Portland Pioneers Roster

PORTLAND PIONEERS 2014 ROSTER
 QUARTERBACK 

Starter- 6'2 216 Jared Zabranksy (Boise State) originally from Hermiston Oregon

Known as "Big Z" Jared was the 2007 Fiesta Bowl MVP after guiding the Broncos to a comeback win over Oklahoma 43-42.

He went undrafted by the NFL but signed to the practice squard by the Houston Texans, but after camp was cut. He later signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers but again was waived in 2008 ending his NFL career.

In 2009 he signed a contract with the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. On May 4, 2011 Zabransky became a free agent when he was released by the Eskimos. In two seasons with the Esks, Zabransky started two games, both in 2010. He finished the year with 53 completions on 104 attempts for 609 yards, four touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Zabransky posted 28 carries for 209 yards and one touchdown.

Big Z is also well known gracing the cover of EA Sports 2008 NCAA Football game as well as telling ESPN reporter Kirk Heirbstreit he could throw a potato 100 yards.

 RUNNINGBACK 

Starter 6'0 217lbs  Ian Johnson  (Boise State) originally from Laverne Californa

Another hero from the 2007 Fiesta Bowl win, Johnson scored the 2pt conversion for the win on the Statue of Liberty play. After the game during a interview Johnson proposed to girlfriend and BSU cheerleeder Crissy Popadics well being interviewd by Chris Myers.

In 2009 Johnson ran the fastest time at the NFL Combine posting a 4.46 40 yd dash but like "Big Z" went undrafted and would later sign a Free Agent deal with the Minnesota Vikings.

In Week 4 of the preseason well fighting for a roster spot ,Johnson carried the ball 17 times against the Dallas Cowboys and scored 2 TD's, but his performance was not enough as he was cut and later resigned to the practice squad.

Johnson spent the next 2 years bouncing between practice squads going from Arizona to Detroit then to San Francisco and finally to Miami before being released in 2011.

He returned to Boise State where he has been serving as a motivational speaker.

 FULLBACK/LINEBACKER 

6'0 236lbs Kory Hall  (Boise State) originally from Glenns Ferry Idaho

Hall played both LB and RB well in high school but strictly played Linebacker at Boise State where he was a 3-time 1st Team All-Wac.

Selected in the 6th round of the 2007 draft the Green Bay Packers, Hall was coverted to Fullback and become the starter.

In 2008 he caught his first career NFL Touchdown which happened to also be the 1st career TD pass by QB Aaron Rodgers. In his 4th and final season with the Packers, Hall helped Green Bay when Super Bowl XLV.

In 2011 he signed and played for the New Orleans Saints, then in 2012 he signed a 1 year deal with the Arizona Cardinals but 3 days later was placed on the reserve/retired list.

Now he is back ready to play both LB and FB for the Pioneers.

 TIGHT END 

6'2 233lbs Derek Schouman (Boise State) originally from Eagle Idaho

Like Big Z and Ian Johnson, Schouman is another member of the 2007 Fiesta Bowl win. However not everyone remembers it was his TD grab that actually tied the game in OT and set up the Johnson run.

A 4 year starter at Boise State, Schouman was a 7th Round draft pick by the Buffalo Bills in the 2007 draft.

He played for the Bills for 2 seasons as a H-Back recording 3 rec for 19 yds before breaking his ankle which turned out to be a season-ending injury.

In 2010 he signed with the St Louis Rams, but never saw much action, then in 2011 he signed with the Washington Redskins as a practice squad player and in 2012 signed on with the New Orleans Saints. Now 2 years removed from the NFL he is ready to prove he can still play.

 WIDE RECEIVER 

5'11 182 lbs Titus Young (Boise State) originally from Los Angeles CA

Titus struggled with issues well at Boise State which led to his benching in the 2007 Hawaii Bowl, then to his 2008 season in which he sat out the entire year, but in 2010 he came back to post  monster season for the Broncos (71 rec 1215 yds 9 TD). He finished his BSU career with 204 rec for 3063 yds and 25 TD's.

