It was a decade of championships, victories, home success, great coaches and, above all else, a ton of football talent.
 
From a decade that saw Eastern Washington University win nearly 100 football games, the Eagle have announced an All-Decade team consisting of 80 total players who concluded their careers as Eagles between 2010 and 2019, including current Eagles Jack Sendelbach and Tristen Taylor who were listed as seniors in 2019 but return after being granted a sixth year by the NCAA. Four other current players -- Eric Barriere, Andrew Boston, Mitchell Johnson and Seth Harrison -- were also included because they met the because they met the All-America and/or All-Big Sky qualifying standards..
 
To be chosen to the team, players needed to have earned at least third team All-Big Sky Conference honors, with others automatically added by being named team MVP on offense, defense or special teams, or as an Academic All-American. Among the group of 80 players, 35 were on offense, 31 on defense and 16 on special teams (two were on multiple units).
 
Coached by Beau Baldwin (2010-17) and later Aaron Best (2017-19), Eastern had a 97-35 (.735) record in those 10 seasons, including a 66-14 (.825) record in the Big Sky. Eastern won league titles in 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2018, and advanced to the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision Playoffs those same six seasons.
 
The Eagles won the NCAA Division I championship in 2010 and was the runner-up in 2018. Eastern's 97 wins were the third most in the NCAA Championship Subdivision in that decade, and the team's .735 percentage was fifth. Only North Dakota State (137) and Sam Houston State (99) had more victories than the Eagles.
 
Moreover, the Eagles were nearly unbeatable at Roos Field in Cheney, Wash., on the new red turf installed in 2010. Eastern won 57 of 67 games in the decade at "The Inferno," a winning rate of 85.1 percent that included a 44-6 record in the regular season (88.0 percent) and 13-4 (76.5 percent) in the FCS Playoffs.
 
Highlighting the list of honored players on the All-Decade team was Cooper Kupp, whose Walter Payton Award victory in 2015 was among the four FCS Player of the Year honors he won as an Eagle. He was a four-time All-American and four-time first team All-Big Sky Conference selection before becoming a bonafide star in the National Football League for the Los Angeles Rams. He was on the All-Time team both as a wide receiver and punt returner.
 
Another Walter Payton Award winner was Bo Levi Mitchell, a quarterback who concluded his career in 2011 after leading EWU to the national championship in 2010. He was among a group of four quarterbacks – Vernon Adams Jr. (2012-14), Gage Gubrud (2015-18) and Eric Barriere (2017-19) who were All-Americans --- Adams as a two-time choice. Mitchell has played in the Canadian Football League for Calgary since he departed EWU, and Adams is currently in that league as well with Montreal. Barriere is EWU's current quarterback.
 
While the Payton Award is given to the top offensive player in FCS, the Buck Buchanan Award is given to the top defensive player. And linebacker J.C. Sherritt won that award in his senior season in 2010 when EWU won the national title. He earned All-America honors twice as an Eagle and went on to play eight seasons in the Canadian Football League.
 
Other two-time All-Americans on offense were running back Taiwan Jones (2008-10) and wide receiver Brandon Kaufman (2009-12), as well as a trio of offensive linemen – guard Aaron Neary (2012-15), center Spencer Blackburn (2016-19) and center Chris Powers (2009-11). Jones is now in his 10th season in the National Football League, and is currently a Buffalo Bill after also playing for the Raiders and Texans.
 
On defense, linebacker Ronnie Hamlin (2011-14) earned All-America honors in three seasons before ending his career as the all-time leading tackler in the Big Sky Conference with 473 stops in 53 games. Two-time All-Americans on defense besides Sherritt included defensive tackle Renard Williams (2008-11) and cornerback T.J. Lee III (2010-13). Lee was a three-time All-Big Sky first team selection and has played for the British Columbia Lions in the CFL since departing EWU.
 
