EASTERN 2016 FOOTBALL CELEBRATING 30 YEARS IN THE BIG SKY & 50 AT ROOS (WOODWARD) FIELD! season, then made his Eagle debut as a quarterback at Montana (11/14/15). He completed 7-of-13 passes for 66 yards and an interception, and also had 18 net rushing yards and a touchdown. He was also called on as EWU’s rugby-style punter during the year. “If you remember us last spring, I came out feeling like Gage was right there in the mix,” Baldwin said of the potential 2016 starter. “I still believe that today. It wouldn’t matter – whichever quarterback was playing I would feel like they could lead our team. That’s not being over-confident – it’s just something I believe. It’s a tough battle and it’s a tough position.” All five starting offensive linemen – plus two backups – were seniors in 2015. Departing players represent a total of 90 percent of the total games played (256 of 284) and 96 percent of the unit’s total starts (131 of 137). “I don’t have concerns – just excitement,” said Baldwin about the offensive line, which includes three returning letterwinners. “It’s exciting to watch younger players and their hunger – they want it. We’re going to go through some growing pains, and it might be like a lot of younger units on a football team where you see the biggest strides between weeks. We know it’s a process.” The returning letterwinners include projected starters in senior center Jerrod Jones (6-4, 300), sophomore guard Matt Meyer (6-5, 315) and sophomore tackle Nick Ellison (6-6, 300). The other two projected starters are redshirt freshmen – guard Chris Schlichting (6-5, 300) and tackle Tristen Taylor (6-6, 320). Other top players along the offensive line with previous time in Eastern’s program include sophomores Jack Hunter (6-4, 300) and Spencer Blackburn (6-2, 285), and redshirt freshmen Levi Long (6-7, 290 and Will Gram (6-3, 295). Spring practices and three scrimmages provided an important time of discovery for the starting unit. “Most importantly, we saw growth in them
understanding how to play the game,” said Baldwin. “Individually you can take each player and see they have talent and abilities. But you have to see them play together as five offensive linemen. We saw growth in their communication and their ability to move on to the next play and get on the same page with each other. There are aspects where we have to improve quite a bit and we understand that.” “That type of position, like a lot of positions with younger players, is always a work in progress,” he continued. “Once you get going in the season you might see some of the biggest jumps from week one to week five. It’s not just about making steps between now and when we go to Pullman, but it’s also about making huge strides and jumps during the season. More than anything, we need to see them truly playing as a unit rather than individuals with talent.” The seven players lost along the offensive line combined for 256 games of experience and 131 total starts, to go along with 65 games and 29 starts by a pair of senior tight ends. Six returning players have seen action for the Eagles at those positions – 28 games and six starts for three offensive linemen, and 50 games and 13 starts for a trio of tight ends. Senior tight end Zach Wimberly, an honorable mention All-Big Sky selection as a sophomore in 2014, accounts for 40 of those games and 13 of those starts. The other tight ends returning in the program include sophomores Beau Byus and Henderson Belk, and redshirt freshman Jayce Gilder. At running back, senior Jabari Wilson returns after starting eight of the nine games he played in 2015, finishing as the team’s leading rusher with 661 yards and nine touchdowns. His nine scores were the fourth-most in the Big Sky, and his 73.4 average yards per game was 10th. He also had seven catches for another 61 yards. He has started 10 of the 25 games he has played in his career, Senior Defensive End SAMSON EBUKAM
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