Football | 11/21/2023 9:35:00 AM
FARMINGTON, Utah. — Eastern Washington University Football had five players recognized on all-conference teams, as announced by the Big Sky Conference on Tuesday morning. Wide receiver
Efton Chism III and cornerback
Marlon Jones Jr. each earned First Team honors, with Chism as one of four players garnering unanimous distinction.
Joining Chism and Jones were EWU TE Blake Gobel on the Big Sky Second Team offense, QB/KR Michael Wortham on the Second Team Special Teams, and QB Kekoa Visperas as an Honorable Mention.
It marks the second-straight all-league honor for Chism and Jones, who both earned a spot on the Third Team in 2022.
EWU Players on 2023 Big Sky All-Conference Teams
*unanimous
Chism ranked among the conference and national leaders in just about every receiving category, ranking second (Big Sky) and third (FCS) in receptions per game (7.6). He piled up a career-best 84 catches for 934 yards and 8 TD, capped by a 3-TD performance against Northern Arizona last Saturday. He climbed to 3rd on EWU's all-time career receptions list with 226, moved into 12th in all-time receiving yards with 2,541 and currently ranks 2nd in receptions per game with 5.51
Jones Jr. set the tone early in the season, returning an interception for a touchdown in back-to-back weeks — in wins against Southeastern Louisiana on Sept. 16 and at UC Davis on Sept. 23. He finished with 3 INT for the third-straight season, adding the third at Portland State on Oct. 28, while recording 4 TFL and 1 sack. In four seasons as an Eagle and 40 career games played, Jones has 158 total tackles, 9 INT and 23 passes defended.
Gobel utilized his pro-sized frame to excel both as a blocker and receiver, capping the season with touchdown catches in back-to-back weeks. The senior from Banks, Ore. snagged 20 receptions for 231 yards and finished his career with 599 yards and 10 TD.
Wortham was an electric all-around player for the Eagles, lining up at five different positions throughout the season, including his listed quarterback position, running back, wide receiver, punt returner and kick returner. In his first year after transferring from Sierra College, he had a hand in 6 touchdowns; 5 rushing and 1 passing. Wortham earns All-Conference recognition for his efforts as Eastern's primary kick returner, ranking first in the Big Sky and 2nd in the FCS with a combined 742 kick return yards. He ranked 2nd in the conference with a 28.3 yard average.
Visperas turned heads in his first year as the Eagles' starter, racking up 2,754 yards passing and 19 touchdowns while adding another 203 yards and 1 score on the ground. He ranked 2nd in the conference and 19th nationally in completion percentage (66.0), 1st/21st in passing TDs and 1st/9th in passing yards per game (275.4). The redshirt sophomore had five games completing 70% or more of his passes and threw at least 1 TD in all but one game, highlighted by a 403-yard, 3-TD effort at Idaho State and 4 TD thrown in Eastern's frenzied comeback in the season finale against Northern Arizona.
Season ticket deposits for the 2024 EWU Football season are now available at goeags.com/tickets or via the EWU Athletics Ticket Office at 509-359-6059.
ABOUT EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Eastern Washington University Athletics sponsors 14 intercollegiate sports, six for men and eight for women, both as learning opportunities for its most athletically talented students and as an enhancement to student and community life. Eastern is affiliated with Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and is a member of the Big Sky Conference, an association of 10 regional schools with comparable enrollments and academic goals.
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