Total of 17 Eagles Make Starting Debuts in 2011
Six Eagles made the first starts of their careers versus Washington on Sept. 3, including just two on offense and four on defense. Since then, another 11 have made their starting debuts in the 2011 season.
On offense, sophomore Ashton Miller started at right guard versus the Huskies, but his debut had a horrible finish. As he was helping Eastern toward a convincing 504-250 advantage in total offense, he suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon that will sideline him for the rest of the season. He is from Vancouver, Wash., and graduated from Evergreen High School in 2009.
The other starting debut on offense was by offensive tackle Caleb Worthington, who was an injury replacement for injured starter Will Post. Worthington is a sophomore from Boise, Idaho, and graduated from Mountain View High School in 2007. All other offensive players had made at least one start in their careers.
On defense, a pair of senior cornerbacks made their starting debuts – Jeremy Chaten and Alden Gibbs. Chaten is a 2007 graduate of Seattle’s Franklin High School, and Gibbs is a former Eastern basketball player in just his second season of collegiate football. He is from Brooklyn, N.Y.
Senior Charles Moetului started at defensive tackle in his first start in the 30th collegiate game of his career. Senior Bobby Gentry played in his 36th career game, and made the first start of his career at weak-side outside linebacker. Moetului is a 2007 graduate of Mount Si High School and is from North Bend, Wash., while Gentry is a 2007 graduate of Seattle’s Kennedy HS. Eastern’s strong-side linebacker position was manned by junior Grant Williams, who started once before as a fullback in 2009 but made his first start on defense versus UW. He is a 2008 graduate of Rogers High School in Puyallup, Wash.
Against South Dakota on Sept. 10, cornerback T.J. Lee and offensive guard Jase Butorac made their first career starts. Lee is a 2009 graduate of West Seattle High School. Butorac and defensive linemen Evan Day are both 2010 graduates of Skyline High School in Sammamish. Day had his first career sack and forced fumble versus the Huskies, and had another sack the following week versus South Dakota.
Washington transfer Demitrius Bronson made his Eagle debut on Sept. 3 against Washington after playing previously for the Huskies. The 2008 graduate of Kentwood High School in Kent, Wash., made the first start of his career at Montana on Sept. 17. Also making his starting debut against the Grizzlies was sophomore linebacker Ronnie Hamlin, a 2009 graduate of Timberline High School in Lacey, Wash. After missing his redshirt freshman season with a knee injury, Hamlin had a team-leading eight tackles in his collegiate debut versus the Huskies, four against South Dakota and seven in his starting debut at Montana.
Because of injuries, Drew Reynolds received his first career start against Montana State on Sept. 24. He is a 2009 graduate of Foss High School in Tacoma, Wash., and his older brother, Levi, lettered as a senior for the Eagles in 2010. True freshman running back Jordan Talley rushed for 114 yards against Montana on Sept. 17, and a week later received his first career start versus MSU. A 2011 graduate of Jesuit High School in Portland, Ore., Talley rushed for 108 yards and two touchdowns in his starting debut.
The most unlikely starting debut occurred on Oct. 1 against Weber State when converted tight end Patrick Mealey received his first career start – at center. When All-America starter Chris Powers was sidelined with a knee injury against MSU, Mealey was inserted into the lineup because all three of the backups for Powers were also sidelined with injuries and lost for the season. Mealey is a 2008 graduate of Central Valley High School in Spokane, Wash. He redshirted at Idaho in 2008, played seven games for the Vandals in 2009 and then lettered as a reserve tight end for the Eagles in 2010.
Also making the first start of his career versus Weber State was sophomore linebacker J.C. Agen, a 2009 graduate of Central Valley High School in Spokane, Wash. He had a career-high eight tackles versus the Wildcats.
In Eastern’s game Oct. 8 at Northern Arizona, true freshman Cody McCarthy made the first start of his career. The 2011 graduate of Bishop Kelly High School in Boise, Idaho, had four tackles in his starting debut, a week after having a season-high seven against Weber State. Versus NAU, sophomore wide receiver Ashton Clark received his first start as an Eagle. The 2009 graduate of Heritage High School in Vancouver, Wash., finished the game with three catches for 76 yards and a TD. Versus Northern Colorado, Daniel Johnson from San Jose, Calif., received his first career start as EWU started in a four receiver set.
Washington State transfer Jake Miller and Boise State transfer Jimmy Pavel saw their first action as Eastern’s punter and kickoff specialist, respectively, in Eastern’s opener against Washington.
