An additional 12 players will join the Eastern Washington University football program, head coach Aaron Best announced Wednesday (Feb. 5) on the first day of the February signing period.
 
The list includes nine who signed national letters of intent to attend EWU and play for the Eagles next fall, plus three other invited walk-ons will join the Eagle program and are being announced after being admitted and confirming attendance at EWU beginning this fall.
 
In December, EWU announced the addition of 14 high school players who signed letters of intent, plus the addition of Arizona State transfer Ely Doyle, who will join the Eagles as a safety and will be eligible to play as a sophomore in 2020.
 
The latest signees include local product Ben Voigtlaender from nearby Mead High School, who is one of three defensive ends the Eagles signed. He is among the 10 players from the state of Washington the Eagles added, including five who earned All-State honors. Defensive end LeAndre Gaines out of W.F. West High School was one of them, and the third defensive end signed was Taalefili Fata from Clover Park HS.
 
 "I think we have a great blend of recruits with a high football IQ, and guys who want to truly compete on the football field and in the classroom," said Eastern head coach Aaron Best, who enters his fourth season at the helm in 2020. "I think there is a level of mental toughness and some grit within the group overall, and we finish the signing class off in February on top of what we had already added from a foundational aspect in December."
 
Wide receiver Malaki Roberson from Graham-Kapowsin High School is among the All-State selections after catching 146 passes for 2,361 yards and 24 touchdowns in the last two seasons alone. Also on the list of signees is quarterback Parker Johnson out of Cascade Christian in Puyallup, Wash., where he had nearly 10,000 yards of total offense and accounted for 97 touchdowns in his four-year career.
 
Besides the three defensive ends, Roberson and Johnson, the new additions included two cornerbacks, two linebackers, another wide receiver, a running back and an offensive lineman. The invited walk-ons include linebacker Ahmani Williams of Skyview High School in Vancouver, Wash. His father, Julian Williams, was an All-America safety for the Eagles in 1999 and 2000.
 
"After the early signing period we knew we had to touch on the cornerback position, get another linebacker or two, and same with defensive end," explained Best. "Those were three needs going into the second signing period, and I think we have touched on those very well. We weren't going to touch a couple positions unless there was a really special case, so we kind of concentrated our efforts on defensive end, linebacker, and cornerback. And the addition of two wide receivers helps us round out that wide receiver class."
 
Eastern also added All-State players from Nevada and Alaska, giving the Eagles a total of seven All-Staters.
 
 "We're really excited about the opportunity to go above and beyond," added Best. "But it's not about this year, it's about the next five years. So the journey has just started, and we're excited that this recruiting class wanted Eastern to be a part of their journey. With the two signing classes I think we filled a lot of needs. The next five years will be the unveiling of the commitment that those players have to not only their craft but also to the classroom. We are excited to be a part of the journey."
 
 
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 five 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.
 
Eastern closed the 2019 season with the best offense in FCS, finishing at 524.8 yards per game. Eastern also ended the regular season second in scoring (40.6), fifth in passing (317.1) and eighth in turnover margin (+0.92 per game). The Eagles also ranked 19th in rushing at 207.8 yards per game, and were the only team in FCS to rank in the top 24 in total offense, rushing and passing.
 
 
More on EWU's 2019 season may be found at: http://goeags.com/index.aspx?path=football
 

EWU's 2019-20 February Signing Class (Feb. 5, 2020)

NLI SIGNEES
Taalefili Fata	DE	6-3	225	Tacoma, Wash. / Clover Park HS '20
LeAndre Gaines	DE	6-3	240	Chehalis, Wash. / W.F. West HS '20
Justice Jackson	RB	5-11	180	Discovery Bay, Calif. / Liberty HS '20
Parker Johnson	QB	6-4	215	Puyallup, Wash. / Cascade Christian HS '20
Conner O'Farrell	LB	6-0	210	Anchorage, Alaska / Service HS '20
Malaki Roberson	WR	5-9	175	Graham, Wash. / Graham-Kapowsin HS '20
Cage Schenck	CB	5-9	165	Woodinville, Wash. / Woodinville HS '20
Ben Voigtlaender	DE	6-2	255	Spokane, Wash / Mead HS '20
DaJean Wells	CB	5-10	165	Seattle, Wash. / Ballard HS '20
WALK-ONS/ANNOUNCED
Mike Rivera	WR	5-10	170	Sunnyside, Wash. / Sunnyside HS '20
Kellen Wallace	OL	6-7	275	Moapa Valley, Nevada / Moapa Valley HS '20
Ahmani Williams	LB	6-0	205	Vancouver, Wash. / Skyview HS '20