In all, the list of 82 players included 31 who earned All-America honors as Eagles. A total of nine Big Sky Conference Player of the Year honors were won – Adams in 2013 and 2014; Kupp in 2015 and 2016; Gubrud in 2016 (along with Kupp); Mitchell in 2011; and Jones in 2010. On defense, Sherritt was honored in 2010 and defensive tackle Jay-Tee Tiuli was the Big Sky MVP in 2018.
 
One of the largest groups of players to be recognized on the All-Decade squad was the offensive line with 14 honored players (seven tackles, four guards, three centers). There were 10 wide receivers, four running backs and a trio of tight ends. Those groups included eight All-Americans on the offensive line, six at wide receiver, all four quarterbacks and Jones at running back.
 
A total of 14 defensive linemen were honored on the all-time team (eight ends, six tackles), including four All-Americans. In addition, there were five linebackers, four cornerbacks and eight safeties on the all-time team. The 16 specialists honored included a trio of kickers and three punters.
 
 

2010-19 All-Time Football Team

 
Record of 97-35 .735 / 66-14 .825 Big Sky Conference – titles in 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2018 (6); FCS Playoffs in 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2018 (6)
Head Coach: Beau Baldwin (2010-16/7 seasons) – Record of 71-23 .755 / 47-9 .839 Big Sky Conference – titles in 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016; FCS Playoffs in 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016
Head Coach: Aaron Best (2017-19/3 seasons) – Record of 26-12/19-5 Big Sky Conference – title in 2018; FCS Playoffs in 2018
 
Honors Key . . .
^National Player of the Year Honors Won (not by position, just offense or defense or overall)
~Number of times on Coaches All-America Teams (AFCA, Burger King Coaches, Kodak)
!Number of years received All-America recognition (all, including honorable mention)
$Number of Big Sky Conference Player of the Year on Offense or Defense Won (EWU joined the league in 1987)
%Number of All-Big Sky Conference First Team Honors Won (EWU joined the league in 1987)
*Number of All-Big Sky Conference Second Team Honors Won (EWU joined the league in 1987)
+Number of All-Big Sky Conference Third Team Honors Won (Award started in 2013)
= Number of Times Team MVP on Offense, Defense or Special Teams
&Number of Times Academic All-American
#Member of Eastern Athletics Hall of Fame
 
 

