December and the third year of the new winter signing period has provided an avalanche of players to be added to the Eastern Washington University football roster.
 
A total of 14 high school players have signed national letters of intent to attend EWU and play for the Eagles next fall, head coach Aaron Best announced Wednesday (Dec. 18). In addition, Arizona State transfer Ely Doyle will join the Eagles as a safety and will be eligible to play as a sophomore in 2020.
 
Athleticism – including toughness, size and length – were key in this class.
 
"Our focus was finding toughness top to bottom," said Eastern head coach Aaron Best. "It wasn't just physical or mental toughness, it was more situational toughness. We want to see them fight through adverse situations and persevere after they occur.
 
"Size is certainly something you also see in this class, and length is something you can't coach," he continued. "We have some players with a long wing span and can move – they are all very athletic individuals, and I include the linemen in that as well."
 
The signees include quarterback Shane Jennings, a three-time All-State selection from Gooding, Idaho. A pair of running backs also signed – including eight-man football star Brandon Montoya from Lyle/Wishram High School. Eastern also signed a high school quarterback turned college safety in Kameron Lane, and a pair of talented wide receivers in Efton Chism III and Canadian Nolan Ulm.
 
"Receiver and safety were two of our must-haves, as well as filling in a few holes in the offensive line," said Best. "We wanted to find a tailback or two, and we always have to have a quarterback in a class. We think Shane is going to be a really, really good one."
 
In the past two years, Eastern signed a total of 16 high school players in the early signing period – seven in the first signing class in December of 2017 and nine in December of 2018.
 
"It just worked out this year that we have more early signees than the last two years," he added. "We still have some work to do in February, and now we'll evaluate and start earmarking some other positions."
 
 

EWU's 2019-20 Early Signing Class (Dec. 18, 2019)

 

NLI SIGNEES
Matthew Brown	DT	6-2	270	Hoquiam, Wash. / Hoquiam HS '20
Jett Carpenter	TE	6-4	210	Medford, Ore. / North Medford HS '20
Efton Chism III	WR	6-0	175	Monroe, Wash. / Monroe HS '20
Wyatt Hansen	OL	6-5	280	Kent, Wash. / Kentwood HS '20
Shane Jennings	QB	6-2	195	Dietrich, Idaho /Gooding HS '20
Gale Kamp	OL	6-4	260	North Bend, Wash. / Mount Si HS '20
Kameron Lane	S	5-11	175	Benicia, Calif. / Benicia HS '20
Sandrey Mitberg	DE	6-3	225	Beaverton, Ore. / Beaverton HS '20
Brandon Montoya	RB	5-8	180	Wishram, Wash. / Lyle/Wishram HS '20
Brenden Rivera	OL	6-3	280	Gig Harbor, Wash. / Gig Harbor HS '20
Ben Roe	DT	5-11	265	Concord, Calif. / De La Salle HS '20
Nathaniel Smith	TE	6-6	210	Hillsboro, Ore. / Hillsboro HS '20
Trevor Thurman	LB	6-2	215	Kenmore, Wash. / Inglemoor HS '20
Nolan Ulm	WR	6-2	190	Kelowna, B.C. / Kelowna Secondary HS '20
TRANSFER ANNOUNCED
Ely Doyle	S	6-0	190	Santa Clarita, Calif. / Bishop Alemany '18 & Arizona State

 
 

Eagle Football in 2019 . . .

 
Although denied what could have been a 14th berth in the NCAA Football Championship Playoffs, the Eagles still finished the season as the champions in FCS in total offense, averaging 524.8 yards per game. Eastern also closed with its 13th-straight winning season and went undefeated at home on the red turf at Roos Field for the second-straight year.
 
Eastern finished 7-5 overall and 6-2 in the Big Sky Conference to finish in a three-way tie for third with two other league schools who were selected among the top six seeds in the 24-team playoffs. Big Sky co-champions Weber State and Sacramento State earned the No. 3 and 4 seeds, respectively, after finishing 7-1 in the league, while fifth-seeded Montana State and No. 6 Montana joined EWU with 6-2 records in the Big Sky.
 
Eastern started the season 1-3 and lost its first four road games. However, the Eagles finished a perfect 5-0 at home to extend its school-record winning streak at Roos Field to 14 games. Eastern won its last two road contests to finish the 2019 season with a four-game winning streak and its 13th-straight winning campaign.
 