 
Pronunciations
Fili Fata – Tall-uh-feel-ee (also goes by Feel-ee) Fah-taw
Malaki Roberson – Mal-uh-kie Raw-ber-son
Cage Schenck - Skank
Ben Voigtlaender – Voit-lander
 
 

Taalefili Fata

Head Coach Aaron Best on Fata: "He is a defensive end we were really excited about from Clover Park High School. Coach Ena said nothing but great things about him once he got into the school and started talking with everybody there. There was nothing that was said that wasn't less than incredible about Fili. He is from a great family of great people. He is very studious in the classroom and he puts it all together on the football field. Fili is a worker and has a quiet personality, but he doesn't play the game quiet. And he doesn't go into the classroom quite as far as his production in the classroom. We are excited to get him on board in the 2020 class and kind of round out that defensive end position. We didn't sign anybody in the early recruiting period other than Sandrey Mitberg, so much like the linebacker position, we signed one early and then signed two late. It gives us some depth at that position and I think Fili has a great upside with his body type, with his mindset and with his position flexibility."
 
HS: Will graduate from Clover Park HS in 2020. He was named by the Seattle Times as a "White Chip" selection as one of the top 100 prospects in the state of Washington. He was a three-star recruit by 247 Sports. Clover Park finished 4-5 his senior season and 2-3 in the 2A South Puget Sound League. In his junior season, he was the 2A South Puget Sound League Offensive Lineman of the Year and was a second team choice on the Tacoma News Tribune All-Area team. The Warriors were 5-5 overall and 2-4 in the league, and were 2-8 and 1-5 in his sophomore season in 2017. Was coached in high school by John Randall. Also played baseball at Clover Park, and has played city league rugby.
 
Personal: Interested in majoring in business at Eastern. Born 2/27/02. His parents are Anetone and Ulalemamae Fata. Nickname is "Fili."
 
 

LeAndre Gaines

Head Coach Aaron Best on Gaines: "LeAndre is a player who has a huge upside. He wants to get into nursing, so he is well and wise beyond his years from an educational standpoint. Coach (Eti) Ena has liked him from the get-go. He is from W.F West, and every so often the Centralia/Chehalis area will produce players, and he is one of the good ones. He stood out in film and he stands out even brighter when you see him in person. So he is excited to get on board. We look at him as a defensive end, but he is a player that has position flexibility. He has length so he is going to grow immensely onto his 210-pound frame right now. He has a commitment to off-the-field community service and classroom aspects as well."
 
HS: Will graduate from W.F. West HS in 2020. He earned first team All-State honors from the Associated Press as a defensive lineman. Was selected to The Olympian All-Area team in 2019 as a defensive lineman. Gaines was the Defensive MVP in the 2A Evergreen League. He had 43 tackles, including 13 for losses and six sacks as a senior. He also intercepted a pass and recovered two fumbles, and played as a wide receiver and tight end on offense. He helped W.F. West to an 8-2 record and a 4-1 mark in the 2A Evergreen League. The Bearcats finished 5-5 his junior season and 8-3 when he was a sophomore, advancing to the State 2A Playoffs. Coached in high school by Danny Hill. Also played basketball and baseball in high school. He earned honorable mention All-State honors from Scorebook Live in baseball in 2019 as an infielder.
 
Personal: Interested in majoring in nursing at Eastern. Born 5/16/02 in Centralia, Wash. His parents are Leandre Gaines Sr. and Shana Middleton. Nickname is "Dre." 
 
