CHENEY – Wednesday Dec. 15 was a big day for EWU nation as the coaching staff, team confidants, fans, and media piled into a small room at the Northern Quest Casino in Airway Heights to welcome a new flock of Eagles to the nest. National Signing Day starts a period during the college football off-season in which teams start announcing their next slate of prospects that will be joining the team.
Coach Aaron Best met with Larry Weir and Paul Sorenson, hosts of the EWU Coaches Show on 700-AM, 105.3 FM ESPN Radio. Best started the showoff talking about the challenges recruitment brings with COVID-19 eligibility variables and how the coaching staff’s focus around recruitment efforts is to keep Washington players in Washington.
While this year’s recruiting class is smaller than recent years, it’s still full of talented players that fit Coach Best’s two main requirements – they they’re obsessed with ball and academics. This year’s biggest needs was at the linebacker position because four veteran players were graduating in Ty Graham, Jack Sendelbach, Jusstis Warren and Cale Lindsay.
Elijah Rodriguez is a linebacker from Richland, Washington that was brought in to add depth to the linebacker position. Linebacker’s coach Justin Mullgrav told Weir and Soreson that Rodriguez is a high motor guy that can get around the edge and make something happen. He has a natural instinct for the game of football and ability as a dual-sport athlete allow him to constantly be on the attack and around the ball, which makes good things happen.
The Eagles will also welcome one of the best players in the state to Roos Field next season. Drew Carter, safety from Lake Stevens plays on both sides of the ball and was hands down one of the best players they watched on film this year, Coach Best said. Carter is one of the best players in the state at wide receiver and as a junior, he had 32 catches for 657 yards and 11 touchdowns. However, Best and Safeties Coach Zack Bruce believe his best days lie ahead of him on the defensive side of the ball.
The coaching staff always looks at Washington prospects first, but Cornerback Coach Allen Brown believes Amani Pressley, cornerback from Inderkum High School in Sacramento California. Pressley had a busy recruitment schedule but when the time came to make his final decision, it was his relationship with Coach Brown that sealed the deal and helped him commit to Cheney.
The Eagles also got help on the offensive side of the ball. Dylan Conner is a offensive lineman who played at El Modena High School in Orange County, California. Conner’s length and athleticism stood out on field and was one of the themes of recruitable attributes the staff was searching for. But when Conner visited campus he could see himself year and not only fell in love with the Cheney community, but Spokane’s community as well - Umi Sushi Bar might have been the final nail in the coffin.
The Eagles also recruited defensive tackle Justis La’ulu from Vista Ridge High School in American Samoa, wide receiver Miles Williams from Clackamas High School in Happy Valley, Oregon, and Bryce Brown-Johnson who played safety at Orange Lutheran High School in Altadena, California.
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