Four Eastern Washington University football players have been selected by their teammates as co-captains for the 2022 season, head coach Aaron Best has announced this afternoon (June 9).
Defensive end Mitchell Johnson, wide receiver Freddie Roberson, defensive back Anthany Smith and quarterback Gunner Talkington will all step into co-captain roles for the first time in their respective careers.
The quartet has a combined 144 total games worth of experience at Eastern Washington, including 61 total starts. Johnson, Smith and Talkington all enter their redshirt senior seasons at EWU, while Roberson is listed as a redshirt junior.
Last month, Smith was chosen to become the next Eagle to continue the more than 10-year history of wearing EWU's No. 4 legacy jersey that symbolizes the defensive player who most embodies the characteristics of defense at Eastern: grit, toughness, effort, leadership and academic success.
Smith hails from Everett, Wash., where he graduated from Mariner High School in 2017. He has 109 career tackles, two interceptions and four passes broken up in 30 games (11 as a starter). He earned All-Big Sky Conference first team honors following the unique 2020-21 Spring season after leading the team with 44 tackles in six games.
Johnson earned All-Big Sky first team honors in 2020-21 and was selected to the third team in 2021. The West Linn, Ore., native has 148 tackles in his 47-game career (30 as a starter). He has 26 1/2 tackles for loss, 13 1/2 sacks, five interceptions, 16 quarterback hurries, nine passes broken up, three fumble recoveries and four forced fumbles (T-14th in school history). Johnson is a management major and has been named to the All-Big Sky Academic Team four times in his career.
Roberson, who graduated from Rainier Beach High School in Seattle in 2018, has 29 games of experience (19 starts) in his career and with five 100-yard receiving performances. He has caught 96 passes for a total of 1,469 yards and 10 touchdowns, and he has also rushed for a touchdown. He was named to the All-Big Sky second team in 2020-21 and landed on the third team last season along with being named to the HERO Sports Sophomore All-America team for offense.
Talkington played in all 13 games for Eastern Washington as a backup quarterback and the holder on special teams. Entering the 2022 season, he is the front-runner to replace Walter Payton Award winner Eric Barriere at quarterback. So far in his career, Talkington has played in 38 games and is 1-0 as a starter. He has completed 32-of-64 passes for 365 yards and five touchdowns in his career. Talkington hails from Battle Ground, Wash., where he graduated from Battle Ground High School in 2017. He is a management major and has been named to the All-Big Sky Academic team four times during his career.
The Eagles open 2022 on Sept. 3 at home against Tennessee State. The complete schedule can be found HERE, and season ticket renewals for current season ticketholders are underway until June 20. Season tickets will open to the general public on Monday, June 27.
Original source can be found here.
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