 

Justice Jackson

Head Coach Aaron Best on Jackson: "He wasn't able to play an entire senior season so he didn't have a lengthy body of work. But we saw he has some position flexibility. He played his senior year in high school as a wide receiver, but we are planning to play him as a running back. He's a long and taller running back and runs with a great profile. He has a nose for yards and a tool belt of options when he gets the ball and can make people miss. He's a grinder. He's a great student and comes from a great family. We're excited to get him onboard."
 
HS: Will graduate from Liberty HS in Brentwood, Calif., in 2020. He was a three-star recruit by 247 Sports. In his senior season, he earned first team All-Bay Valley League honors as a wide receiver. Jackson had 25 receptions for 493 yards and six touchdowns in five games played, averaging 19.6 yards per catch with a long of 72. He helped the Lions to a 10-2 record and advance to the CIF Division I North Coast Section Football Playoffs. They lost in the semifinal round to Pittsburg High School 21-14 after a quarterfinal victory against California High School 50-18. Was coached in high school by Ryan Partridge.
 
He was a first team all-league running back in both 2017 and 2018 while competing for Berean Christian in Walnut Creek, Calif. His team finished 5-5 overall and 4-2 in the league in his junior season, and were 4-5 and 3-2 as a sophomore. He rushed for 910 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2017, and also caught seven passes for 81 yards. He also competed in track and field in high school.
 
Personal: Interested in majoring in visual communication design at Eastern with interests in digital art and media. Born 3/2/02 in Walnut Creek, Calif. His parents are Ramon and Ruth Jackson. Nickname is "Juice." He is a first generation college student in his family.
 
 

Parker Johnson

Head Coach Aaron Best on Johnson: "He was arguably the best quarterback in the state this last year in the state of Washington. He had opportunities to go other places, but he decided to come to Eastern based on our tradition, our offense and based on his ability to compete. He felt like EWU was the best fit for him for the next five years. He is a player who can get above the rim in basketball and make you look silly. The rim actually bends when he gets above it and he can flush the ball, and I'm jealous because I've never been able to do that. Any quarterback -- or anybody for that matter – who can do that with ease is intriguing to us, so it speaks to his athleticism. He can really spin the football, and he is not small – Parker is put together well and has deceptive speed. In our offense we like to think the first step in recruiting a QB is finding one who can make the first guy miss. He has been able to do that and we expect the same at the college level. So we are excited from him to come on board and compete with Shane Jennings in his class and also the other quarterbacks on our roster."
 
HS: Will graduate from Cascade Christian HS in 2020. Was a two-star recruit by 247 Sports. He played four seasons as the starting quarterback for the Cougars, passing for 8,953 yards and rushing for another 765 for a total of nearly 10,000 yards of total offense. He completed 64.4 percent of his passes and had 83 touchdowns, with 25 interceptions. Johnson averaged 9.2 yards per rush and scored another 14 times for a total of 97 touchdowns accounted for. He led his team to four 1A Nisqually League championships and four berths in the State 2A Playoffs, with a collective league mark of 25-0 and a 35-6 record overall. He was a four-time first team All-1A Nisqually League selection at quarterback from 2016-19, and was the league's Offensive MVP the latter three seasons.
 
As a senior, he earned honorable mention 1A All-State honors from Associated Press as a quarterback. Johnson completed 123-of-175 passes (70.3 percent) for 2,780 yards and 21 touchdowns, with just four interceptions. He also ran for an additional 422 yards (9.8 per carry) and seven scores. He had seven passing performances with at least 300 yards, including 474 with two touchdowns in a 38-38 win over White River when he also rushed for a season-high 108 yards and three more scores. He had five TD passes in a 60-7 victory against Klahowya, plus rushed for one. He led Cascade Christian to an 8-1 record and perfect 5-0 record in the 1A Nisqually League. The Cougars fell 41-12 to eventual runner-up Lynden Christian in the first round of the State 1A Playoffs.
 
