FROM NEWS SERVICE REPORTS
Eastern Washington University junior cornerback T.J. Lee III was a unanimous selection as the Eagles placed four players on the preseason All-Big Sky Conference team released July 15 at the Big Sky Summer Kickoff in Park City, Utah.
Lee was joined on the team by senior offensive tackle Will Post, senior wide receiver Nicholas Edwards and junior wide receiver Brandon Kaufman.
Lee, a West Seattle High School grad joined Montana State defensive tackle Zach Minter and Bobcat linebacker Jody Owens as the lone unanimous selections on the 31-player team. The squad was chosen by selected media and sports information directors in the league.
The 5-foot-9, 170-pound Lee was a first team All-Big Sky selection a year ago, finishing the season with 48 tackles, a pair of interceptions and one pass broken up. Earlier this summer, he was named to the Beyond Sports College Network Preseason All-America team, and the Phil Steele FCS Preview rated him as the 12th-ranked cornerback in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision.
A year ago, Post earned honorable mention All-Big Sky Conference honors and was named to the Big Sky Conference All-Academic team for the third-straight year. Post, from Portland, Ore. and Southridge High School, enters his senior season with 22 career starts for the Eagles to rank third among offensive players.
Edwards, from Tacoma's Foss High School grad was a consensus 2011 All-American a year ago after the former walk-on caught a school-record 95 passes for 1,250 yards and 19 touchdowns to lead FCS. He enters his senior season with career totals of 178 catches for 2,198 yards and 29 TDs.
Kaufman, who along with Edwards helped lead the Eagles to the 2010 NCAA Division I Championship, was an All-American in 2010 before redshirting in 2011 as an injury hardship. He had 76 catches for 1,214 yards and 15 touchdowns as sophomore in 2010, and managed 29 grabs for 373 yards and a TD before his 2011 season came to a close with hand and knee injuries. He has 128 catches for 1,881 yards and 17 scores in his career.
Along with Tacoma (Steilacoom High School) senior Greg Herd, a second team All-Big Sky pick a year ago, all three starting receivers for Eastern have earned All-America accolades and have 1,000-yard seasons in their careers.
The Eagles begin practices for the 2012 season Wednesday, Aug. 8 at 3 p.m. at Roos Field. Eastern opens its season Aug. 30 at Idaho and plays at Washington State a week later on Sept. 8. Eastern's home opener at Roos Field is against Big Sky Conference rival Montana Sept. 29.
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