Eastern averaged 524.8 yards of offense per game to lead the FCS, and also ended the regular season fourth in scoring (40.6), fourth in first downs (290), fifth in passing (317.1) and seventh in turnover margin (+0.92 per game). The Eagles also ranked 21st in rushing at 207.8 yards per game, and joined Prairie View as the only team in FCS to rank in the top 21 in total offense, rushing and passing.
 
 
More on EWU's 2019 season may be found at: http://goeags.com/index.aspx?path=football
 
 
 

Matthew Brown

 
Head Coach Aaron Best on Brown: "He's a sizeable man. He's going to help fill our needs for big interior defensive linemen. We'll be able to see his pass-rushing skillset as a tackle, or at the nose tackle position. He's going to be a viable force in the time he's here at Eastern Washington. He doesn't come from the biggest of high schools in the state, but coach (Brian) Strandley did a fine job in seeing him on video, evaluating him and then recruiting him. Matt sees Cheney as being his next home and fulfill the needs he's looking for post-high school. We're excited to get him onboard and look forward to playing early in his career based on his physical size, ability and explosion to tackle ball carriers."
 
HS: Will graduate from Hoquiam HS in 2020. As a senior in 2019, he earned first team All-1A Evergreen League honors as a linebacker and honorable mention as a running back. Brown helped Hoquiam go 7-4 overall and advance to the State 1A Playoffs where it lost to Mt. Baker 36-21. He's been nominated to play in the All-State game.
 
In his junior season, Brown earned All-State honors and was the MVP in the 1A Evergreen League and was a first team all-league pick as a lineman on both sides of the ball. He had 101 total tackles (66 solo and 35 assisted) with 3 1/2 sacks. He also rushed 63 times for 358 yards (5.7 per carry) and 11 touchdowns. He had 15 receptions for 192 yards and two more touchdowns. The Grizzlies were 10-1 in 2018, won the league title and advanced to the quarterfinal round of the playoffs where they lost to Lynden Christian 45-6. Hoquiam registered a 49-0 victory in the first round over Stevenson – one of seven games in which the defense for the Grizzlies allowed two touchdowns or less.
 
He also earned first team all-league honors in his sophomore season, and received honorable mention as a freshman.
 
Also competed in basketball and track and field at Hoquiam.
 
Personal: Interested in majoring in environmental science at Eastern. Born 1/22/02 in Seattle. His parents are Matt and Lanada Brown. Nickname is "Baby Matt."
 
 
 

Jett Carpenter

 
Head Coach Aaron Best on Carpenter: "His dedication to us early as a place for him after high school was important for us. We fell in love with his ability to catch the football. He has the flexibility to play four or five positions in college, and the one we settled on right now is tight end. He has a natural nose for the football and ability to catch the ball on offense. We're excited to get him onboard. He can line-up next to a tackle, but he's mostly an H-back – that hybrid tight end who can block, catch and run routes from the backfield."
 
HS: Will graduate from North Medford HS in 2020. He earned first team All-Southwest Conference honors as a tight end and second team accolades as a defensive lineman, and was the league and team offensive player of the year. The Black Tornado finished 8-4 after advancing to the State 6A Playoffs in Oregon. They beat Reynolds 55-49 in the first round then fell to Tualatin 50-35 in the second round.
 
In his junior season, Carpenter earned second team All-Southwest Conference honors. He caught 20 passes for 318 yards (15.9 per catch) with two touchdowns. He also had 94 tackles on defense with a pair of interceptions. North Medford was 3-7 and also advanced to the playoffs, falling 42-6 to eventual champion Lake Oswego in the first round. The Black Tornado fell to Jesuit in the first round of the 2017 playoffs to also finish 3-7 on the year. Carpenter had three catches for 37 yards as a sophomore. His high school coach was Steve Turner, and Carpenter previously attended EWU football camp.
 
He also played football and basketball at North Medford, which has won four-straight Southwest Conference championships. He earned honorable mention all-league honors in his junior season in basketball while averaging 15 points per game. In baseball, he earned second team All-Southwest Conference accolades in spring of 2019.
 
Personal: Interested in majoring in pre-physical therapy at Eastern. Born 2/16/02 in Medford, Ore. His parents are Jeff and Janell Carpenter.
 