In his junior season, he passed for 2,132 yards and 19 touchdowns, with eight interceptions. He had five performances with at least 300 yards passing (high of 392) and one with 100 yards rushing (103). Cascade Christian closed the year 7-2 overall and 6-0 in the league, losing to Lynden Christian 20-0 in the first round of the State 1A Playoffs. As a sophomore, he passed for 2,276 yards with a high of 294 and 26 touchdowns, and rushed for another for another 88 yards and two scores. The Cougars were 10-2 overall and 7-0 in the Nisqually League that season, beating Nooksack Valley 61-53 in the first round before falling 41-35 to La Center in the State 1A quarterfinals. He passed for 1,765 yards and 17 scores as a freshman, with a high game of 268. Cascade Christian finished 10-1 overall and 7-0 in league play, and suffered its first loss in the second round of the State 1A Playoffs after receiving a first-round bye.
 
His high school coach was Devin Snyder. Besides playing four years of football, he also played four years of basketball at Cascade Christian. He was honored on the All-1A Nisqually League team as an honorable mention selection as a freshman, second team as a sophomore and first team as a junior.
 
Personal: Interested in majoring in electrical engineering at Eastern. Born 11/21/01 in Federal Way, Wash. His parents are Keith and Shari Johnson. He originally committed to Yale prior to his senior season but de-committed on Dec. 1, 2019.
 
 

Conner O'Farrell

Head Coach Aaron Best on O'Farrell: "Linebacker was a position that we attempted to recruit two or three players. Conner hails from the 49th state of Alaska. He is a productive player and has a high football IQ, but has a higher work ethic so the film turned us on to him early. Our relationship was built early and only got better from there, and it just didn't work out during the early signing period for Conner to sign. We were still kind of evaluating some players at some positions, but it did work out to get him on board in the second signing period to accompany our other linebacker recruits. So those individuals will round out our linebacker corp. We're excited to have Conner on board."
 
HS: Will graduate from Service HS in 2020. Was selected as the Defensive Player of the Year on the All-State team as chosen by the Alaska Football Coaches Association. O'Farrell was a first team All-State choice as an inside linebacker and earned first team All-Cook Inlet Conference honors. He closed the 2019 season with 121 total tackles, including 20 1/2 for loss and 3 1/2 sacks. He had 16 quarterback hurries, an interception and three passes deflected. He recovered two fumbles and forced a pair. Service finished the season 8-3 overall and 2-2 in the Cook Inlet Conference, and was the runner-up in the Alaska State Playoffs. Service beat Chugiak 42-7 and Colony 27-18 before losing to South 27-13 in the championship game.  Was coached in high school by Kahlil Bolling. Also wrestled and competed in rugby in high school.
 
Personal: Interested in majoring in construction management at Eastern. Born 10/22/01 in Anchorage, Alaska. His parents are Justin O'Farrell and Regena Earhart. Nickname is "Conan."
 
 

Malaki Roberson

Head Coach Aaron Best on Roberson: "Roberson is a player we had our eye on in the early signing period, and we just didn't know where that wide receiver position was going to go for us. We were trying to vet a few things out for that position here on campus and also the position as a whole as far as the 2020 class. We are privileged to bring Malaki on board from a perennial playoff team. Graham-Kapowsin coach (Eric) Kurle does a great job, and we have had the likes of Micah Smith and Matt Shook join our program in the last few years. They are prepared for not just football, but also for the classroom when they come from Graham-Kapowsin. Malaki has quite a personality and when he plays he makes people miss. He has some position flexibility as in terms of being a return specialist along with being a wide receiver. He is put together well, he understands the game, and he has a very high football IQ."
 
HS: Will graduate from Graham-Kapowsin HS in 2020. In his last two years alone, he caught 146 passes for 2,361 yards (16.2 per catch) with 24 touchdowns. In his four years in the program, the Eagles were 40-7 overall and won 29 of 32 games in the 4A South Puget Sound League. All four years the school advanced to the 4A State Playoffs and won its opener before losing in the next round (three times in the quarterfinals). All four seasons the Eagles lost three times to the eventual runner-up and one to the eventual state champion. As a junior and senior, the collective records for G-K were 21-3 overall and 15-1 in league play with one title.
 
