EASTERN 2016 FOOTBALL FCS Playoffs 1985•1992•1997•2004•2005•2007•2009•2010•2012•2013•2014 but has missed 15 games because of injuries.
Senior Linebacker MIQUIYAH ZAMORA
After Wilson, a pair of sophomores possess the only returning experience. Jon McPherson rushed for 40 yards a year ago and Ashanti Kindle had 34. Three true freshmen – Tamarick Pierce, Antoine Custer Jr. and Jason Talley – will compete for carries this fall.
DEFENSE . . . Nine starters back, including
five who have earned All-Big Sky honors
Defense . . .
All but two starters return to the Eagle defense. Defensive end Samson Ebukam will return for his senior season after receiving second-team All-Big Sky honors in both 2014 and 2015. Nose guard Matthew Sommer earned honorable mention All-Big Sky honors both of those seasons. Also returning are a trio of other Eagles who have previously earned honorable mention All-Big Sky accolades – all in 2014 – including safety Zach Bruce, linebacker Miquiyah Zamora and cornerback Victor Gamboa. Eastern’s defense allowed an average of 39.5 points and 476.4 yards per game in 2015, but was adjusting to a new defensive scheme implemented by new defensive coordinator Jeff Schmedding. One of the team’s top defensive performances of the season came in a 14-13 win over Weber State to extend EWU’s winning streak to six. The defense made a one-point lead hold up for the final 21 minutes of the game, then clinched the win by forcstraight incompletions session of the day “They’ve taken and attitude to Baldwin. “It’s their Schmedding and at that point place and impleIt’s been exciting and the positions concerns.”
44
ing fouron the final posfor Weber State.
on a good mindset continue to improve,” said second year under coach since he took over the defense, things are a little easier to put in ment what you are talking about. to see those young players develop that people have talked about as
Depth and experience is definitely in high supply on defense, where a total of 30 letterwinners are back. On the defensive line alone, 14 return. Among the returning starters, Ebukam closed his 2015 campaign
with 44 tackles, which was the most defensive linemen. He had four giving him 14 1/2 in his 39-game as a starter). Sommer finished his 26 tackles, and has 71 total with his 40-game career (24 as a The other two starters Andre Lino at tackle Keenan Williams at end. 43 tackles, respectively, finishing his freshman a pair of sacks and two forced
among sacks, career (24 season with 2 1/2 sacks in starter). back include junior and sophomore They had 20 and with Williams season with fumbles.
Other returning ends include sophomore Jim Townsend (22 tackles in 2015), junior Albert Havili (redshirt), junior Marcus Saugen (19), junior Nick Foerstel (7) and junior Conner Baumann (31). Havili missed 2015 with a knee injury, but has 87 tackles in 28 career games as a linebacker.