 
 

Efton Chism III

 
Head Coach Aaron Best on Chism: "He was a very special player in high school who can become a very special player in college. He's a worker and he understands the position. He plays as fast as he practices, and you know what you are going to get from him. He's willing to be the best teammate he can be. He's had great teachings to this point, and we're excited that he was our first verbal commitment in this class. He will be a very good player, and he may play early based on his skillset and mindset."
 
HS: Will graduate from Monroe HS in 2020. Chism finished his high school career with 166 catches for 2,581 yards (15.5 per catch) with 31 touchdowns and 39 total TDs scored. He established several school records, including most receptions (13) and yards (215) in a single game.
 
As a senior, he earned a spot on the Seattle Times Star Times All-Area squad and was also on the Everett Herald All-Area squad. He was a first team All-WESCO 4A selection as both a wide receiver and defensive back after catching 54 passes for 801 yards (14.8 per catch), intercepting two passes and returning kicks. He scored eight touchdowns receiving and had 13 total for the Bearcats, who finished 6-4. He accounted for 1,232 yards on the season, including 275 and four touchdowns rushing, a TD on a punt return and five pass completions for 156 yards and a TD.
 
He also earned first team all-league honors as a junior when he had 49 catches for 768 yards and 11 touchdowns, and Monroe was 4-6. As a sophomore, he had 58 catches for 915 receiving yards (15.8 per catch) and 12 touchdowns. He helped Monroe finish 10-2 and advance to the quarterfinals of the 2017 State 4A Playoffs. The Bearcats lost to Sumner 56-14 after 21-14 first-round win against Puyallup.
 
Monroe finished his freshman season with a 9-2 record as he finished with five catches for 97 yards (19.4 per catch). Monroe lost in the first round of the 2016 State 4A Playoffs to Sumner 58-42. Was coached in high school by Michael Bumpus. Current Eagle Joshua Jerome ('18) also attended Monroe HS.
 
Was also an all-league basketball player at Monroe.
 
Personal: Born 10/26/01 in Kirkland, Wash. His parents are Efton Chism II and Kristy Chism. His uncle is former Eagle All-America linebacker Derek Strey (1993-97).
 
 

Wyatt Hansen

 
Head Coach Aaron Best on Hansen: "We saw him early, liked him early and fell in love with him early. We think he's one of the better offensive linemen in the state regardless of level. He's a special player on a playoff team which made a bit of a run. We expect him to start his career at tackle, and has the ability to block those edge rushers. He has length, feet, hips and the desire to succeed. He comes from a great family and is excited to join us. He was early in his pledge to Eastern, and he has become a devout Eagle even before he dons the jersey."
 
HS: Will graduate from Kentwood HS in 2020. Hansen is a two-time lineman of the year in the North Puget Sound League. As a senior, Hansen was the lineman of the year in the 4A North Puget Sound League Mountain Division and was selected to both the Tacoma News Tribune All-Area team and the Seattle Times Star Times All-Area squad. Hansen helped his team to an 8-3 overall record in 2019. Kentwood advanced to the 4A State Playoffs where they lost to Bothell 17-14 in the first round.
 
In his junior season, the Conquerors went 4-6 overall. Kentwood was 8-3 overall in his sophomore season, advancing to the first round of the 4A State Playoffs where it lost to Woodinville 48-7. He earned first team all-league honors as a sophomore as both an offensive and defensive lineman, and was the NPSL Cascade Division Offensive Lineman of the Year. His high school coach was Michael Bush. Current Eagle Trenton Harris ('16) also attended Kentwood, as well as former Eagle wide receiver Aaron Boyce and EWU basketball player/NBA standout Rodney Stuckey.
 
Hansen also competed in baseball at Kentwood.
 
Personal: Interested in majoring in kinesiology at Eastern. Born 11/12/01 in Bellevue, Wash. His parents are Kyle and Kaylee Hansen. Nickname is  "Big Fundamental."
 
 
 

Shane Jennings

 
Head Coach Aaron Best on Jennings: "He had multiple options in his recruitment, but early on we realized we were best for one another. Coach (Ian) Shoemaker saw him early and we know he can run and throw well. He's a dual-threat quarterback and has some size. He can sit in the pocket and deliver the football, or he can get out of the pocket and extend drives with his legs. We're excited to get him looking at the playbook and around the other skill players in the 2020 class."
 