As a senior, he was named by the Seattle Times as a "White Chip" selection as one of the top 100 prospects in the state of Washington. He was a three-star recruit by 247 Sports. Roberson was selected to the Seattle Times All-State team for all classifications. He earned first team 4A All-State honors from the Associated Press as a wide receiver. He was the 4A South Puget Sound League Offensive MVP and on the Tacoma News Tribune All-Area squad for a second-straight season. He had 72 receptions for 1,164 yards (16.2 per catch) and 13 touchdowns as a senior when he also averaged 23 yards per punt return. He had 235 rushing yards and two scores, and, in addition, had a pair of touchdown passes. His 72 receptions were two short of the school-record 74 he had in his junior season. Graham-Kapowsin won the league title with a perfect 8-0 record and finished 11-1 overall. The Eagles beat Gonzaga Prep 41-17 in the first round of the State 4A Playoffs before suffering their first loss of the season to eventual runner-up Bothell by a 30-27 score.
 
As a junior, Roberson was selected to the Tacoma News Tribune All-Area squad and was a first team All-South Puget Sound League selection. He finished with a school-record 74 catches for 1,197 yards (16.2 per catch) and 11 touchdowns. He had four games with at least 100 receiving yards, including a pair with at least 200. He also added four interceptions as a cornerback. Graham-Kapowsin finished 10-2 overall and 7-1 to finish as the 4A SPSL runner-up. The Eagles beat Mead 45-38 in the first round of the State 4A Playoffs, but lost 45-28 to eventual runner-up Lake Stevens in the quarterfinals.
 
Roberson saw limited action as a sophomore, but did catch 16 passes for 296 yards (18.5 per catch) and two touchdowns. The Eagles finished 10-2 overall and 7-1 in the 4A SPSL as the runner-up in the league. The Eagles lost 49-17 to eventual State 4A runner-up Woodinville in the quarterfinals of the State 4A Playoffs after beating Lake Stevens 38-31 in the first round. He was also on the roster as a freshman when G-K finished 9-2 overall and 7-1 in the league, and the first of four-straight appearances in the State 4A Playoffs. The Eagles beat Kentlake 55-28 in their opener before falling to eventual champion Camas 55-6 in the second round.
 
Coached at G-K by Eric Kurle. Also attending Graham-Kapowsin were his EWU teammates Micah Smith ('18) and Matt Shook ('17).
 
Personal: Born 11/24/01. His parents are Leonardo and Nellie Roberson. Nickname is "Mai."
 
 

Cage Schenck

Head Coach Aaron Best on Schenck: "He is certainly is one of the most dynamic football players I've ever watched on film with the ball in his hands. He also plays on defense, and we are recruiting him as cornerback. He has a return specialist skill-set as well. He has speed, he has a football IQ and he has the change of direction ability. He has intangibles that you just can't teach, and that was evident on film. We didn't sign a cornerback in the first go-around in December, and because of that we wanted to make sure that the fit was right both for Cage and Eastern. He fell in love with the school and the family feel. Wayne Maxwell does a great job at Woodinville. We have had multiple players from Woodinville High School come over here and have great success on and off the field, and it will be no different for Cage. He is an exciting player to watch on film but probably even more exciting to have conversations with. So the sky is the limit for him and what he can do. We look at him as being a cornerback and being able to get in the way and pose problems for quarterbacks in this league for years to come."
 
HS: Will graduate from Woodinville HS in 2020. As a senior, he was named by the Seattle Times as a "White Chip" selection as one of the top 100 prospects in the state of Washington. Schenck was selected to the Seattle Times All-State team for all classifications. He earned honorable mention 4A All-State honors from the Associated Press as a defensive back. He also earned a spot on the Seattle Times Star Times All-Area squad. He earned first team All-KingCo 4A Crest Division honors as a wide receiver, cornerback and return specialist. He finished with 706 receiving yards and eight touchdowns on offense, and had 34 tackles and three interceptions on defense. He helped Woodinville finish 11-2 in 2019, including a 3-1 league mark. The Falcons beat Skyview (38-17) and Kennedy Catholic (55-42) in the first two rounds of the State 4A Playoffs before falling to eventual runner-up Bothell (31-21) in the semifinals.
 
