Eastern Washington University Athletics

A unanimous NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (then I-AA) All-American in both 2004 and 2005, Eric Kimble was a record-breaking wide receiver and former running back for Eastern. As a senior receiver in 2005, he was a first team All-America pick by The Sports Network, The Sports Xchange and I-AA.org, and was a second team selection by Associated Press and the Football Gazette. One year earlier, Kimble was selected as a first team All-America wide receiver by I-AA.org and the Football Gazette, and earned second team accolades from Associated Press and The Sports Network. He earned first team All-Big Sky honors twice after earning second team honors as a sophomore receiver in 2003, and played as a running back for the Eagles as a freshman. Four times in his career he was honored as a Big Sky Conference player of the week.
 
Kimble finished with 46 touchdown receptions in his career to rank only behind the 50 the legendary Jerry Rice had at Mississippi Valley from 1981-84 on the FCS career list. Through 2024, that mark ranks eighth, with another former Eagle, Cooper Kupp, now owning the record with 73. Kimble broke the Big Sky Conference career reception yards record with a total of 4,140 yards that at the time ranked fourth in FCS history (now 15th through 2024). Former Eagle Cooper Kupp now owns both records with 6,464 yards. Kimble’s 253 catches ranked eighth all-time in FCS at the time (now unranked) and second in Big Sky history (now sixth).
 
Kimble broke nine career records and four single season marks at EWU, including the single season receptions record with 87 in 2005, breaking his own record from the season before of 83. The 83 catches are now 12th in school history and the 87 rank eighth after standing as a school record for six seasons. He had 1,453 receiving yards in 2004 which stood as a school record for eight seasons (now 5th), and followed that in 2005 with 1,419 which now rank seventh after ranking second at the time. In addition, his 19 receiving touchdowns in 2004 were a school record for seven seasons and now ranks second behind Kupp’s 21 in 2013. Kimble’s career totals for TD receptions (46), receptions (253) and yards (4,140) were school records for 11 seasons until broken by Cooper Kupp. Kimble, however, still holds school records with 74 career punt returns, 990 yards and three punts returned for touchdowns, as well as 460 punt return yards in 2004. Kimble’s 13.4 average per punt return was a career record for 11 seasons until broken by Kupp’s 17.0 average.
 
Combined with his yardage on rushes and returns, Kimble finished with 5,934 career all-purpose yards to rank fifth at the time (now 10th) in Big Sky history and as a school record for 11 years before broken by Kupp (7,038). Kimble helped lead Eastern to winning seasons each year, with collective records of 28-19 overall and 17-11 in the Big Sky. In his final two seasons, Eastern was 11-3 in the Big Sky and 16-9 overall as Eastern won Big Sky Conference co-championships each year and advanced to the NCAA Championship Subdivision Playoffs each year.
 
The Erik Meyer-to-Kimble legacy will be remembered forever, as the pair hooked-up 201 times for 3,169 yards and 35 touchdowns in four seasons. But those numbers came in just 35 games with Meyer as the starting quarterback. That duo even hooked up the other way in the 2005 season on an 11-yard pass from Kimble to Meyer. Meyer and Kimble broke more than a dozen records each as they re-wrote Eastern’s record book and made their way up Big Sky Conference and FCS career listings.
 
After his Eastern playing career had concluded, he was selected to play in the Las Vegas All-American Classic. Kimble signed a free agent contract with the Miami Dolphins, but tore his Achilles tendon and was eventually released. He eventually joined the B.C. Lions in the CFL. He was selected by the Eastern Athletic Department to the “100 for 100” All-Time Football Team, which was honored on Sept. 27, 2008, to commemorate Eastern’s 100th year of football.
 
Kimble is currently an executive director in information technology at Providence in the Tacoma area, and helps operate a nonprofit organization called the Royal T Foundation, which offers free youth sports programs and more. He now resides in Puyallup, Wash., with his wife, Marissa, and their four children. They have two boys named Kai (18) and Carter (14), and two younger daughters named Naomi (9) and Nyla (7). Kai has been accepted to five different colleges, including Eastern Washington, and aspires to become a film director. Carter hopes to follow in his father’s footsteps and play football at EWU. As a 13-year-old, he finished in the top eight at the USATF Junior Olympics Track & Field Championships in the 200 meters, long jump and as part of a 4x100 relay team.