HS: Will graduate from Gooding HS in Gooding, Idaho, in 2020. Was a 3-star recruit by 247 Sports after accounting for 131 touchdowns in his high school career. A three-time All-State quarterback in Idaho, he received NCAA Division I scholarship offers from Utah State, Idaho and Idaho State, as well as interest from Stanford and Washington State. He finished his 39-game career (four seasons) with 7,373 passing yards (15.7 per completion and 91 touchdowns with just 18 interceptions), while completing 62.7 percent of his passes (470-of-750). He also rushed for an additional 2,944 yards (6.8 per carry) with 40 touchdowns. He scored a total of 266 points in high school with 42 total touchdowns, scoring a pair on two of the six interceptions he had. In addition, he had 53 tackles in his career -- 10 as a freshman, two as a sophomore 22 as a junior and 19 as a senior. His teams won two championships in the 3A South Central Idaho Conference in his three seasons as the starting quarterback, going a collective 8-1 in the league and 25-7 overall.
 
As a senior, Jennings was given second team All-State honors from MaxPreps and was the SCIC Offensive Player of the Year after earning first team all-league honors at quarterback. He completed 200-of-302 passes (66.2 percent) for 2,588 yards and 30 touchdowns with just five interceptions. On the ground, he rushed for 799 yards on 114 carries (7.0 per rush) with 10 scores. He had three interceptions on defense, returning two for scores. Gooding finished the 2019 season with an 8-2 record, and advanced to the State 3A Playoffs where it fell 47-20 to Sugar-Salem in the quarterfinal round.
 
In his junior season, he earned first team All-State honors from the Idaho Statesman, first team All-SCIC honors and was on the USA Today All-Idaho squad. Jennings had 2,593 yards, 32 touchdowns and only four interceptions while completing 61.5 percent of his passes (144-of-234). He rushed for 1,007 yards on 148 carries (6.8 per rush) with 15 touchdowns. The Senators finished 8-3 and lost to Homedale 41-21 in the quarterfinals of the playoffs.
 
In his first season as a starter in 2017, Jennings was given first team All-State honors from the Idaho Statesman. He completed 59.0 percent of his passes for 2,173 yards, 29 touchdowns and 29 interceptions, and rushed for 1,080 yards on 166 carries (6.5 per carry) with 14 scores. Gooding was 9-2 and beat Kellogg 21-20 in the quarterfinals before falling 34-20 to Snake River in the semifinals.
 
He saw action in seven games as a freshman, completing 1-of-2 passes for 19 yards and rushing for an additional 58 yards. Gooding finished the season 7-5.
 
 
Personal: Interested in majoring in business at Eastern. Born 11/23/01 in Sun Valley, Idaho. His parents are Kelly and Katen Jennings. His father is a Hall of Fame rodeo bullfighter, including appearances at the annual National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.
 
 
 

Gale Kamp

 
Head Coach Aaron Best on Kamp: "We like the way he moves and the way he acts. He has the ability to play all five positions up front based on his size, skillset and knowledge of the game of football. He knows how to win and comes from the same high school as Chris Schlichting. If he even comes close to the legacy Chris left, then we all are in good shape."
 
HS: Will graduate from Mount Si HS in 2020. Earned All-State honors as a senior from the Seattle Times as an offensive lineman, and was also on Seattle Times Star Times All-Area squad. Was selected as the 2019 4A KingCo Crest Division Lineman of the Year while also earning first team all-league honors as both an offensive and defensive lineman. In his senior season, Mount Si finished 10-3 and advanced to the semifinals of the State 4A Playoffs. The Wildcats beat Chiawana 46-21 in the first round and Lake Stevens 24-22 in the quarterfinals before falling 35-14 to eventual champion Camas in the semis.
 
In 2018 Kamp earned second team All-4A KingCo Crest Division honors as an offensive tackle. Mount Si was also 10-2 in his junior season, beating Mount Vernon 39-38 in the first round of the playoffs before falling to Puyallup 47-34 in the quarterfinals. As a sophomore, the Wildcats were 7-3. He was also on the roster as a freshman when Mount Si finished 5-5. His high school coach was Charlie Kinnune. Kamp also played baseball in high school.
 