As a junior, he was named first team All-KingCo 4A as a wide receiver, defensive back and kick returner. He had 22 receptions for 557 yards and seven touchdowns while also racking up 43 tackles and tying for the team lead with five interceptions. Woodinville won the league title with a 4-0 record and was 11-2 overall. The Falcons beat Skyview (34-21) and Gonzaga Prep (45-24) before falling in the semifinals to eventual runner-up Lake Stevens (28-14) in the semifinals. Was coached in high school by Wayne Maxwell. Also played basketball at Woodinville and received All-KingCo 4A League honors.
 
Personal: Interested in majoring in business at Eastern. Born 4/27/01 in Seattle, Wash. His parents are Kevin and Christy Schenck.
 
 

Ben Voigtlaender

Head Coach Aaron Best on Voigtlaender: "It kind of came down to the bitter end with Ben. He is a local talent, not just from with his helmet on but also with his helmet off. He is a great student with an emphasis on great. He is very studious in everything he does, whether he is working in the classroom setting or with less fortunate kids in the high school in one of the classes he takes. Ben was also a standout wrestler prior to his senior year. (Mead head coach) Benji Sonnichsen does a great job – he has been there for a few years now and had nothing but positive reviews on Ben and what he brings to the table. He has had summer camp experience here, so we have had our eyes on him during the month of June. Our relationship with him only improved once we got to know Ben a little bit more. His abilities both on and off the field can make us a better team and better community service members as we go forward."
 
HS: Will graduate from Mead HS in 2020. He was named by the Seattle Times as a "White Chip" selection as one of the top 100 prospects in the state of Washington. He was a three-star recruit by 247 Sports. He earned first team 4A All-State honors from the Associated Press as a defensive lineman. He was also a first team selection on the All-Greater Spokane League squad as a defensive lineman. The Panthers finished 7-3 overall and 4-1 in the GSL to share the 4A title with Gonzaga Prep. Mead won its 10th league title in school history with a 21-16 victory over Ferris. The season ended one game later with a playoff loss to Chiawana.
 
Voigtlaender also earned first team 4A All-State honors from the Associated Press as a defensive lineman in his junior season. He was the GSL Defensive Player of the Year in 2018. The Panthers finished 7-4 overall and 5-2 in the GSL, and defeated Richland 35-21 in a playoff game to advance to the State 4A Playoffs. Mead lost to Graham-Kapowsin 45-38 in the first round the tournament. Voigtlaender was also on the roster as a sophomore in 2017 when Mead finished 5-6. Was coached in high school by Benji Sonnichsen. He also wrestled at Mead, earning All-GSL honors as a junior.
 
Personal: Interested in majoring in sociology at Eastern. Born 2/7/02 in Spokane, Wash. His parents are Mark and Lara Voigtlaender.
 
 

DaJean Wells

Head Coach Aaron Best on Wells: "DaJean is a corner out of Ballard High School and is a player we had our eye on. That was one of the positions we emphasized going into the later signing period because we didn't find a corner in the first go-around and this go-around we sign two. DaJean was very sought after by us. His test scores and grade point average matches up well with what we are looking for. He has great speed and has great instincts. He plays on both sides of the ball and he rarely came off the field in high school. He did a great job not just from an individual perspective but also from a leadership perspective as well. DaJean came to campus and fell in love with it. His family is great – they moved to the Northwest from New Orleans so he spent about over half his life in New Orleans and about close to half his life now in the Pacific Northwest. He has great upside and the ceiling is very high for him. There's no reason why DaJean can't reach his ceiling in the five years he'll have an Eagle jersey on."
 
HS: Will graduate from Ballard HS in 2020. He was the Metro League Sound Division MVP as a wide receiver and cornerback in his senior season in 2019. He finished the year with 19 receptions for 515 yards and four touchdowns with a long reception of 67 yards. He also had 20 tackles on defense with two interceptions, one he returned for a touchdown. He also returned four kickoffs for a 28.0 average and a long of 97. Ballard won the Metro League title with a perfect 6-0 record, and finished 9-1 overall after falling 28-25 to Marysville-Pilchuck in a play-in game for the State 3A Playoffs. He also played both positions as a junior when Ballard was 6-4 and won the Metro League title with a 4-0 record. As a sophomore, Ballard was 6-4 overall and 4-1 in the league and Wells saw action in all 10 games. Coached in high school by Ross Humphries.
 
