Eastern Washington University senior football players Gage Gubrud, Jay-Tee Tiuli and Spencer Blackburn have been selected by Phil Steele FCS Magazine as preseason All-Americans, joining seven other Eagles on the Phil Steele preseason All-Big Sky squad.
 
Gubrud was selected to the second team, and is a highly-honored quarterback who graduated from McMinnville (Ore.) High School in 2014. Named to the third team, Tiuli was an injury redshirt last season, and is from Seattle and a 2014 graduate of Federal Way (Wash.) High School. Blackburn, a fourth team pick, is a center from Bellingham, Wash., and graduated from Meridian High School, also in 2014.
 
Besides the All-America honor, Tiuli was picked as one of 50 players to the 2018 Watch List for the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award. The Award is presented annually to the most outstanding Polynesian college football player that epitomizes great ability and integrity. The Watch List is composed of 50 players from 34 different schools, with Tiuli the lone representative from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision. The winner will be announced on Dec. 14, and prior to that five finalists will be unveiled on Dec. 5.
 
On the Phil Steele preseason All-Big Sky team, Gubrud, Tiuli and Blackburn all earned a spot on the first team. Named to the second team were junior running back Antoine Custer Jr., junior offensive lineman Tristen Taylor, senior safety Mitch Fettig, junior kick returner Dre' Sonte Dorton and senior long snapper Curtis Billen. On the third team were senior receiver Nsimba Webster and senior cornerback Josh Lewis.
 
The 2018 Phil Steele FCS Magazine is available online only, and can be purchased through http://philsteele.com.
 
Picked by the coaches and media to win this year's Big Sky title, the Eagles have been ranked as high as fourth in preseason FCS polls and predictions. A year ago, Eastern finished 7-4 overall and 6-2 in the league under first-year head coach Aaron Best, but the Eagles were passed over for the FCS Playoffs. Co-champion Weber State went on to advance to the semifinals of the playoffs, while NAU bowed out in the first round. Southern Utah was also the co-champion last season and received a first-round bye before falling to WSU in the quarterfinals.

Eastern opens the season at Roos Field in Cheney, Wash., versus Central Washington at 1:05 p.m. Pacific time. The Wildcats have been picked to repeat as champions of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, and feature former Eagle quarterback Reilly Hennessey.
 

List of 2018 Preseason Honors Won by Eagle Players

 
#8 - Gage Gubrud - QB - 6-2 - 205 - Sr. - 3L* - McMinnville, Ore. (McMinnville HS '14)
EWU Co-Captain
Walter Payton Award Watch List (25 players selected by STATS)
First Team All-America (Athlon Sports)
Second Team All-America (Phil Steele FCS Magazine)
Third Team All-America (STATS)
Third Team All-America (Hero Sports)
First Team All-Big Sky (selected by league office)
First Team All-Big Sky (Phil Steele FCS Magazine)
 
#99 - Jay-Tee Tiuli - DL - 6-4 - 320 - Sr. - 3L* - Seattle, Wash. (Federal Way HS '14)
Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award Watch List (50 players selected nationally; Tiuli only player from FCS selected)
Third Team All-America (Phil Steele FCS Magazine)
First Team All-Big Sky (selected by league office)
First Team All-Big Sky (Phil Steele FCS Magazine)
 
#75 - Spencer Blackburn - OL - 6-2 - 290 - Sr. - 2L* - Bellingham, Wash. (Meridian HS '14)
EWU Co-Captain
Fourth Team All-America (Phil Steele FCS Magazine)
First Team All-Big Sky (Phil Steele FCS Magazine)
 
#28 - Antoine Custer Jr. - RB - 5-9 - 190 - Jr. - 2L - Berkeley, Calif. (De La Salle '16)
First Team All-Big Sky (selected by league office)
Second Team All-Big Sky (Phil Steele FCS Magazine)
 
#39 - Curtis Billen - LS - 6-2 - 215 - Sr. - 3L* - Everett, Wash. (Mariner HS '14)
Second Team All-Big Sky (Phil Steele FCS Magazine)
 