Personal: Born 11/10/01 in Bellevue, Wash. His parents are Robert and Joanie Kamp.
 
 
 

Kameron Lane

 
Head Coach Aaron Best on Lane: "He was an early commit and knows how to win. He has the ability to move around and play some different spots. He's a long defensive back we think will play at or near the hash as a hash safety for us. He's physically capable of competing right away. He has a great family foundation and we were excited about each other during the recruiting process. He wants to be here and embodies the EKG mantra. We're excited about his opportunity to compete, hopefully sooner than later based on the skillset he possesses."
 
HS: Will graduate from Benicia HS in Benicia, Calif., in 2020. Although signed by Eastern as a safety, he was a top-notch quarterback with career totals of 3,125 yards passing with 32 total touchdowns and 15 interceptions. He completed 45.8 percent of his attempts (197-of-430 attempts), and also rushed 204 times for 1,059 yards (5.2 average) and 24 touchdowns.
 
As a senior, Lane earned first team All-Diablo Athletic League Valley Division honors. He completed 19-of-47 passes for 324 yards and four touchdowns, and also had 437 rushing yards and seven TDs on 47 carries (9.3 average). In addition, he caught five passes for 104 yards (20.8 per catch) and a score. He helped his team to a 10-2 record and advance to the 2019 CIF North Coast Section Football Playoffs. The Panthers fell 40-28 in the semifinals to Rancho Cotate after a 34-14 quarterfinal victory over El Cerrito.
 
In his junior season, he earned Vallejo Times-Herald All-Area honors as a quarterback. He earned first team all-league honors as a "utility player." Lane completed 92 of 184 passing attempts for 1,617 yards and 20 touchdowns and six interceptions. He rushed 83 times for 486 yards (5.9 per carry) with eight touchdowns. The Panthers were 8-4 on the season with a playoff berth in the NCS/Les Schwab Tires Football Championships. His team fell 49-14 to Bishop O'Dowd HS in the quarterfinals after defeating Alhambra in the first round. In his sophomore season in 2017 he completed 86-of-199 attempts for 1,184 yards and eight touchdowns. He rushed for an additional 136 yards on 74 carries with nine touchdowns. The Panthers had a record of 6-4 and lost 59-0 to Christian Brothers in the first round of the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Football Playoffs. Coached in high school by Craig Holden.
 
Also competed in volleyball in high school.
 
Personal: Interested in majoring in nursing or business at Eastern. Born 4/17/02 in Fairfield, Calif. His parents are Brandon and Dadane Lane. Nickname is "Kam."
 
 
 

Sandrey Mitberg

 
Head Coach Aaron Best on Mitberg: "We saw him early in summer camps and we saw how much he competed. He has a lot of toughness. He's going to rush the passer, and has tenacity and grit on the football field. He has a willingness and the ability to make others around him better. His senior season was cut short because of an injury, and we'll expect him to be fully recovered and healthy by the time camp starts in the preseason."
 
HS: Will graduate from Beaverton HS in Beaverton, Ore., in 2020. He was a three-star recruit by 247 Sports. Although injured and missing much of the season, Mitberg helped the Beavers finished 7-3 in 2019, advancing to the Oregon 6A State Playoffs where it lost in the first round against Lakeside 48-27. In 2018, he earned honorable mention All-State honors as a defensive lineman and earned first team all-league honors on both sides of the ball. Beaverton was 4-6 overall in his junior season, and his sophomore season the Beavers were 5-5. His high school coach was Bob Boyer, and Mitberg previously attended EWU football camp.
 
He also wrestles, and won the State 6A title in the 220-pound weight class in his junior season. He upset the top-seeded wrestler in the semifinals on his way to becoming his school's first state champion in wrestling in 40 years since 1979. In addition, he competed in track and field in high school.
 
Personal: Interested in majoring in sports medicine at Eastern. Born 9/14/01 in Tualatin, Ore. His parents are Bill and Trish Mitberg Nickname is "Sandman."
 
 
 

Brandon Montoya

 
Head Coach Aaron Best on Montoya: "We've had some great eight-man players in the past, and we know Brandon has fun whether it's football, family or friends. He enjoys his surroundings and loves each and every day. He's another player who has come to our football camps and has shown his mettle. He plays bigger than 5-8 and his stats from high school were out of this world. He's a great son and great brother, and he's going to be a very good football player here. He's a solid, solid individual and makes others around him better. Those are the kind of players we're after."
 