Personal: Interested in majoring exercise science in at Eastern. Born 1/2/02 in Metairie, La. His parents are Demarcus and Shalanda Wells. Nickname is "D."
 
 

Mike Rivera

HS: Will graduate from Sunnyside HS in 2020. He finished his three-year career with 151 catches for 2,674 yards and 29 touchdowns. He had 12 performances in his career with at least 100 receiving yards, including a school-record 206.
 
He was the MVP in the Columbia Basin Big 9 Conference as a senior, and was a unanimous first team All-Big 9 choice as a wide receiver and defensive back. He caught 60 passes for 950 yards and nine touchdowns in 2019, with four performances with at least 100 yards. During the season he was named the WIAA Athlete of the Week for setting a school record with 206 receiving yards on eight catches with four touchdowns in a 62-0 victory over Cleveland High School. Sunnyside finished 8-3 overall and 5-1 in the Big 9, finishing as the co-champions with Wenatchee and Eastmont.
 
As a junior, Rivera caught 50 passes for 1,102 yards and 13 touchdowns, with six performances with at least 100 yards. The Grizzlies were 7-3, finishing 5-1 in league play to close the season as the runner-up behind unbeaten Eastmont. As a sophomore, he had 41 receptions for 622 yards and seven touchdowns, with a pair of 100-yard performances. Sunnyside was 6-4 overall and 3-3 in league play. Was coached at Sunnyside by John Lobbestael. He also competed in track and field at Sunnyside.
 
Personal: Interested in majoring in athletic training at Eastern. Born 10/9/01 in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. His parents are Felix Rivera and Betty Maysonet.
 
 

Kellen Wallace

Head Coach Aaron Best on Wallace: "You can't teach length and he has it. He's raw right now, but we're excited to see where he can go. If he takes the opportunities he'll receive in the weight room, the training room, with nutrition and in the classroom, he can put it all together on the football field. He has a great upside, but we'll have to wait to see where that takes him. He's been in our state, so he's familiar with our area and Eastern Washington football."
 
HS: Will graduate from Moapa Valley HS in 2020. Is listed as a two-star recruit by Rivals. He earned second team 3A All-State honors, as well as first team All-Southern Region and All-Sunrise League honors. He helped lead Moapa Valley to a 7-5 record in 2019 after finishing 3-2 in the 3A Southern-Sunrise League. The Pirates advanced to the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association (NIAA) 3A Southern Region Playoffs and fell to Virgin Valley in the semifinals after beating Pahrump Valley 35-0 in the quarterfinal round.
 
In his junior season, he earned second team 3A All-State honors as an offensive lineman. He was a first team All-Southern Region offensive lineman, and was also a first team choice on offense on the All-Sunrise League team. He led his team to a 10-2 finish overall and the 3A Southern-Sunrise League title with a 4-0 record. Wallace's team beat Cheyenne 42-19 in the semifinals of the 3A Southern Region Playoffs. As a sophomore he was honored on the All-Sunrise second team as an offensive lineman when the Pirates finished 6-3 overall. Coached in high school by Brent Lewis. Also competed in track and field at Moapa Valley.
 
Personal: Interested in majoring in mechanical engineering at Eastern, and interested in joining the United States Air Force after earning his degree at EWU. Born 10/24/01 in Ellensburg, Wash. His parents are Stephen and Jenny Wallace.
 
 

Ahmani Williams

 
Head Coach Aaron Best on Williams: "He has Eagle bloodlines. His father Julian and I had the opportunity to come into the same class in 1996. Julian was a great safety, so anybody that has that Williams talent and skill-set has a chance. Julian certainly had that and Ahmani shows those talents at the linebacker position. He is going to play in the box and compete for many years to come. Ahmani is a great student, and one of his big personal decisions was the academic aspect. He is looking way beyond football and he is looking at life beyond football. The opportunity to pursue a major he wants aligns with the football values that we uphold here at Eastern, and that enticed Ahmani to want to get onboard. He is put together well, and he is only going to get a touch bigger. He has a nose for the football and he played on both sides of the ball. He comes from Skyview High School and was coached by Steve Kizer, another Eagle resource for us to lean on in the recruitment of Ahmani. We are excited to get him onboard and get him started at linebacker in this class of 2020."
 