Offense
Player	Years Lettered	No.	Pos.	Hometown	Previous School	Honors
Post, Will	2009-10-11-12	76	OT	Portland, Ore.	Southridge HS '08	~!%
Rodgers, Jake	2013-14	65	OT	Spokane, Wash.	Shadle Park HS '10/WSU	~!%
DeBord, Clay	2012-13-14-15	78	OT	Asotin, Wash.	Asotin HS '11	!%*
Schlichting, Chris	2016-17-18-19	64	OT	North Bend, Wash.	Mount Si HS '15	%*
Jackson, Gabriel	2008-09-10-11	60	OT	Tacoma, Wash.	Mount Tahoma HS '07	*
Taylor, Tristen	2016-17-19	65	OT	Stockton, Calif.	Stagg HS '15	*
Byus, Beau	2016-17-18	74	OT	Spokane, Wash.	Central Valley HS '14	+
Neary, Aaron	2012-13-14-15	72	OG	Richland, Wash.	Hanford HS '11	!!%%
Forgette, Steven	2010-11-12-13	70	OG	Vancouver, Wash.	Heritage HS '09	!**
Levao, Kaleb	2015-16-18-19	66	OG	Aberdeen, Wash.	Aberdeen HS '14	*+
Hunter, Jack	2016-17-18	63	OG	Spokane, Wash.	Gonzaga Prep HS '14	+
Blackburn, Spencer	2016-17-18-19	75	C	Bellingham, Wash.	Meridian HS '14	~!!%***
Powers, Chris	2009-10-11	78	C	Black Diamond, Wash.	Tahoma HS '07	!!%
Miller, Ashton	2010-11-12-13	66	C	Vancouver, Wash.	Evergreen HS '09	!%
Adams Jr., Vernon	2012-13-14	3	QB	Pasadena, Calif.	Alemany HS '11	^!!$$%%==
Gubrud, Gage	2015-16-17-18	8	QB	McMinnville, Ore.	McMinnville HS '14	^!$%*
Mitchell, Bo Levi	2010-11	9	QB	Katy, Texas	Katy HS '08/Southern Methodist	^~!$%
Barriere, Eric	2017-18-19	3	QB	Inglewood, Calif.	La Habra HS '16	!++=
Jones, Taiwan	2008-09-10	22	RB	Antioch, Calif.	Deer Valley HS '07	^~!!$%%=
Custer Jr., Antoine	2016-17-18-19	28	RB	Berkeley, Calif.	De La Salle HS '16	**=
Forte, Quincy	2011-12-13-14	22	RB	Fairfield, Calif.	Vacaville HS '11	*+
McPherson, Sam	2015-16-17-18	20	RB	Bothell, Wash.	Bothell HS '15	*=
Belk, Henderson	2015-16-17-18	85	TE	Mukilteo, Wash.	Kamiak HS '14	+
Gehring, Zack	2010-11-12-13	85	TE	Castle Rock, Wash.	Castle Rock HS '09	+
Gilder, Jayce	2016-17-18-19	89	TE	Corvallis, Mont.	Corvallis HS '15	+
Kupp, Cooper	2013-14-15-16	10	WR	Yakima, Wash.	Davis HS '12	^^^^~~~~!!!!$$%%%%==&&
Edwards, Nicholas	2009-10-11-12	11	WR	Tacoma, Wash.	Foss HS '08	~!%=
Kaufman, Brandon	2009-10-12	1	WR	Denver, Colo.	Heritage HS '09	!!%%=
Hill, Shaq	2012-13-14-16	1	WR	Stockton, Calif.	Brookside Christian HS '11	!%+
Webster, Nsimba	2015-16-17-18	5	WR	Antioch, Calif.	Deer Valley HS '14	%+
Bourne, Kendrick	2013-14-15-16	11	WR	Portland, Ore.	Milwaukie Arts Academy '13	!**
Herd, Greg	2009-10-11-12	3	WR	Tacoma, Wash.	Steilacoom HS '09	!*
Clark, Ashton	2011-12-13	15	WR	Vancouver, Wash.	Heritage HS '09	*
Sblendorio, Nic	2014-15-16-17	7	WR	Sammamish, Wash.	Skyline HS '13	*
Boston, Andrew	2018-19	9	WR	Puyallup, Wash.	Emerald Ridge HS '17	+
Defense
Player	Years Lettered	No.	Pos.	Hometown	Previous School	Honors
Ebukam, Samson	2013-14-15-16	3	DE	Portland, Ore.	David Douglas HS '13	~!%**=
Williams, Keenan	2015-16-17-18	90	DE	Cheney, Wash.	Cheney HS '15	%
Ceja, Jerry	2009-10-11-12	91	DE	Aurora, Colo.	Grandview HS '09	!*
Havili, Albert	2013-14-16-17	4	DE	Federal Way, Wash.	Federal Way HS '13	*
Johnson, Mitchell	2018-19	5	DE	West Linn, Ore.	West Linn HS '17	*