HS: Will graduate from Lyle/Wishram HS in 2020. A three-time All-State selection, Montoya rushed for nearly 7,000 yards and had over 100 rushing touchdowns and more than 300 tackles in four seasons playing eight-man football. He scored a total of 854 points in 40 games (21.4), with 134 total touchdowns (106 rushing, 21 receiving, four on kickoff returns and three on interception returns). He had back-to-back 2,000-yard rushing seasons to conclude his career, finishing with 457 carries and 6,889 yards (15.1 per carry) with 27 performances of at least 100 yards. Montoya caught 44 career passes for 1,511 yards (34.3 per catch), and he also completed 11-of-27 passes for 288 more yards. Defensively, he finished with 332 total tackles, 20 sacks, 12 interceptions, and eight fumbles forced. In addition, he averaged 48.8 yards on eight kickoff returns as he finished with 9,153 total yards (rushing, passing, receiving, returns), averaging 17.0 yards every time he touched the ball (538 touches).
 
As a senior, he rushed 140 times for 2,558 yards (18.3 per rush and 255.8 per game) and 49 touchdowns, and also caught 11 passes for 447 yards (40.6 per catch) and six scores. He had 86 tackles on defense with a sack and seven interceptions (two for touchdowns), and also had five forced fumbles and three recoveries.
 
He rushed for 2,118 yards on 103 carries (20.6 per carry and 192.5 per game) with 36 TDs as a junior, plus caught 10 passes for 447 yards (44.7 per reception) and five scores. Defensively, he finished with 96 tackles, 13 sacks and a pair of interceptions.
 
His sophomore season yielded 1,622 rushing yards on 128 carries (12.7 per rush, 162.2 per game) and 21 TDs, with eight receptions for 205 yards (25.6 per reception) and three more scores. He had 94 tackles, five sacks and two interceptions.
 
As a freshman in 2016, Montoya rushed for 591 yards on 86 carries (6.9 per carry) and caught 15 passes for 412 yards (27.5 per catch) with seven scores. He had 56 tackles, a sack and an interception. He previously attended EWU football camp, and his high school coach was his father, Antoine Montoya.
 
Montoya also competed in basketball and track and field in high school. He enters this spring as an eight-time individual champion at the State 1B/2B/1A Track and Field Championships Roos Field at EWU's, which is the site of this year's meet on May 28-30, 2020. He is the current 2B meet record holder in the 100 meters (10.89 in 2017), 200 (21.87 in 2018) and long jump (23-7 1/2 in 2018). He won three titles in all three events in 2019 (100/11.28, 200/22.47, LJ/22-8 1/2) and in 2018 (100/11.09, 200/22.30, LJ/23-7 1/2). He won the 200 (22.00) and long jump (22-2 1/4) as a freshman in 2017, and was second in the 100 (11.16).
 
Personal: Interested in majoring in business at Eastern. Born 1/22/02 in The Dalles, Ore. His parents are Antoine and Ursula Montoya. Will be a first generation college student in his family.
 
 
 

Brenden Rivera

 
Head Coach Aaron Best on Rivera: "We project him as a guard or center at one of our inside positions. He's well-rounded, and more than just football. He understands situations and knows how to win. We think he is going to be able to swing from center to guard, or left guard to right guard, so he gives us some position flexibility. He's a grinder, he's a hard worker and he's tough. We're excited to have him in this class."
 
HS: Will graduate from Gig Harbor HS in 2020. Is listed as a two-star recruit by 247 Sports. As a senior, he earned first team All-South Sound Conference honors as an offensive lineman and second team as a defensive lineman. He helped block for a team which rushed for 145.0 yards per game, passed for 146.2 and averaged 24.4 points per game. Besides playing as an offensive lineman, he had 19 tackles on defense with a sack. Rivera helped lead the Tides to a 7-3 record in 2019.
 
When he was a junior in 2018, Gig Harbor finished 5-5 and averaged 154.5 yards rushing, 146.2 passing and 22.7 points per game. He had 32 tackles on defense with a sack and fumble recovery. In 2017 as a sophomore, Gig Harbor was also 5-5 and Rivera had five tackles in limited action.
 
