CHENEY, Wash. — Following another down year in 2023, the Eastern Washington football team is looking to right the ship in 2024.
The Eags were picked to finish sixth in the Big Sky this season by the media and picked to finish eighth by the coaches.
"We need to get back to the respectability of playing a better brand of ball and being more opportunistic. That starts with being able to stop people on defense," EWU head coach Aaron Best said.
The Eags gave up an eyebrow raising 36 points per game and almost 233 yards per game on the ground last season.
"The run defense has not been good the last couple of years. We have had the ball run all over us, which does not give you opportunities in the pass game to be able to rush the quarterback much. This year knowing what we are returning and the defense we are playing under Coach Sanders, I know we are going to have plenty of opportunities for that," EWU senior EDGE Brock Harrison said.
If Eastern is to return to its 2021 form this season, it begins with bringing a different mentality on and off the field.
"Getting back to those ways has been a massive project over the last couple of years. We have had some lapses in recruiting and leadership but we fixed those and we believe a ton in the personnel and coaches that we have. Everything we have gone through the last couple of years has led us to where we are going to go in 2024," EWU senior wide receiver Nolan Ulm said.
The Eags will take to the practice field on Tuesday July 30th to kick off fall camp ahead of opening the season at home at Roos Field on Thursday August 29th against Monmouth. Kick-off is set for 6 p.m.