#65 - Tristen Taylor - OL - 6-6 - 325 - Jr. - 2L* - Stockton, Calif. (Stagg HS '15)
Second Team All-Big Sky (Phil Steele FCS Magazine)
 
#4 - Mitch Fettig - DB - 6-1 - 200 - Sr. - 3L* - Olympia, Wash. (Olympia HS '14)
EWU Co-Captain
Second Team All-Big Sky (Phil Steele FCS Magazine)
 
#87 - Dre' Sonte Dorton - WR - 5-10 - 185 - Jr. - 1L* - Pasco, Wash. (Chiawana HS '15)
Second Team All-Big Sky (Phil Steele FCS Magazine)
 
#1 - Josh Lewis - DB - 6-0 - 190 - Sr. - 3L* - Lakewood, Wash. (Steilacoom HS '14)
Third Team All-Big Sky (Phil Steele FCS Magazine)
 
#5 - Nsimba Webster - WR - 5-10 - 180 - Sr. - 3L* - Antioch, Calif. (Deer Valley HS '14)
Third Team All-Big Sky (Phil Steele FCS Magazine)
 
#20 - Sam McPherson - RB - 5-10 - 200 - Sr. - 3L - Bothell, Wash. (Bothell 'HS '15)
EWU Co-Captain
Nominee for AFCA Good Works Team (169 selected nationally)
 
#40 - Ketner Kupp - LB - 6-0 - 225 - Sr. - 3L - Yakima, Wash. (Davis HS '15)
EWU Co-Captain
 
 

Preseason FCS Polls . . .

 
STATS: 1. North Dakota State; 2. James Madison; 3. South Dakota State; 4. Sam Houston State; 5. Kennesaw State; 8. Weber State; 9. Eastern Washington; 24. Montana; 28. Southern Utah; 29. Northern Arizona; 31. Idaho; 33. Sacramento State.
 
Hero Sports: 1. North Dakota State; 2. James Madison; 3. Kennesaw State; 4. Eastern Washington; 5. South Dakota State; 18. Weber State; 22. UC Davis; 23. Idaho.
 
Athlon Sports: 1. North Dakota State; 2. James Madison; 3. New Hampshire; 4. South Dakota State; 5. Kennesaw State; 6. Eastern Washington; 9. Weber State; 18. Montana; 23. Sacramento State.
 
Street & Smith's: 1. North Dakota State; 2. James Madison; 3. South Dakota State; 4. Kennesaw State; 5. Jacksonville State; 6. Sam Houston State; 7. Weber State; 14. Eastern Washington; 16. Northern Arizona; 19. Sacramento State.
 
College Football America: 1. North Dakota State; 2. James Madison; 3. South Dakota State; 4. Sam Houston State; 5. Kennesaw State; 7. Weber State; 9. Eastern Washington; 22. Northern Arizona; 23. Sacramento State; 24. Montana.
 
 

Preseason Big Sky Polls . . .

 
Coaches' Poll: 1. Eastern Washington (6) - 134; 2. Weber State (3) - 124; 3. Northern Arizona (3) - 121; 4. Idaho (1) - 101; 5. Sacramento State - 94; 6. Southern Utah - 91; 7. Montana - 82; 8. Montana State - 76; 9. UC Davis - 64; 10. Cal Poly - 40; 11. Northern Colorado - 30; 12. Idaho State - 29; 13. Portland State - 21.
 
Media Poll: 1. Eastern Washington (27) - 651; 2. Weber State (19) - 636; 3. Northern Arizona (1) - 535; 4. Montana (2) - 496; 5. Idaho (3) - 483; 6. Southern Utah (1) - 449; 7. Sacramento State - 415; 8. Montana State (1) - 391; 9. UC Davis (1) - 331; 10. Idaho State - 170; 11. Cal Poly - 169; 12. Northern Colorado - 166; 13. Portland State - 103.