Link to Phil Steele Preseason Teams
 
On the eve of the first full team practice of Fall Camp, the Eastern Washington University football team was well represented on a pair of Phil Steele Preseason Teams.
 
Long snapper Cody Clements represents Eastern Washington on the FCS Preseason All-American team, earning third team honors at his position. He was also selected to the second team on the preseason All-Big Sky special teams list.
 
On the preseason All-Big Sky team, wide receiver Freddie Roberson was Eastern's lone representative on the first team for offense. Joining him on offense were second team selections Efton Chism III at wide receiver and Wyatt Musser on the offensive line. Fellow offensive lineman, Wyatt Hansen, rounds things out on the offensive side on the third team.
 
The Eagles had three selections on the defensive side, led by a pair of defensive linemen in Mitchell Johnson and Joshua Jerome on the first team. Anthany Smith was selected to the third team as a defensive back.
 
Along with Clements, Nick Kokich landed on the special teams list as well, earning third team honors as a punter.
 
Eastern Washington's rookies have been through two days of Fall Camp so far and the entire squad's first practice is tomorrow, Aug. 6. The season officially gets underway on Saturday, Sept. 3 at 1 p.m. against Tennessee State at Roos Field.
 
More information on the players honored can be found below:
 
Cody Clements / LS / R-Sr. / Richland, Wash. / Richland HS '17: Clements has appeared in 28 games for the Eagles as a long snapper. He is credited with three tackles. In 2021, Clements played in nine games for Eastern and totaled two tackles.
 
Freddie Roberson / WR / R-Jr. / Seattle, Wash. / Rainier Beach HS '18: Roberson now has 29 games of experience (19 starts) in his career and with five 100-yard receiving performances. He has caught 96 passes for a total of 1,469 yards and 10 touchdowns, and he has also rushed for a touchdown. In 2021, Roberson earned All-Big Sky third team honors after starting and playing in 11 games for the Eagles. He totaled 49 catches for 779 yards (fifth in the conference) and six touchdowns. His 70.8 receiving yards per game ranked seventh in the Big Sky. Against Western Illinois on 9/18/21, Roberson hauled in six catches for 118 yards and a touchdown. He had his best game of the season against Idaho on 10/16/21, catching nine passes for 192 yards (21.3 per reception) and two touchdowns in a blowout win. Against UC Davis (11/13/21), Roberson had six receptions for 93 yards and a touchdown. In the FCS Playoffs against Northern Iowa (11/27/21), he exploded for 127 yards on just five catches (25.4 per reception), including a career-long of 86 yards. In the preseason, Roberson was named by Phil Steele Publications as a preseason third team All-Big Sky Conference selection.
 
Efton Chism III / WR / So. / Monroe, Wash. / Monroe HS '20: Chism has appeared in 20 games of the Eagles, making nine starts. He currently holds an average of 4.00 receptions per game, which is tied for eighth in school history. He has caught 80 passes for a total of 1,002 yards and 10 touchdowns. In 2021, Chism was selected to the Hero Sports All-America Freshman team, also earning All-Big Sky Conference third team honors. He played in all 13 games for the Eagles, making seven starts. He caught 80 passes for 735 yards (12.9 per reception), which puts him over the 1,000-yard mark for his career. Chism led the team in receiving touchdowns with a total of nine, which was tied for second in the Big Sky Conference. In the first game of the season, against FBS opponent UNLV (9/2/21), Chism caught three passes for 65 yards (21.7 per reception) and a touchdown. On 9/18/21, against Western Illinois, he hauled in five catches for 71 yards and a score. The following week (9/25/21) at Southern Utah, Chism had the best game of his collegiate career up to that point, catching eight passes for 147 yards and two touchdowns. He had two other multi-touchdown games, one against Idaho on 10/16/21 and the other against Portland State on 11/20/21. Chism also returned 25 punts for 104 yards and 10 kicks for 203.
 
Wyatt Musser / OL / R-Sr. / Kennewick, Wash. / Kamiakin HS '17: Musser now has 46 games of experience as an Eagle, including 20 starts. In 2021 he earned All-Big Sky Conference third team honors after starting in all 13 games for the Eagles. Eastern finished first in the FCS with 555.7 yards of total offense per game, ranking as the third-best passing offense (400.5 yards per game). The team was also second in scoring offense (44.0 points per game). With 7,224 yards of total offense, the 2021 squad is fourth all-time in EWU history. In the preseason, Musser was named by Phil Steele Publications as a preseason third team All-Big Sky Conference selection.
 
Wyatt Hansen / OL / So. / Kent, Wash. / Kentwood HS '20: Hansen has made 18 starts in 18 games played at Eastern as a member of the offensive line. In 2021, Hansen played in and started all 13 games for the Eagles as a guard. He helped Eastern finish first in the FCS in total offense per game, third in passing offense, and second in scoring offense. With 7,224 yards of total offense, the 2021 squad is ranked fourth all-time in EWU history.
 
