Eastern Washington University Athletics

* * * Academic Honors Candidate * * *

2015: Listed as a backup at tight end on the preseason depth chart.

2014: Was named to the Big Sky Conference All-Academic team for the third-straight year. He played in all 14 Eastern games, including five as a starter. Withnell was Eastern’s offensive player of the week in a 37-20 win in the FCS Playoffs against Montana (12/6/14) in helping block for a team that finished with 212 yards rushing. He also appeared to have a diving touchdown reception in the second quarter, but it was ruled incomplete and not reversed via replay. He helped lead Eastern’s offense to new heights in 2014, especially on the scoreboard. For the first time in school history, Eastern scored at least 50 points in six games, including outings of 56, 54, 52, 52, 56 and 56. The Eagles were first in FCS in scoring offense (44.1 per game) and first downs (361 total), second in passing efficiency (163.52), third in total offense (513.4) and second in passing offense (328.2). Eastern’s red zone offense was second in FCS, scoring 94.9 percent of the time.

2013: Was named to the Big Sky Conference All-Academic team. Played in all 15 Eagle games as a tight end, including four starts.

2012: Named to the Big Sky Conference All-Academic team. Started three times when EWU began the game with two tight ends. Made his first career start against Montana (9/29/12). He caught a pair of passes – one for three yards and a touchdown in his Eagle debut against Idaho (8/30/12) and one for four yards against Montana State (10/13/12).

2011: Redshirted. Was selected as the team’s offensive scout team player of the week once.

HS: Graduated from South Salem HS in 2011. He finished his career with 17 1/2 sacks, an interception, two fumble recoveries and four blocked field goal attempts. As a senior, he earned honorable mention honors on the Oregonian 6A All-State team as a linebacker and tight end. Also earned first team All-Central Valley Conference honors as a junior and senior as a linebacker, and was a first team pick at tight end as a senior when he led his school to a runner-up finish in the league. He finished his senior season with a team-leading 17 receptions for 327 yards and two touchdowns, giving him 31 catches for 487 yards and five TDs in his career. On defense, he led 6A with 125 tackles, while recording 10 sacks to rank fifth in the State. As a junior he had nine sacks and caught 12 passes for 149 yards.

Personal: Accounting major with a 3.90 grade point average after his first four academic years at Eastern. Born 6/16/92 in Salem, Ore. His parents are David and Lora Withnell. Name is pronounced “with-nell.”