Before Eagle fans get a chance to secure some autographs from their favorite Eastern Washington University football players, head coach Aaron Best and his coaching staff will secure some vital data when they scrimmage Saturday afternoon (Aug. 24) at Roos Field in Cheney, Wash.
 
The scrimmage will start at 1 p.m., and last until approximately 2:30 p.m. Eastern's annual "Meet the Eagles" event follows at Reese Court, with fans getting the opportunity to obtain schedule posters and autographs from EWU football and volleyball players.
 
The third week of preseason practices are in the books, and Saturday's scrimmage will be used to help finalize EWU's 70-man travel squad roster. Several starters will be held out, giving important repetitions to those battling for positions and trying to impress the coaching staff.
 
Three of EWU's first four games are on the road. The Eagles open their season at Washington on Aug. 31 and then will have their home opener versus Lindenwood on Sept. 7, a road game at Jacksonville State on Sept. 14 and a non-league game at Idaho on Sept. 21.
 
"Saturday is vitally important for a lot of guys," said Best. "We are going to be around 80 to 90 reps again, with most of them going to the two's and three's. We'll have some of the ones who haven't received a ton of game work on real Saturdays to be able to splash in there early. But this scrimmage is to showcase those backups and guys who we are seeing if they can find themselves on the bus over the mountain the next week."
 
The Eagles lost 25 seniors from last year's team, but do return 47 letterwinners with five starters back on offense and six on defense. Eastern will begin game prep for Washington on Sunday, but every practice thus far has been important for the team's progress.
 
"Everything we do is important whether we are keeping score or not keeping score," added Best. "It could be a walk-through or a helmet-only practice -- it all matters and we all preach that every day. So Saturday is going to be big for probably 15 to 18 kids that are vying for spots on the bus to Udub."
 
Like they did last season, Best and his staff plan on making decisions on a game-by-game basis in 2019 on which, if any, of the team's 24 true freshmen will play. The NCAA Division I Council passed a proposal in June of 2018 that allows players to participate in any four games in a season and still use a redshirt that year. The change, not retroactive, took effect in 2018 and EWU capitalized by having eight of its redshirts play.
 
Those redshirt freshmen who played last year – mostly on special teams -- are all competing for spots on EWU's depth chart this year. They included defensive back Tre Weed, tight end Aiden Nellor, defensive lineman Joshua Jerome, running back Isaiah Lewis, wide receiver Anthony Stell Jr., defensive lineman Zion Fa'aopega, defensive back Darrien Sampson, linebacker Justin Patterson and linebacker Emmanuel Osuoha.
 
 

Preseason Honors Won by EWU Players . . .

 
#3 - Eric Barriere – Quarterback - 6-0 - 200 - Jr. - 2L* - Inglewood, Calif. (La Habra HS '16)
STATS Walter Payton Award Watch List
CFPA FCS National Performer of the Year Trophy Watch List
FCS Fans Nation FCS Offensive Player of the Year
Hero Sports All-America First Team
Phil Steele All-Big Sky Conference Third Team
 
#75 - Spencer Blackburn – Center - 6-2 - 290 - Sr. - 3L* - Bellingham, Wash. (Meridian HS '14)
Hero Sports All-America Second Team
Athlon All-America First Team (24 players honored)
STATS All-America Second Team
Phil Steele All-America Second Team
Phil Steele All-Big Sky Conference First Team
 
#64 - Chris Schlichting – Offensive Tackle - 6-5 - 295 - Sr. - 3L* - North Bend, Wash. (Mount Si HS '15)
All-Big Sky Conference (media poll)
Phil Steele All-Big Sky Conference Second Team
 
#5 - Mitchell Johnson – Defensive End - 6-3 - 245 - So. - 1L* - West Linn, Ore. (West Linn HS '17)
Phil Steele All-Big Sky Conference First Team
 
#66 - Kaleb Levao – Offensive Guard - 6-4 - 310 - Sr. - 3L* - Aberdeen, Wash. (Aberdeen HS '14)
Phil Steele All-Big Sky Conference Second Team
 
#4 - Dylan Ledbetter – Defensive Tackle -  6-3 - 275 - Sr. - 3L* - West Seattle, Wash. (O'Dea HS '15)
Phil Steele All-Big Sky Conference Second Team
 
#65 - Tristen Taylor – Offensive Tackle - 6-6 - 325 - Sr. - 2L* - Stockton, Calif. (Stagg HS '15)
Phil Steele All-Big Sky Conference Third Team
 
#28 - Antoine Custer Jr. – Running Back - 5-9 - 190 - Sr. - 3L - Berkeley, Calif. (De La Salle '16)
Phil Steele All-Big Sky Conference Third Team
 
#58 - Chris Ojoh – Linebacker - 6-1 - 220 - Jr. - 2L - Sunland, Calif. (Bishop Alemany HS '17)
Phil Steele All-Big Sky Conference Third Team
 
 

Tentative Schedule of Remaining EWU Practices

Times and locations are tentative and subject to change. Practices usually last for two hours. Media interviews need to be coordinated and approved in advance with Dave Cook/text via 509-280-2502, but typically take place 20-30 minutes before the practice time listed or after scrimmages. Days available for media availability with assistance from EWU Sports Information staff are marked below with ***. Be sure to always confirm practice times and locations prior to departure for campus. No interviews after Wednesday before games, with Tuesday afternoon before practice the typical pre-game interview day (could be afterwards depending on time practice begins). Preseason practices are scheduled to take place at the EWU Sports and Recreation Center practice fields through Aug. 13 and then at Roos Field after that and during the season.
***Saturday, Aug. 24 – Scrimmage, approximately 1 p.m., Roos Field -- Media Availability Afterwards
Sunday, Aug. 25 – No Practice
Monday, Aug. 26 – 1 p.m.
***Tuesday, Aug. 27 – 1 p.m. -- Media Availability before practice
Wednesday, Aug. 28 – 1 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 29 – 1 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 30 – Walk-through at UW
Saturday, Aug. 31 –Opener at UW, Noon Pacific time on the Pac-12 Networks