CHENEY, Wash. — With the 2025 season on the horizon, Eastern Washington football has solidified its team captains for the fall. Head coach
Aaron Best announced four Eagle captains for the upcoming season, with
Jared Taylor,
Nolan Ulm,
Isaiah Perez and
DaJean Wells earning leadership roles.
Ulm will begin his second season as a team captain, while Taylor, Perez and Wells earn the honor for the first time.
Taylor steps into the leadership position for his third season as an Eagle. The Lakewood, Wash. native is a key contributor for the team's rushing attack, piling up 927 career yards on 189 attempts for a 4.9 yards per carry career average. Taylor has accounted for 13 rushing touchdowns, with 10 scores in 2024. His 10 scores last season ranked seventh in the Big Sky and 37th in the FCS.
During his Eastern career, Taylor has played in 15 games, making two starts at quarterback. He has completed 65 percent of his passes for 421 yards with seven touchdown passes. Taylor ended the season throwing for 320 yards and six touchdowns, with a 75% completion percentage.
This past season, Taylor was second on the team with 708 rushing yards, getting 5.2 per carry. He posted a career-best 160 yards on 18 carries and three touchdowns against Idaho State (11/16).
Ulm is going into his sixth season with Eastern and looks to put a stamp on his final season in Cheney. The Kelowna, B.C. native has appeared in 45 games for EWU, making 19 starts at receiver. In six seasons, Ulm has 1102 yards and 10 touchdowns, with 90 total receptions.
Ulm had a career season in 2023, catching 45 passes for 564 yards - second on the team - and matching his career season best with four touchdown catches. He was limited to four games last season due to injury.
Wells became a force in the secondary last season, leading the team with 12 pass breakups, ranking second in the conference and 16th in the nation. He was tied for eighth on the team with 32.0 tackles, making 22.0 solo and 0.5 for a loss in 10 starts. Wells earned Big Sky honorable mention and was named to Phil Steele's All-Big Sky second team for the 2024 season.
For his career, Wells has 13 starts in 38 games played, accounting for 55.0 total tackles - 34.0 solo - with one sack.
Perez is another Eagle who took a big step last season for the defense, making 10 starts and playing in all 12 games. Perez recorded 1.5 sacks and posted 38 total tackles, with 14 solo. The Othello, Wash. native recorded a career-best four tackles against Montana (9/28).
At Eastern, Perez has played in 23 games with 11 starts, making 38 career tackles. He has 2.0 total career sacks with 7 tackles for loss.
The 2025 season begins for Eastern Washington on Aug. 30 against Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas.
Eastern's home opener is on Sep. 20 against Western Illinois for Welcome Weekend and Rush Roos.
2025 EWU football season tickets are now on sale! Join Spokane County's team for five home games at Roos Field in Cheney starting as low as $99. Group tickets are also available. For more info, visit goeags.com/fbtickets or contact the EWU Ticket Office at 509-359-6059 or tickets@ewu.edu.
Join the Eagle Athletic Fund for as low as $50 per year! Support Eagle student-athletes on and off the field while enjoying exclusive EAF perks such as season ticket and tailgating priority, invitations to special events, exclusive access, and more. Visit goeags.com/eaf for more information.
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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