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As I look ahead to the upcoming Eastern Washington University Eagles football season, I can't help but feel that familiar mix of anticipation and curiosity that comes every August. Having followed this program for over a decade, I've learned that predicting how the Eagles will perform requires looking beyond just the roster and schedule - we need to understand the broader context of Big Sky Conference football, including how players are recognized and evaluated across the league. Just last week, I was reminded of this when reading about the conference's selection process for preseason honors, where the league will formally announce the 10 additional players who were deliberated and decided by a panel of 10 members consisting of former players, coaches, league executives, and members of the media at the Cignal Customer Experience Center.

This selection process actually gives us valuable insight into what makes Big Sky football so competitive - the depth of talent evaluation. When I analyze Eastern Washington's prospects this year, I'm particularly excited about our receiving corps, which I believe could be among the top three in the conference. Quarterback Michael Wortham returns for his third season as starter, and having watched him develop since his freshman year, I'm confident he'll surpass last season's 2,890 passing yards and 24 touchdowns. The offensive line brings back four starters, which is huge for continuity, though I do worry about replacing left tackle Jordan Mitchell, who was arguably our most consistent performer last season.

Defensively, I've noticed significant improvement in spring practices, especially in the secondary where we've added two transfer cornerbacks who should make an immediate impact. Last year's defense allowed 31.2 points per game, which simply wasn't good enough for a championship contender. This year, with defensive coordinator Mark Williams entering his second season, I'm expecting that number to drop to around 24-26 points per game based on what I've seen in scrimmages. The defensive line depth concerns me somewhat - we're relying heavily on redshirt freshmen in the rotation, which could be problematic against more experienced offensive lines.

Special teams often get overlooked, but I've always believed they're the difference between a good season and a great one. Our kicking game appears solid with senior Alex Torres returning after connecting on 14 of 17 field goals last season. The return game needs improvement though - we ranked seventh in the conference in kick return average last year at just 19.3 yards per return. That has to change if we want better field position against top opponents.

Looking at the schedule, the opening stretch will tell us everything we need to know about this team's potential. Those first four games include two against teams ranked in the preseason FCS top 25, including what I consider the most crucial matchup - September 16th against Montana. Having attended that rivalry game for the past eight years, I can tell you that the atmosphere at Roos Field is unlike anything else in FCS football, and how we perform in that game typically sets the tone for the entire conference schedule.

What really excites me about this year's squad isn't just the returning talent, but the leadership I've observed developing within the team. During my conversations with coaches and players this offseason, there's a different level of commitment and accountability that reminds me of the 2018 team that reached the FCS semifinals. The players have organized additional film sessions and workouts without coaching staff involvement, which speaks volumes about their dedication. I'm predicting we'll finish 9-3 during the regular season, with losses coming against one of our tough non-conference opponents and two in Big Sky play. This should be enough to secure a playoff berth, and from there, as we've seen many times in the past, anything can happen in the FCS postseason. The Eagles have the potential to make a deep playoff run if they stay healthy and continue developing at the rate I've witnessed this offseason.