He also competed in track and field at Gig Harbor.
 
 
 

Ben Roe

 
Head Coach Aaron Best on Roe: "He comes from a winning program, and we have a De La Salle player departing and one arriving. Ben has a large heart and his mindset is great. He's a phenomenal wrestler, and when you combine a good football player with a good wrestler you get Ben Roe. He has a nose for the football and is gritty. He has a lot of things you can't coach or teach, and that's evident. He's quiet by nature but he doesn't play quiet. We're excited to sign Ben because he's a high caliber person in the classroom, on the mat and on the gridiron. We're excited about keeping the De La Salle connection alive."
 
HS: Will graduate from De La Salle HS in Concord, Calif., in 2020. Earned first team all-league honors as an offensive lineman. The renowned California program had a 12-2 record, and won the 2019 CIF North Coast Section Football Playoffs with a 49-7 victory over Pittsburg. Other victories in the playoffs include a semifinal victory against Monte Vista (49-13) and a quarterfinal victory against Amador Valley (69-14). Ranked No. 16 nationally, the Spartans lost to No. 1 St. John Bosco HS in a season-ending championship bowl game.
 
In 2018, Roe helped his team to a NCS/Les Schwab Tires Football Championship victory over Liberty HS 42-7. The Spartans defeated Pittsburg 38-0 to advance to the championship game. They lost to Mater Dei HS 35-21 in a CIF championship bowl game.
 
In 2017, De La Salle was 11-2 after winning the NCS/Les Schwab Tires Football Championship over Pittsburg with a 24-7 win. The Spartans beat Clayton Valley Charter 45-7 in the semifinals, and advanced to a CIF Championship Bowl game where they were defeated by Mater Dei HS 52-21. Coached in high school by Justin Alumbaugh.
 
Also competed in wrestling and rugby in high school, winning four individual and team titles in the East Bay Athletic League.
 
Personal: Interested in majoring in business or kinesiology at Eastern. Born 12/19/01 in Walnut Creek, Calif. His parents are Jeremy and Amber Roe.
 
 
 

Nathaniel Smith

 
Head Coach Aaron Best on Smith: "He's a long drink of water, and is playing basketball in the winter. He's a true, in-line tight end we can split out wide and create mis-matches. We liked him early in the recruiting process, and he felt that Eastern was the best place to make him the best all-rounded person and player he can be. It was a match made in heaven. He provided our need for length at the tight end position to help create some mismatches. He also has ball skills and can run, so when you mix it all together you have a good recipe."
 
HS: Will graduate from Hillsboro HS in Hillsboro, Ore., in 2020. As a senior he was the 5A Northwest Oregon Conference Defensive Player of the Year after earning first team all-league honors as both a defensive lineman and tight end. Helped the Spartans finish 6-4 in the 2019 season and advance to the first round of the State 5A Playoffs in Oregon. His high school coach was Dan Shuff. Also played basketball at Hillsboro.
 
Personal: Interested in majoring in business at Eastern. Born 8/27/02 in Portland, Ore. His parents are Matt and Tiffany Smith. Nickname is "Nate."
 
 
 

Trevor Thurman

 
Head Coach Aaron Best on Thurman: "We've been yearning for a linebacker with length for a while. He came to our camps, and we're excited about him. He has great grades, is a great person and has a great family. He had other options, but felt like this was going to be his home away from home after high school."
 
HS: Will graduate from Inglemoor HS in 2020. With three single season performances with at least 94 tackles, he averaged 9.8 tackles per game in his career with 314 total (178 solo, 136 assisted). He also rushed 1,117 yards on 196 carries for an average of 5.7 per carry and 11 touchdowns. He caught 17 passes for 144 yards and two more scores.
 
As a senior, he earned first team All-4A KingCo Crown Division honors at inside linebacker and second team accolades as a running back. Thurman had 94 total tackles (10.4 per game) while forcing two fumbles and having a sack. He carried the ball 105 times for a total of 628 yards and seven touchdowns, and caught seven passes for 36 yards. The Vikings went 4-5 on the season.
 
In 2018 as a junior, he earned second team all-league honors to help his team finish 5-4. He had 108 total tackles (12.0 per game) with a sack, and rushed for 416 yards and four touchdowns on 77 carries. In addition, he caught nine passes for 103 yards and two scores.
 
