EASTERN 2016 FOOTBALL FCS Playoffs 1985•1992•1997•2004•2005•2007•2009•2010•2012•2013•2014
• Quarterback Erik Meyer won the 2005 Walter Payton Award presented by The Sports Network to the top player in the NCAA Championship Subdivision. He and wide receiver Eric Kimble were Eastern’s first-ever back-to-back All-America selections at their positions. Meyer led San Jose to the Arena Football League title in 2014 after several successful seasons with the Spokane Shock, where he was the AFL MVP in 2013. He served as a student assistant coach for the Eagles in 2012, and was quarterbacks coach at Central Washington in fall of 2013. • Quarterback Matt Nichols finished fourth in the voting for the 2009 Walter Payton Award presented by The Sports Network, capping a record-breaking career. He broke school and Big Sky records for passing yards with 12,616 and total offense with 13,308. At the time, both marks ranked sixth all-time in FCS history. He eventually signed a free agent contract with the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League, and went on to play with the Edmonton Eskimos where he was reunited with former Eastern teammate J.C. Sherritt. He is now with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. • Former Eagles T.J. Lee III and Ryan Phillips are both starting defensive halfbacks for the B.C. Lee, a twotime All-American and three-time first-team All-Big Sky selection as an Eagle from 2010-13, is in his third season in the CFL in 2016. Phillips, who played for Eastern in 2003 and 2004, is entering his 12th season with the Lions. His career has been highlighted by five West Division All-Star honors and an iron-man streak of 181 consecutive games played. • Matt Johnson was drafted in the fourth round of the 2012 National Football League Draft by the Dallas Cowboys, but injuries kept him from playing in in the regular season in his three seasons with the club (2012-14). The 2010 FCS All-American started every game he played as an Eagle (45) and was twice selected as a first team All-Big Sky selection. He finished his career just one interception away from the school record of 18. He was also only nine interception return yards from the record of 219 held by Kurt Schulz and his six career forced fumbles tied for the school record.
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