Nicholas Edwards headlines a group of five Eastern football players to receive All-America honors

A total of 12 Eastern Washington University football players have received preseason accolades as chosen by a variety of publications, websites and organizations that cover the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision and the Big Sky Conference.

Senior wide receiver Nicholas Edwards (pictured) is among the five Eagles honored with preseason All-America honors, as he earned recognition on eight different teams. Six of the accolades he received were as a first team selection.

The other preseason All-Americans are junior wide receiver Brandon Kaufman, senior wide receiver Greg Herd, junior cornerback T.J. Lee and sophomore punter Jake Miller.

The Eagles open the 2012 season at Idaho on Aug. 30, followed by a game at Pac-12 Conference member Washington State on Sept. 8. Eastern’s home opener is Sept. 29 versus perennial FCS powerhouse Montana.

On Monday (Aug. 13), The Sports Network will release is preseason top 25 poll, with Eastern expected to rank among the nation’s best FCS teams. The Eagles, who won the 2010 FCS title, were ranked No. 1 in the first two polls of the 2011 season but were not ranked at the end of the year after finishing 6-5 overall.

TOP RETURNING PLAYERS & PAST HONORS

2012 PRESEASON HONORS

Wide Rec. - #11 - Nicholas Edwards - 6-3 - 200 - Sr. – 3L - Tacoma, Wash. (Foss HS ’08)
The Sports Network All-America First Team
Athlon College Football Preview All-America First Team
College Sporting News All-America First Team
AnyGivenSaturday.Com All-America First Team
Beyond Sports College Network All-America First Team
Phil Steele FCS Preview All-America First Team
Lindy’s College Football Preview All-America Second Team
College Sports Madness All-America Second Team
Phil Steele FCS Preview 2nd-Ranked Wide Receiver in FCS
The Sports Network List of Top FCS Players to Watch (top 10 wide receivers)
College Football Performance Awards FCS Watch List (top 38 wide receivers)
All-Big Sky Conference First Team
Phil Steele FCS Preview All-Big Sky Conference First Team
College Sports Madness All-Big Sky Conference First Team

Wide Rec. - #1 Brandon Kaufman - WR - 6-5 - 215 - Jr. - 2L - Denver, Colo. (Heritage HS ’09)
Phil Steele FCS Preview All-America Second Team
The Sports Network All-America Third Team
AnyGivenSaturday.Com All-America Third Team
Phil Steele FCS Preview 6th-Ranked Wide Receiver in FCS
The Sports Network List of Top FCS Players to Watch (top 10 wide receivers)
All-Big Sky Conference First Team
Phil Steele FCS Preview All-Big Sky Conference Second Team
College Sports Madness All-Big Sky Conference Second Team

Punter - #48 - Jake Miller - 6-5 - 205 - So. – 1L - Spokane, Wash. (Central Valley HS ’10 / WSU)
Phil Steele FCS Preview All-America Third Team
Phil Steele FCS Preview 3rd-Ranked Punter in FCS
College Football Performance Awards FCS Watch List (top 38 punters)
Phil Steele FCS Preview All-Big Sky Conference First Team

Wide Receiver - #3 - Greg Herd - 6-3 - 200 - Sr. – 3L - Tacoma, Wash. (Steilacoom HS ’09)
Beyond Sports College Network All-America Second Team
Phil Steele FCS Preview 13th-Ranked Wide Receiver in FCS
College Football Performance Awards FCS Watch List (top 38 wide receivers)
Phil Steele FCS Preview All-Big Sky Conference Second Team
College Sports Madness All-Big Sky Conference Second Team
College Sports Madness All-Big Sky Conference Third Team (kickoff returner)

Cornerback - #31 - T.J. Lee III - 5-9 - 170 - Jr. – 2L - Seattle, Wash. (West Seattle HS ’09)
Beyond Sports College Network All-America Third Team
Phil Steele FCS Preview 12th-Ranked Cornerback in FCS
All-Big Sky Conference First Team (unanimous selection)
Phil Steele FCS Preview All-Big Sky Conference First Team
College Sports Madness All-Big Sky Conference First Team

Safety - #7 - Jeff Minnerly - 6-1 - 200 - Sr. – 3L - Spokane, Wash. (Ferris HS ’08)
Phil Steele FCS Preview 5th-Ranked Free Safety in FCS
Phil Steele FCS Preview All-Big Sky Conference First Team
College Sports Madness All-Big Sky Conference Second Team

Quarterback - #2 – Kyle Padron – 6-4 – 225 – Jr. – TR* - Southlake, Texas (Southlake Carroll HS ’09 / SMU)
Phil Steele FCS Preview 12th-Ranked Quarterback in FCS
College Football Performance Awards FCS Watch List
The Sports Network List of Top FCS Players to Watch (top 11 transfers)
College Sports Madness All-Big Sky Conference Third Team

Offensive Tackle - #76 - Will Post - 6-6 - 295 - Sr. – 3L - Portland, Ore. (Southridge HS ’08)
Phil Steele FCS Preview 34th-Ranked Offensive Tackle in FCS
All-Big Sky Conference First Team
Phil Steele FCS Preview All-Big Sky Conference Second Team
College Sports Madness All-Big Sky Conference Second Team

Defensive Tackle - #93 – Andru Pulu – 6-2 – 290 – Jr. – TR* - Federal Way, Wash. (Federal Way HS ’09 / Washington)
Phil Steele FCS Preview 29th-Ranked Defensive Tackle in FCS