Those #'s got him selected in the 2nd Round of the 2011 Draft by the Detroit Lions, the #44 Overall pick.

In 2011 Young posted a solid season for the Lions catching 48 balls for 603 yds and 6 TD's, but still displayed a poor and negative attitude.

In 2012 he was suspended by the team after sucker punching a teammate. After his return he posted okay #'s 33 rec 383 yds 4 TD's but after complaining he need the ball more and need to be a more focal point in the offense, the Lions officially released Young.

In 2013 the St Louis Rams picked Young up off waivers but just 10 days later released the troubled WR, saying the team wanted to go in a different direction.

His release sent him in a downward spiral as he was arrested twice in the same day first for drunk driving and later in the day for attempting to steal his car which was in impound. Later in the same week Young was arrested for a burglary charge. Later that year a warrant was put out for his arrest after failing to show up in court. After spending time at   Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital at  UCLA    Young is back proving that he can play and stay out of trouble.

6'2 203lb TJ Houshmandzadeh (Oregon State) orignally from Barstow CA

A high school drop out, TJ enrolled at Cerritos College where he was a 2-Time All-Conference player as a WR and Kick Returner

In 2001 he went to Oregon State where he playe with Cincinnati Bengal teammate Chad Johnson for former NFL HC Dennis Erickson. TJ helped OSU beat Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl as he finished the season with 656 yds and 6 TD's.

He was then drafted in the 7th Round of the 2001 draft by the Bengals. 2007 was "Whose your Mamma's best year in the NFL as he was selected to the Pro Bowl after catching 112 balls for 1143 yds and 12 TD's.

In 2009 TJ signed a 5 year deal with the Seattle Seahawks for 40 million with 15 million being guaranteed. It's a good thing for him, because 2010 woudl be his only season with the Hawks even though he posted decent stats 79 rec 911 yds but had just 3 TD's.

In 2010 he signed a 1 year deal with the Ravens for the league min, but with his 7 million dollar contract being paid by Seattle it was a no-brainer for Baltimore.

Housh would match his 09 total of 3 TD's but managed jut 30 rec for 398 yds, dropping several passes.

He woud be cut, and later work out for New England, the New York Giants and 49's.

In 2011 he would join the Oakland Raiders being reunited with former Bengal QB C. Palmer as well as HC Hue Jackson who was with Cincy during his playing days there.

He would catch a 40 yd TD strike from Palmer in a loss to Miami (34-14) his only catch of the game and only TD of the season as he finishes the year with 11 rec for 146 yds.

At the age of 36 Houz is ready to prove he can still be a producer on the field for the Pioneers.

 CORNERBACK/KICK RETURNER 

5'10 180LB Chris Carr (Boise State) originally from Reno Nevada

 Carr was a 4 year starter at BSU starting 12 games as a true Freshman in 2001. In 2004 he finished his BSU career and college career with the highest Punt return Avg at that time (19.8).

In 2005 he signed a undrafted FA contract with the Oakland Raiders where he would spend his next 3 seasons.

In 2006 Carr become the Raiders leader in Kickoff returns with 142 for 3541 yds.

In 2008 he signed  restricted FA deal with the Tennessee Titans, and the Raiders failed to match.

In his first year with the Titans posted a 28.1 KR Avg and 10.1 PR Avg.

In 2009 Carr signed a 2 year 5 million dollar deal with the Ravens, posting his best season on defense when forced into the starting lineup because of injuries, Carr finished with 44 Tackles and 2 INT's including one against Tom Brady in the playoffs.

In 2010 Carr started fulltime at CB and posting a even better season then 09 as he finished with 66 Tackles and tied his INT total with 2.

His play got him a new 4 year deal signed in 2011. However injuries forced Carr to miss most of the season and because of it, he was released.

In 2012 he signed with the Minnesota Vikings but when the rosters where cut down to 53, Carr was among those released. He would sign on with the San Diego Chargers but injuries again forced him to the sidelines

In 2013 he signed a deal with the New Orleans Saints but was later cut, resigned and then cut again.

Now he is ready to continue his playing career at the Age of 30 for the Pioneers.