Thurman was also a second team all-league pick in his sophomore season when had 103 total tackles (53 solo stops) for an average of 11.4 per game with one sack. He ran for 73 yards on 14 carries as the Vikings were 1-9 on the season. In 2016 when he was a freshman, he had nine tackles as Inglemoor was also 1-9 overall that year. Was coached in high school by Steve Hannan.
 
Also competed in baseball at Inglemoor, helping his school with the KingCo title in 2018.
 
Personal: Interested in majoring in business at Eastern. Born 7/4/02 in Kirkland, Wash. His parents are Mike Thurman and Paige Anderson-Thurman. Nickname is "Trev."
 
 
 

Nolan Ulm

 
Head Coach Aaron Best on Ulm: "He was at our camp, and getting our eyes on individuals is paramount. It's important to have those in-person conversations, and we determined that he is driven. You can see it in his eyes when he speaks. He's out to prove himself, and he has a great upside. He can play outside or inside at receiver, and has good length. He has the body type that allows him to go up and get 50-50 balls. He reads a lot of books and is very wise beyond his years."
 
HS: Will graduate from Kelowna Secondary HS in Kelowna, B.C., in 2020. Was the No. 1 ranked U18 wide receiver in Canada. He was selected to play for Team Canada at the 2020 International Bowl in Arlington, Tex. He is one of only three British Columbia and 40 in Canada to compete in January with and against the top high school football prospects in North America. In his final season of high school football while competing in the B.C. Secondary Schools Football Association, he earned provincial all-star honors in the Triple A Eastern Conference. Ulm caught 29 passes for 560 yards and nine touchdowns, and also had 28 tackles with a pair of sacks. Kelowna was 5-2, and ended its season with a 35-7 loss to Vancouver College, whose head coach is former Eastern quarterback Todd Bernett. Ulm finished the 2018 season with 44 receptions for 628 yards and seven touchdowns. He added 26 tackles, two sacks and two interceptions on defense. His high school coach was Chris Cartwright, and Ulm previously attended EWU football camp.
 
He also competed in track and field at Kelowna. Ulm currently has a 4.0 grade point average, and current EWU basketball player Kennedy Dickie also attended Kelowna Secondary.
 
Personal: Interested in majoring in business at Eastern. Born 1/17/02 in Edmonton, Alberta. His parents are Thomas and Kelsey Ulm. Will be a first generation college student in his family. Nickname is "Nolo."
 
 
 

Ely Doyle

 
Head Coach Aaron Best on Doyle: "They had a coaching change, and he thought it wasn't as good a fit at Arizona State as it once was. We limit our opportunities to recruit transfers, but we knew we were going to be losing some seniors so it's an intriguing fit. He knows Johnny Edwards and Chris Ojoh, so we all did our homework to determine if this was the right situation. He has a great family and his parents are incredible. He tackles well and finds a way to get ball carriers down. He's not fearful of anybody with the ball, and he prides himself on that. He was recruited heavily, and we wanted to show him the family feel, the caring and the passion we all have here at Eastern."
 
Arizona State: Played in five games for Arizona State in 2019 after redshirting the 2018 season. He did play against No. 15 Michigan on Sept. 8, 2018, and was still able to retain his redshirt status. He began at ASU as a safety but converted to linebacker in 2019.
 
HS: Graduated from Bishop Alemany High School in California in 2018. Was a three-star prospect across all major publications, including 247 Sports which had him rated as the No. 68 safety in the country in the 2018 class. He was also listed as No. 80 by ESPN and ranked as the No. 87 prospect in California. He had 138 total tackles in his career, including 54 tackles, two pass deflections and a fumble recovery as a senior. As a sophomore, he caught 27 passes for 398 yards and three touchdowns. He was coached in high school by James Washington. Also attending Bishop Alemany are his EWU teammates Johnny Edwards IV ('17) and Chris Ojoh ('17), as well as former Eagle All-America quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. ('11).
 
Personal: Interested in majoring in business or communications at Eastern. Born 1/26/00 in Tarzana, Calif. His parents are Karalus and Camille Doyle. His full name is Elyjah, but he goes by Ely, which is pronounced like "Eli."