Kids say the funniest things.

Highly touted quarterback Eric Barriere, a three-star prospect out of La Habra, California, told his coach that he committed to Eastern Washington partly because Cheney is a college town that reminds him of his home town.

He probably didn't mean the weather - on Monday it was 32 and snowing in Cheney and 25 degrees warmer than that in SoCal - but Barriere said there was a lot to like in his official visit. Barriere, a 6-foot-3, 190-pound dual-threat QB, told his high school coach that he chose Eastern over Hawaii because of its family atmosphere and great facilities.

Barriere is just one reason EWU fans are expecting perhaps the best class in recent history; with less than 48 hours before National Letter of Intent Day, Eastern Washington has at least 15 verbal commitments from high school football players, including seven high-touted recruits.

Barriere is just of one of a trio of three-star commits (as rated by rivals.com). The others are running back Antoine Custer, a 5-8. 176-pounder from the legendary program at Concord (California) De La Salle High School; and Conner Crist, a 6-3, 305-pound offensive lineman from Tigard, Oregon.

Nothing is final until Wednesday, but the Eagles also have commits from five players with two-star ratings: they include running backs Jason Talley (6-3, 215, Portland) and Tamarick Pierce (5-10, 188, Albany, California); wide receivers Xavier James (6-2, 170, Buckeye, Arizona) and Kyle Olson-Urbon (6-0, 190, Gig Harbor, Washington); and offensive lineman Jake Blackburn (6-3, 260, Newbury Park, California)

Of the 15 verbal commits, all but three are offensive players, and seven are skill-position players. Only six are in-state; five are from California.

 

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