On Defense For 2020 Season

https://goviks.com/news/2020/6/22/footb ... eason.aspx

Portland State football bolstered its defense this past week, signing three student-athletes to grant-in-aid agreements for the 2020 football season. Head Coach Bruce Barnum announced the addition of Xavier Bell, De'jon Fort and Serge Rusnak to the Viking program.

Bell should be a marquee addition to the Viking defense. A junior safety, Bell has transferred to PSU from the University of Arizona. He played the past two seasons for the Wildcats, competing in 22 games and making 21 tackles. The 6-2, 200-pound Bell is originally from Long Beach, CA where he attended Mater Dei High School.

"Xavier Bell is great addition for our program," Barnum said. "He came to us in a very competitive recruiting situation. Xavier got a lot of attention because of his skills and experience at a high level of play in the Pac-12. He will compete right away for playing time."

Barnum went on: "We build our foundation with high school players then we try to reach out and get quality transfers to round things out. The staff hit a home run with this signing."

Fort, a defensive back from Foothill College, will also be a junior in 2020. He played in 19 games the past two seasons, making 48 tackles, five interceptions, 10 pass breakups and a fumble recovery. He is a 6-foot, 190-pounder and originally from Palo Alto, CA, where he attended Saint Francis High School.

"De'jon has great speed and cover abilities. He should come in and create competition and depth and will raise our talent level," said Barnum.

Rusnak, a 6-2, 280-pound defensive tackle, joins the Vikings from Vancouver's Evergreen High School. He has not competed in football in two years, but was a standout performer at Evergreen as a senior, earning first team All-League and team Most Valuable Player.

"Serge has limited experience, but shown phenomenal potential. His strength and athleticism for his size are off the charts. We look forward to seeing what he can do."

The addition of Bell, Fort and Rusnak increases Portland State's recruiting class to 24 letter-of-intent and grant-in-aid signees. The Vikings return 47 letter winners and 13 starters for the 2020 season.

[forestgreen]

Portland State picks up another DB from the California JC ranks:

Jake Urena
@JakeUrena22

Blessed and excited to announce I’ll be continuing my football and athletic career at Portland State University!! #jucoproduct #committed