Mitchell Johnson / DL / R-Sr. / West Linn, Ore. / West Linn HS '17: Johnson has been an opportunistic player as EWU's "Buck" defensive end, and he now has 148 tackles in his 47-game career (30 as a starter). He has 26 1/2 tackles for loss, 13 1/2 sacks, five interceptions, 16 quarterback hurries, nine passes broken up, three fumble recoveries and four forced fumbles (T-14th in school history). In 2021 he earned All-Big Sky Conference third team honors and was named to the Big Sky Conference All-Academic team after starting in all 13 games for the Eagles. He made 50 total tackles and had 9 1/2 tackles for loss, resulting in 36 negative yards for opponents. Johnson was also credited with 5 1/2 sacks for 27 yards, five pass break ups, five quarterback hurries, and two forced fumbles. He opened the season with five tackles, 1 1/2 tackles for loss, and a sack against UNLV on 9/2/21. On 10/2/21 against Montana, he totaled six tackles (two for loss) and a pass break up. He forced a sack fumble against Weber State on 10/23/21 and Portland State on 11/20/21. Johnson was selected to the preseason All-Big Sky Conference team, and earned the same honor from Phil Steele Publications (second team).
 
Joshua Jerome / DL / R-Jr. / Monroe, Wash. / Monroe HS '18: He has played 35 career games (20 as a starter), and has 143 tackles with 11 1/2 sacks, nine quarterback hurries, a pass broken up, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Jerome was selected to the Hero Sports All-America Sophomore team, also earning All-Big Sky Conference third team honors after playing in and starting all 13 games for the Eagles. Jerome was in the opposing offense's backfield all season long, leading EWU in sacks (seven) and tackles for loss (13 1/2). He racked up 61 total tackles, six quarterback hurries, a fumble recovery, and he forced three fumbles. Jerome started the season with seven tackles and two sacks against UNLV on 9/2/21. He had a strip sack, recovering the fumble that he forced. His season-high of eight tackles came in another multi-sack performance against Idaho (10/16/21). He forced his second fumble of the season in that game, also doing so the next week (10/23/21) in a seven-tackle outing against Weber State. In the first round of the FCS Playoffs against Northern Iowa (11/27/21), Jerome recorded four quarterback hurries, as the Eagles held UNI to one touchdown. Jerome was named by Phil Steele Publications as a preseason second team All-Big Sky Conference selection.
 
Anthany Smith / DB / R-Sr. / Everett, Wash. / Mariner HS '17: Smith has 109 career tackles, two interceptions and four passes broken up in 30 games (11 as a starter). Smith played in just three games in 2019 before being lost for the season with an injury, and he was limited to six in the 2021 season. Smith played in six games for the Eagles (five starts), missing the first half of the season due to injury. He racked up 38 tackles (one for loss) and a forced fumble. His season-high of 11 tackles came against Montana State on 11/6/21, where one was for a loss of two yards. Against Portland State on 11/20/21, Smith totaled seven tackles (all solo) and forced a fumble midway through the third quarter of a tied game. The fumble was recovered by Ty Graham, and the Eagle offense used their next possession to reclaim the lead. He had five tackles in an FCS Playoff victory over Northern Iowa in which the Eastern defense only allowed one touchdown.
 
Nick Kokich / P / Jr. / Tacoma, Wash. / Bellarmine Prep HS '19: In 109 career punts, he has averaged 39.6 per kick (ranking 11th in EWU history) with a long of 61. Was named to the Big Sky Conference All-Academic team. Kokich handled all punting duties across 12 games for the Eagles, averaging 40.2 yards on 48 attempts. He had nine punts of 50 or more yards and 14 landing inside the opposition's 20 yard line. He also recorded 39 passing yards on two completions, including a long of 36 against Southern Utah on 9/25/21. Kokich had three punts inside the 20 against Montana on 10/2/21, and he had his longest punt of the season (61 yards) against Weber State on 10/23/21.
 
2022 EWU Football Preseason Honors:
 
Preseason Polls
HERO Sports – No. 18
Athlon Sports – No. 15
Big Sky Coaches and Media – No. 6
 
Preseason All-Big Sky
WR Efton Chism III
DL Joshua Jerome
 
Phil Steele Preseason All-American Team
LS Cody Clements – Third Team Special Teams
 
Phil Steele Preseason All-Big Sky Team
WR Freddie Roberson – First Team Offense
WR Efton Chism III – Second Team Offense
OL Wyatt Musser – Second Team Offense
OL Wyatt Hansen – Third Team Offense
DL Mitchell Johnson – First Team Defense
DL Joshua Jerome – First Team Defense
DB Anthany Smith – Third Team Defense
LS Cody Clements – Second Team Special Teams
P Nick Kokich – Third Team Special Teams