HS: Will graduate from Skyview HS in 2020. He earned first team All-4A Greater St. Helens League honors as a linebacker in his senior season. The Storm finished the 2019 season 8-3 overall, falling 38-17 to Woodinville in the first round of the State 4A Playoffs. Skyview was 3-1 in the 4A Greater St. Helens League behind 4-0 Camas, which would go on to win the State 4A title. He was also on the roster in his junior season when the Storm finished 6-5 overall and 2-2 in the league, as well as in 2017 when Skyview was 5-4 overall and 2-2 in the league. Coached in high school by former EWU defensive coordinator Steve Kizer. Also competed in track and field at Skyview.
 
Personal: Interested in majoring in political science/sociology at Eastern. Born 6/18/02 in Portland, Ore. His parents are Julian Williams and Chantell Villeneuve. His father played safety for Eastern from 1997-00 as a teammate of current EWU head coach Aaron Best. Williams earned honorable mention All-America honors in both 1999 and 2000 when he was also a first team All-Big Sky selection. He earned second team honors in 1998 and was also honored once on the Big Sky All-Academic team. He had 288 tackles in his career, a mark that once ranked fifth in EWU history and is now 11th. His 26 passes broken up now ranks sixth after ranking fourth at the time. A 1996 graduate of Mountain View High School in Vancouver, he signed a contract with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL in 2002 before returning to live and coach in Vancouver.

 

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DECEMBER SIGNING DAY . . .  Eagles Announce Addition of 15 New Players During Early Signing Period

 
Signing class includes 14 high school players who signed national letters of intent and a transfer from Arizona State
 
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

 
 
 

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. He was named by the Seattle Times as a "White Chip" selection as one of the top 100 prospects in the state of Washington. He was a two-star recruit by 247 Sports. As a senior in 2019, he earned honorable mention as a linebacker on the Associated Press 1A All-State team. 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. As a senior, he was a second team selection as a tight end on the Oregonian 6A All-State team. 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. He was named by the Seattle Times as a "White Chip" selection as one of the top 100 prospects in the state of Washington. He was a three-star recruit by 247 Sports. He was a first team selection as an all-purpose player on the Associated Press 4A All-State team, and also earned honorable mention as a defensive back. 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. He was named by the Seattle Times as a "White Chip" selection as one of the top 100 prospects in the state of Washington. He was a three-star recruit by 247 Sports and is listed as a two-star prospect by Rivals. 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, he earned second team accolades on the Tacoma News Tribune All-Area team. 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 first team 3A All-State honors from the Idaho Statesman as both a quarterback and defensive back. He was also 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 four 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. He was named by the Seattle Times as a "White Chip" selection as one of the top 100 prospects in the state of Washington. He was a two-star recruit by 247 Sports. 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. He was a first team selection as an offensive lineman on the Associated Press 4A All-State team. 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. He was a two-star recruit by 247 Sports. 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."
 
HS: Will graduate from Beaverton HS in Beaverton, Ore., in 2020. He was a three-star recruit by 247 Sports. 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. He was a two-star recruit by 247 Sports. 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, Montoya was a first team selection as a running back on the Associated Press 1B All-State team. 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. He was named by the Seattle Times as a "White Chip" selection as one of the top 100 prospects in the state of Washington. He was a two-star recruit by 247 Sports. 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.
 
Personal: Interested in majoring in at Eastern. Born X/X/X in . His parents are . Nickname is  .
 
 
 

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. He was a two-star recruit by 247 Sports. 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. He was a two-star recruit by 247 Sports. As a senior, he was a first team selection as a defensive lineman on the Oregonian 5A All-State team and received honorable mention honors as a tight end. Smith 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. He was named by the Seattle Times as a "White Chip" selection as one of the top 100 prospects in the state of Washington. He was a two-star recruit by 247 Sports. 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. He was a two-star recruit by 247 Sports. 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. Rivals also ranked him as a three-star recruit. Doyle 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."