Linebacker - #10 - Zach Johnson - 6-1 - 225 - Sr. - 3L - Tumwater, Wash. (Tumwater HS ’07)
Phil Steele FCS Preview All-Big Sky Conference Second Team

Defensive End - #44 – Paul Ena - 6-2 - 240 - Sr. - 3L - Kenmore, Wash. (Inglemoor HS ’09)
College Sports Madness All-Big Sky Conference Third Team

Linebacker - #51 – Jordan Pulu – 6-2 – 240 – Fr. – HS - Federal Way, Wash. (Federal Way HS ’12)
College Sports Madness Big Sky Conference Freshman of  the Year

RETURNING FCS ALL-AMERICA SELECTIONS & OTHER HONORS FROM 2011 SEASON

Nicholas Edwards (Senior - Wide Receiver)
American Football Coaches Association (first team)
The Sports Network (first team)
College Sporting News “Fabulous Fifty” (first team)
Walter Camp Football Foundation (first team)
Phil Steele Publications (first team)
Beyond Sports College Network (first team)
Associated Press (second team)
College Sports Journal (first team)
Collegesportsmadness.com (second team)
Team Player of the Year – Offense

Greg Herd (Senior – Wide Receiver)
Beyond Sports College Network (honorable mention)

Jake Miller (Sophomore – Punter)
College Sports Journal All-Freshman All-America Team

Brandon Kaufman (Junior – Wide Receiver)
*College Sporting News FCS Playoffs MVP
*College Sporting News “Sweet 63” All-America Team
*Phil Steele Publications All-America Fourth Team

RETURNING FIRST TEAM ALL-BIG SKY SELECTIONS
Wide Rec. - #11 - Nicholas Edwards - 6-3 - 200 - Sr. – 3L - Tacoma, Wash. (Foss HS ’08)
Cornerback - #31 - T.J. Lee III - 5-9 - 170 - Jr. – 2L - Seattle, Wash. (West Seattle HS ’09)
*Wide Rec. - #1 Brandon Kaufman - WR - 6-5 - 215 - Jr. - 2L - Denver, Colo. (Heritage HS ’09)

RETURNING SECOND TEAM ALL-BIG SKY SELECTIONS
Wide Receiver - #3 - Greg Herd - 6-3 - 200 - Sr. – 3L - Tacoma, Wash. (Steilacoom HS ’09)
%Linebacker - #10 - *Zach Johnson - 6-1 - 225 - Sr. - 3L - Tumwater, Wash. (Tumwater HS ’07)

RETURNING HONORABLE MENTION ALL-BIG SKY SELECTIONS
Offensive Tackle - #76 - Will Post - 6-6 - 295 - Sr. – 3L - Portland, Ore. (Southridge HS ’08)
Defensive End - #44 - Paul Ena - 6-2 - 240 - Sr. – 3L - Kenmore, Wash. (Inglemoor HS ’09)
Safety - #7 - Jeff Minnerly - 6-1 - 200 - Sr. – 3L - Spokane, Wash. (Ferris HS ’08)
Punter - #48 - Jake Miller - 6-5 - 205 - So. – 1L - Spokane, Wash. (Central Valley HS ’10 & WSU)
*Offensive Guard - Steven Forgette - 6-4 - 280 - Jr. - 2L - Vancouver, Wash. (Heritage HS ’09)
*Safety - #7 - Jeff Minnerly - 6-1 - 200 - Sr. – 3L - Spokane, Wash. (Ferris HS ’08)

FCS ATH. DIR. ASSOC. ACADEMIC ALL-STAR TEAM
Safety - #7 - Jeff Minnerly - 6-1 - 200 - Sr. – 3L - Spokane, Wash. (Ferris HS ’08)

ELITE 88” AWARD BY THE NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
*Safety - #7 - Jeff Minnerly - 6-1 - 200 - Sr. – 3L - Spokane, Wash. (Ferris HS ’08)

BIG SKY ALL-ACADEMIC SELECTIONS
J.C. Agen - Spokane, Wash. (Central Valley HS ‘09) - Jr. - Interdisciplinary Studies
Evan Cook - Federal Way, Wash. (Todd Beamer HS ‘08) - Sr. - Criminal Justice
Zack Gehring - Castle Rock, Wash. (Castle Rock HS ‘09) - Jr. - Exercise Science
Rusty Haehl - Bellevue, Wash. (Bellevue HS ‘08) - Sr. – Marketing
Ronnie Hamlin - Lacey, Wa. (Timberline HS ‘09) - Jr. - Tech. Eng. and Const. Mgt.
Cody McCarty - Boise, Idaho (Bishop Kelly HS ‘11) - So. – Undeclared
Jake Miller - Spokane, Wash. (Central Valley HS ‘10 / Wash. State) - So. – Undeclared
Jeff Minnerly - Spokane, Wash. (Ferris HS ‘08) - Sr. – Finance
Will Post - Portland, Ore. (Southridge HS ‘08) - Sr. - Communication Studies
Jake Potter - Kennewick, Wash. (Kamiakin HS ‘08) - Sr. - Electrical Engineering
Jordan Talley - Portland, Ore. (Jesuit HS ‘11) - So. - Pre-Medicine
Grant Williams - Puyallup, Wash. (Rogers HS ‘08) - Sr. - Recreation Management

*Honors from 2010 season. %Honor from the 2008 season.