Past Tense PSU FOOTBALL PLAYERS MAKE THE PROS t is football season in the National Football League (NFL) and at Portland State. Little known to many sports fans, Portland State has produced excellent football players who continued playing football as professionals. Since 1967, 38 Portland State football players have gone on to play in the NFL, two other Vikings were drafted but did not play, and 27 played professional football in other leagues (e.g., Canadian Football League, World League, arena football). Dave Stief (wide receiver, 1978-1983), Neil Lomax (quarterback, 1981-1988), Clint Didier (tight end, 1982-1989), Tracey Eaton (free safety, 1988-1953), Ted Popson (tight end, 1994-1998), and Darick Holmes (running back, 1995-1999) played five or more years in the NFL. Former PSU wide receiver James Hundon has the distinction of being the first former Viking pictured on the cover of Sports Illustrated (Feb. 12, 2001). The first Viking to play in the NFL was Tom Oberg (pictured left) who played defensive back at Portland State for two years in 1966 and 1967. He intercepted 12 passes which still ranks seventh in PSU history. He was a team leader as a captain and was named the team’s Most Inspirational Player as a senior. Oberg played safety for the Denver Broncos in 1968 and 1969. Following his NFL career, he played in the Canadian Football League and for the Portland Storm and Thunder of the Word Football League. He was inducted into the Portland State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2002. Tom continues to support PSU football as a VIP season ticket holder. Four PSU Vikings play in the NFL today: Julius Thomas, tight end for the Denver Broncos; Jordon Senn, linebacker for the Carolina Panthers; Adam Hayward, linebacker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers; and DeShawn Snead, defensive back for the Seattle Seahawks. Julius Thomas (pictured right) has received lots of press lately, receiving passes from Bronco quarterback Peyton Manning. His performance is amazing because Thomas played only one football season at Portland State and was named on the first-team All-Big Sky Conference in 2010. His professional football accomplishments are better understood knowing that Thomas was a multisport athlete. Before transitioning to Viking football, Thomas was a four-year basketball player, setting PSU records for career games played, career wins, and career field goals percentage (.671). He also helped the Viking basketball team win the 2008 Big Sky regular season championship as well as the 2008 and 2009 Big Sky tournament basketball championships and played in two NCAA tournaments. -- Mary Brannan 3 I
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