Arkansas vs Portland State Preview

Arkansas head coach Chad Morris at team practice on August 2. Courtesy of the Arkansas Razorbacks

By Brandon Davis/@brandonsdavis19

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The second season of Chad Morris at the helm as head hog begins with the first meeting between Arkansas and Portland State on the new natural grass gridiron on Aug. 31 in Fayetteville.

Arkansas looks to rebound following a disastrous 2-10 season in which the Hogs only won two of its four non-conference games: a 55-20 win over Eastern Illinois and a 23-0 shutout on homecoming against Tulsa.

For Arkansas to get off to a good start, Morris knows that the team needs to perform to the highest standard, especially in a season opener.

"It's about how well we can execute and how well we can play to our potential," Morris said. "It doesn't matter who we play, it's always how we play."

The Portland State Profile

Portland State finished 4-7 last season which included a 3-5 record in the Big Sky Conference. The Vikings played two opponents in the FBS in 2018, both of which saw 50 plus point blowouts to Nevada and Oregon. In addition to Arkansas this season, Portland State will travel to Boise State on Sep. 14. This will be the first-ever meeting with a member of the SEC for the Vikings.

According to the Big Sky preseason media poll released on July 15, PSU was predicated to finish tenth in the conference.

The Vikings are led by fifth-year head coach Bruce Barnum, who has complied a 16-29 record in his tenure. Barnum has been on Portland State's staff since 2010, where he served as offensive coordinator and became the head coach following Nigel Burton's sacking. In his first game as a head coach, PSU upsetted Washington State 24-17 and later destroyed North Texas 66-7. After leading Portland State to a 9-3 record and its first appearance in the FCS playoffs in 15 years, Barnum was named the STATS FCS Coach of the Year.

Although expectations were high following Barnum's first year, the Vikings have continued to struggle. His next three seasons saw below .500 finishes and PSU went winless in 2017.

Impact Players

The Vikings main weapon on offense is senior tight end Charlie Taumopeau, who was one of two PSU players named to the All-Big Sky preseason team. Despite missing two games last season due to injury, Taumopeau led PSU in receptions, yards and scored five of the 14 total touchdowns made by Portland State. After being named Second Team All-Big Sky in his sophomore campaign, Taumopeau moved up to First Team All-Big Sky and Second Team All-American last season.

On the other side of the pylon, senior defensive tackle Kenton Bartlett returns with the most starts compared to players on both offense and defense. Although Bartlett didn't record the most stats last season, he has become a visual leader for the Vikings defense. Along with Taumopeau, Bartlett was the only other player from Portland State that was named to preseason All-Big Sky team.

Although not the most efficient thrower, junior quarterback Davis Alexander will be the first true test of the Arkansas defense this season. On the run, Alexander scored 12 touchdowns, more than every running back on the roster, and ran for 424 yards. Through the air, he completed 52 percent of his passes for almost 1800 yards, 11 scores and seven turnovers.

How Arkansas Can Win

History wise, Arkansas hasn't lost to a matchup with a FCS opponent since 1992, the Hogs first season in the SEC, in which Arkansas lost to The Citadel. Head coach Jack Crowe resigned following the loss.

There have been multiple questions that have been asked about Arkansas this season, such as who will be the starting quarterback and how will the offensive line be in protecting starting quarterback Ben Hicks, who was named the starter Monday.

The main key to a 1-0 start for the Razorbacks is how much defensive coordinator John Chavis' team has improved from last season. Although Arkansas has many key players on the defensive side back such as De'Jon Harris, Kamren Curl and McTelvin Agim, the Razorback defense finished last season as one of the bottom-feeders in the SEC statically.

When the Arkansas defense was faced by a dual-threat quarterback such as Mississippi State's Nick Fitzgerald or Missouri's Drew Locke, the end result was mostly a brutal beatdown. Fitzgerald threw for 124 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 85 yards and four scores in the Bulldogs 52-6 decimation of the Razorbacks and Locke ran in two touchdowns and went over 200 yards in the air and two more scores in Missouri's 38-0 shutout win.

Even though Portland State's Alexander may not of passed as well as Fitzgerald or Locke, he has shown to be very agile on his feet. As for Taumopeau, he has been predicted to have a big finale to his college career following his junior season. Unless the Razorback defense shows that it has significantly improved from 2018, Alexander and Taumopeau will be looking to having a field day on the new grass in Fayetteville.

The Tale of the Tape

Portland State Vikings (4-7, 3-5 Big Sky in 2018) at Arkansas Razorbacks (2-10, 0-8 SEC in 2018)

August 31, 2019

Donald W. Reynolds Razorbacks Stadium, Fayetteville, Arkansas

3:00 PM CDT

SEC Network

Portland State

Head Coach - Bruce Barnum (16-29 overall record, 5th year at Portland State/16-29 at PSU)

Offensive Coordinator - Matt Leunen (8th year at Portland State)

Defensive Coordinator - Payam Saadat (2nd year at Portland State)

Offense:

LT - Korbin Sorensen, JR

LG - Larry Brister, SR

C - Garrett Stauffer, SR

RG - Babak Ghadaksaz, JR

RT - Daniel Giannosa, JR

QB - Davis Alexander, JR

RB - Carlos Martin, SR

WR - Mataio Talalemotu, SO

WR - Beau Kelly, SO

WR - Emmanuel Daigbe, JR

TE - Charlie Taumopeau, SR

Defense:

RUSH - Shawn Richard, SR

LT - Semise Kofe, JR

RT - Anthony Del Toro, SR

END - Noah Yunker, JR

MLB - Zack Mandera, FR

WLB - Nicholas Ah Sam, JR

ROVER - Romeo Gunt, SR

SAM - Anthony Adams, SO

FS - Ryan Lesch, SR

FCB - Montre Brown, SR

BCB - Deon Crayon, SR

Special Teams:

K - Cody Williams, SO

P- Seth Vernon, JR

LS - Luke Fulford, JR

H - Davis Koetter, SO

PR - Beau Kelly, SO

KR - Evyn Holtz, JR

Arkansas

Head Coach - Chad Morris (16-32 overall record, 2nd year at Arkansas/2-10 at ARK)

Offensive Coordinator - Joe Craddock (2nd year at Arkansas)

Defensive Coordinator - John Chavis (2nd year at Arkansas)

Offense:

LT - Colton Jackson, SR

LG - Austin Capps, SR

C - Ty Clary, JR

RG - Myron Cunningham, JR

RT - Dalton Wagner, SO

QB - Ben Hicks, SR

RB - Rakeem Boyd, JR

WR - Mike Woods, SO

WR - Treylon Burks, FR

WR - Trey Knox, FR

TE - Cheyenne O'Grady, SR

Defense:

DE- Dorian Gerald, SR

DT - McTelvin Agim, SR

DT - TJ Smith, SR

DE - Gabe Richardson, SR

LB - Hayden Henry, JR

LB - De'Jon Harris, SR

LB - Bumper Pool, SO

CB - Montaric Brown, SO

SS - Kamren Curl, JR

FS - Joe Foucha, SO

CB - Jarques McClellion, SO

Special Teams:

K - Connor Limpert, JR

P - Reid Bauer, SO

LS - Jordan Silver, SO

H - Jack Lindsey, JR

KR - De'Vion Warren, JR

PR - Treylon Burks, FR

How to View

The matchup with Arkansas and Portland State will broadcast live from Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium on the SEC Network with kickoff slated for 3 p.m. on Aug. 31.