CLEVELAND, Ohio — Make it three preseason All-American honors for
Jaylon Jenkins and
Isaiah Perez. Phil Steele released its preseason All-American teams, with Jenkins placing on the second team and Perez on the third.
Steele also released his preseason All-Big Sky team, with eight players representing the Eagles. In addition to Jenkins (Safety) and Perez (Defensive Tackle) landing on the first team All-Big Sky, Ambrose Marsh (Defensive Back), Nate Bell (All-Purpose) and Soren McKee (Kicker) found spots on the second team. Gavin Allen (Offensive Lineman), Mark Johnson (Offensive Lineman), and Cole Pruett (Punt Returner) earned third-team honors from Steele.
Jenkins tied for fifth in the FCS and led the Eagles with five interceptions last season, adding eight pass breakups for 13 passes defended, ranking 16th in the nation. He had 52 total tackles, with 2.0 for a loss and 39 solo. Jenkins was selected to the Big Sky All-Conference first team last season.
Perez set a new EWU record with four blocked kicks - three field goals and one PAT - that also led the FCS. The senior led the team with 4.0 sacks, ranking 15th in the Big Sky, while tallying 51 total tackles, 19 of them solo. Perez earned Big Sky All-Conference honorable mention after his record-breaking season.
This past week, Jenkins and Perez were named to the Big Sky Preseason All-Conference team. The two have earned preseason All-American recognition from Stats Perform and FCS Central.
Marsh found himself in a bigger role than expected last season, starting 11 games at cornerback and playing in all 12. As a redshirt freshman, Marsh recorded 43 tackles, tying for seventh on the team, with 33 solo and 2 for a loss. He had two interceptions, one forced fumble and 1.0 sack in 2025.
Bell earned Big Sky All-Conference honorable mention as an all-purpose player for 2025 after contributing across the board. Bell rushed for 663 yards on 118 carries - 5.6 yards per carry - and scored five touchdowns. The Brentwood, Calif. native started five games at quarterback and passed for 1003 yards and seven touchdowns, while completing 53.7 percent of his passes.
Johnson and Allen were the stalwarts of the Eagle offensive line last season, with both starting all 12 games. Johnson started all 12 games at center, his first season snapping the ball. Allen switched from tight end to guard in the offseason before the '25 season.
McKee ranked second in the Big Sky with an 84.6 field goal percentage, going 11-of-13. He kicked a 51-yard field goal against Sacramento State, a new career long. McKee was 29-of-30 on extra points and led Eastern with 62 points scored, ranking 18th in the conference.
Pruett played in all 12 games for the Eagles last season, catching 27 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns. The redshirt-senior had four punt returns for 24 yards, with a long of 12 yards.
2026 EWU football season tickets are now on sale! Join Spokane County's team for six home games at Roos Field in Cheney starting as low as $99. 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 tickets 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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