The Portland State football program has added a pair of transfers, and a third key member to its roster for the 2017 season. Cade Smith, a quarterback previously from Utah State, and Maxwell Howell, a cornerback who played at Ohio University, have each signed grant-in-aid contracts with PSU and have entered school for summer term. Both are eligible to play immediately.
The third player is Semise Kofe (suh-MEES ko-FAY), who originally signed with Portland State in 2014 and has recently returned from a Mormon Mission. He will be playing his first season of college football.
Smith, a 6-foot, 205-pound sophomore, is a former All-State quarterback from West Salem High School. He brings the run-pass skill combination that fits the Viking offense. Smith accounted for 3,645 yards of total offense and 50 touchdowns as a senior at West Salem in 2014. He then signed with Utah State, redshirting in 2015 and then not seeing game action in 2016.
"It is great to have Cade home and a part of our program. He will compete for the position of quarterback," said Head Coach Bruce Barnum. "We've had eyes on him since high school because he has run our kind of system. He should be a good fit for what we do."
Howell, also a sophomore at 6-1, 190 pounds, is originally from West Palm Beach, FL. He attended Palm Beach Lakes High School and was rated as the top cornerback in his county. Howell was a redshirt at Ohio in 2015, then saw action in five games in 2016. He adds immediate depth at defensive back and will compete to start for the Vikings.
"We are lucky to have Maxwell. He comes from a great family and presents himself well. He's not just an outstanding athlete, but also a first class individual. That is exactly what I want in the locker room," Barnum said.
Kofe, a 6-1, 280-pound defensive tackle, attended Roosevelt High School in Portland and was a member of the 2013 PIL Champion team. He was named Oregon 5A 1st team All-State. Kofe was the co-Defensive Player of the Year in the PIL with high school teammate and cousin Sione Taumoe'anga, who is also a member of the Viking football team. Kofe is expected to compete for playing time as a freshman on Portland State's defensive line.
"Semise has a presence and his maturity is obvious when he walks in the room," said Barnum. "He was an impact player out of high school. We have great expectations for him and his career at Portland State."
