New generation of Eastern Washington receivers looks to silence the doubters
This is the third of an eight-part series on spring football at Eastern Washington. Today: the wide receivers.
In the world of college football, the doubters thrive in April.
At Eastern Washington, they’re asking how the Eagles will replace the most productive trio of wide receivers in school history.
Coach Aaron Best has fielded that question a few times since taking over the program less than three months ago.
He’s had plenty of practice. A year ago, Best was charged with rebuilding an offensive line that had lost all five starters and its top two backups.
All that group was block for a record-setting offense that won the Big Sky Conference.
“We love the challenge, and I think the receivers who are coming up behind those three special kids last year, are up to the challenge,” Best said.
However, the challenge isn’t about replacing the 4,058 receiving yards generated last year by Cooper Kupp, Kendrick Bourne and Shaq Hill.
It’s about moving the chains.
Most of the pieces are already there: a stronger running game, a veteran offensive line and an All-American quarterback in Gage Gubrud.
“This year’s receivers don’t have to catch 4,000 yards’ worth for us to be successful,” Best said.
Of course, they will give it their best shot, because nothing will be handed to them.
“The good thing is we have an expectation, senior Nic Sblendorio said. “But the thing we’re preaching to all of our receivers, is just because you’re at Eastern Washington, that doesn’t mean we’re going to go for a thousand yards and score a lot of touchdowns.
“We’ve got to put in the hard work to make up for the guys who are graduated.”
In Sblendorio and juniors Nsimba Webster and Stu Stiles, the Eagles have a nucleus of experienced returnees. The trio still managed 864 receiving yards while learning from the best.
“We have some big shoes to fill, and it’s not going to happen overnight, but it’s something that we’re looking forward to,” said Sblendorio, who had 33 catches for 401 yards last year.
“We’ve watched those three do what they do. Now it’s our turn,” said Stiles, a Mt. Spokane High School product whose 14.6 yards per catch was a hair better than Kupp’s 14.5.
There’s plenty of depth, too. Junior Terence Grady (25 catches for 281 yards in 2015) is back from a midcareer redshirt season, while junior Zach Eagle and sophomore Jayson Williams look ready to step up.
All have gleaned something from Kupp, Bourne and Hill.
Including his redshirt year, Stiles has witnessed greatness firsthand for three years.
“I know people talk about it all the time, but (Kupp’s) work ethic, I’m always trying to emulate that,” Stiles said.
Reinforcements are on the way. Three-star recruit Xavier James is coming off his redshirt freshman year, and the Eagles got some high-profile commits from Andrew Boston, Marques Hampton Jr. and Johnny Edwards IV.
The receivers are getting some new perspective from new coach Jay Dumas, a standout receiver at Washington State in the late 1990s. He replaces former Eastern star Nick Edwards, who left for the same position at Cal.
Coming up: part four, the offensive line