Larry, Anthony	2010-11-13	1	DE	Sacramento, Calif.	Luther Burbank HS '09	+
Townsend, Jim	2015-16-18-19	49	DE	Okanogan, Wash.	Okanogan HS '15	+
Moetului, Charles	2009-10-11	95	DE	North Bend, Wash.	Mount Si HS '07	=
Tiuli, Jay-Tee	2014-15-16-18	99	DT	Seattle, Wash.	Federal Way HS '14	!$%%
Williams, Renard	2008-09-10-11	98	DT	Port Orchard, Wash.	South Kitsap HS '07	!!%%*
Pulu, Andru	2012-13	93	DT	Federal Way, Wash.	Federal Way HS '09/Washington	*
Sommer, Matthew	2013-14-15-16	94	DT	Salem, Ore.	West Salem HS '13	+
Zylstra, Dylan	2011-12-13-14	57	DT	Kent, Wash.	Kentridge HS '10	+
Ledbetter, Dylan	2016-17-18-19	4	DT	West Seattle, Wash.	O'Dea HS '15	=
Hamlin, Ronnie	2011-12-13-14	39	ILB	Lacey, Wash.	Timberline HS '09	!!!%%*==
Zamora, Miquiyah	2013-14-15-16	4	ILB	Pasco, Wash.	Chiawana HS '12	%=
Kupp, Ketner	2015-16-17-18	40	ILB	Yakima, Wash.	Davis HS '15	*=
Sherritt, J.C.	2007-08-09-10	4	OLB	Pullman, Wash.	Pullman HS '06	^^~~!!$%%==
Johnson, Zach	2008-10-11-12	10	OLB	Tumwater, Wash.	Tumwater HS '07	**
Lee III, T.J.	2010-11-12-13	31	CB	Seattle, Wash	West Seattle HS '09	~!!%%%
Calcote, Dante	2007-08-09-10	28	CB	Seattle, Wash.	Renton HS '06	*
Lewis, Josh	2015-16-17-18	1	CB	Lakewood, Wash.	Steilacoom HS '14	*
Webster, Nzuzi	2015-16-17-18	6	CB	Antioch, Calif.	Deer Valley HS '14	+
Johnson, Matt	2008-09-10-11	5	S	Tumwater, Wash.	Tumwater HS '07	!%%
McDonald, Tevin	2013-14	7	S	Fresno, Calif.	Edison HS '10/UCLA	!%+=
Bruce, Zach	2013-14-15-16	32	S	Spokane, Wash.	University HS '12	%
Brown, Allen	2010-11-12-13	4	S	Tacoma, Wash.	Foss HS '09	*
Fettig, Mitch	2015-16-17-18	4	S	Olympia Wash.	Olympia HS '14	++=
Hayes, Dehonta	2017-18-19	23	S	Tacoma, Wash.	Lincoln HS '15	+
Raynes, Todd	2012-13-14-15	4	S	Kenmore, Wash.	Inglemoor HS '11	+
Minnerly, Jeff	2009-10-11-12	7	S	Spokane, Wash.	Ferris HS '08	&
Special Teams
Player	Years Lettered	No.	Pos.	Hometown	Previous School	Honors
Alcobendas, Roldan	2014-16-17-18	37	K	Camas, Wash.	Camas HS '13	~!%=
Pavel, Jimmy	2011-12	99	K	Molalla, Ore.	Central Catholic HS '08/Boise	!%
Harrison, Seth	2019	83	K	Couer d'Alene, Idaho	Coeur d'Alene HS '18	=
Alcobendas, Roldan	2014-16-17-18	37	P	Camas, Wash.	Camas HS '13	%
Dascalo, Jordan	2015-16-17	45	P	Los Angeles, Calif.	Taft HS '13 & WSU	%
Miller, Jake	2011-12-13-14	48	P	Spokane, Wash.	Central Valley HS '10/WSU	!*
Billen, Curtis	2015-16-17-18	39	LS	Everett, Wash.	Mariner HS '14	+
Dorton, Dre' Sonte	2017-18-19	87	KR	Pasco, Wash.	Chiawana HS '15	*
Kupp, Cooper	2013-14-15-16	10	PR	Yakima, Wash.	Davis HS '12	*+
Beaumonte, Darriell	2008-09-10-11	30	ST	Lakewood, Wash.	Clover Park HS '07	%*=
Schuetzle, Bo	2010-11-12-13	21	ST	Spokane, Wash	Shadle Park HS '09	%=
Gurley, Anfernee	2017-19	34	ST	Everett, Wash.	Archbishop Murphy HS '17	+=
Hecker, Cody	2012-13-14	36	ST/KR	Sandpoint, Idaho	Sandpoint HS '10	=
King, Chase	2009-12	32	ST	Federal Way, Wash.	Decatur HS '08	=
Sendelbach, Jack	2016-17-19	52	ST	Seattle, Wash.	Blanchet HS '15	=
Wimberly, Zach	2013-14-15-16	9	ST	Tumwater, Wash.	Tumwater HS '12	=