Prep duo commits to Eastern

The Eastern Washington football team got a double dose of good news recently when Sumner High School running back Robert Pearson and lineman Chris Thomas committed to the Eagles.

Both said the relationship they built with the EWU coaches during the past three summers when the Spartans’ football team attended the Eastern camp was a big factor in their decision.

“Robert has been a highly sought after Division I recruit,” Sumner coach Keith Ross said. “He was leading the league in rushing this year when he went down with a season ending ACL tear.

“Chris Thomas was a 197 pound tackle last year struggling to make it. Now he’s the best lineman in the league. He is very athletic with great speed and quickness. He is a late bloomer and has the frame to be much bigger.”

Pearson is a 5-foot-10, 190-pound back who runs has 4.5-second speed for the 40-yard dash.

Eastern stayed with him after he blew his left ACL at the end of his sophomore season. Last year he rushed for 1,300 yards and 10 touchdowns. On defense he had 67 tackles with a league-high 13 sacks. He was a two-way All-South Puget Sound League pick.

“I always wanted to go to Eastern,” he said. “I like all the coaches there and the football team is great. It’s a great school and (former) teammate Rocky Hanni goes there. I think it will be fun.”

Hanni is a redshirt freshman who starts at offensive guard.

Pearson committed four days after injuring his knee. He had rushed for 526 yards at the time.

“That makes it even better, they stuck with me,” he said. “They’re great guys. And I’m going with my friend Chris.”

Thomas added almost 50 pounds to his 6-4 frame.

“I made a goal that I wanted to gain 45 pounds and kick some butt in the next season and I did it,” he said. “Idaho, Idaho State and Montana talked to me recently but I’ve been going to Eastern the last few years. I like their offensive line coach (Aaron Best), he’s a pretty cool guy. They have other Spartans and my family really likes the place. It’s a good atmosphere. I’m going to be a good doctor and they have a pre-med program.”

Thomas has 47 tackles, including eight for losses with five sacks on defense for a 3-6 Sumner team with 20 new starters, including seven sophomores.