Offense
In 2006 Eastern went young at quarterback with freshman Matt Nichols and at receiver with frosh Tony Davis, Aaron Boyce and Brynsen Brown. The results were mixed, but it's a formula that has paid dividends before. Nichols had 143 completions last season; future Payton Award winner Erik Meyer had 17 as a freshman in 2002. Eric Kimble caught 48 passes as a freshman for the Eagles in 2001; Davis caught just as many last season, and Brown and Boyce hauled in 35 each. The running game falls to senior Toke Kefu (5-9, 220) or possibly sophomore Jesse Hoffman (6-2, 210). Hoffman ran for 234 yards on 46 carries in 2006. There is plenty of beef up front in guards Matt Alfred and Rocky Hanni (6-5, 290), tackle Zach Wasielewski (6-4, 290) and center Chris Carlsen (6-3, 270). All are seniors.
Defense
With five starters back, the Eagles could use more help. But a troublesome shoulder could keep senior safety Gregor Smith from playing a down, and linebacker Shea Emry left the program. Defensive end Greg Peach (6-2, 250) had a promising sophomore campaign with 9fi tackles for loss, and Jason Belford (6-1, 240) is back on the other side. Defensive tackle Lance Witherspoon (6-2, 255) was solid inside. The linebacker crew could get a boost from Bryan Jarrett (5-10, 210), who had 48 tackles last season as a safety, and sophomore LB Makai Borden (5-11, 215) had a promising spring. Senior Ira Jarmon (5-8, 190) returns at cornerback. With Smith fighting injury, sophomore Kevin Hatch (5-9, 180) should get a shot at free safety.
Eagle data
Forecast: Fifth by the coaches, fifth by the media
2006: 3-8, 3-5 in the Big Sky Conference
Starters returning: 13
Coach: Paul Wulff, eighth season (44-36)
Quote: “There are definitely some hard feelings and a very bad taste, coming off a season we are not accustomed to. Nor do we want to accept that.”
-Eastern coach Paul Wulff
Notable: Sophomore tight end Nathan Overbay (6-5, 260) is the nephew of former Missoula Osprey and current Toronto Blue Jays standout Lyle Overbay. Nathan Overbay caught two passes for 22 yards and a TD as a freshman.
Stud to watch: G Matt Alfred (6-3, 300) is another in a long line of standout Eastern linemen, a preseason All-American who has started 33 straight games for the Eagles. How he recovers from a sore knee will affect the offense.
Quotebook: “There's really good chemistry between us, just with all of us coming in the same class. They're all my best friends, so we came out and worked hard all summer. Any time we were bored, it was like, ‘Let's go throw.' ”
-QB Matt Nichols
Bottom line
The offense could bring back memories of the Erik-to-Eric days, but the Eagles have too many problems on defense for a playoff run.
*missoulian*
