SPOKANE, Wash. — Eastern Washington believes the foundation has already been built.
After a 5-7 season in 2025, the Eagles return 11 starters and 33 letterwinners, giving head coach Aaron Best confidence that the program is ready to take another step forward.
“I think our guys are bigger, stronger and faster,” Best said. “But I want to play better and more consistent, and that’s what they want.”
Best said replacing departures through the transfer portal and graduation was a major focus throughout the offseason, but knows the true test won’t come until games begin.
“We feel good about those things,” Best said. “You never feel as good as you want to because you don’t know what you don’t know.”
One of the leaders of that returning core is senior defensive lineman Isaiah Perez, who says the continuity has helped the Eagles hit the ground running.
“It brings a lot of leadership and a lot of people that are already bought into the program,” Perez said. “It makes it a lot less of a transition, so rolling into this season feels like we’ve just kept playing since last year.”
Perez said the team’s mentality has shifted toward turning close losses into victories.
“We’re focusing on becoming from good to great,” he said. “We’re doing everything we need to do — recovery, having fun, putting in the work — to get to that next level.”
Graduate running back Malik Dotson is also entering the season with a renewed appreciation for the opportunity.
After suffering a season-ending injury in the opening game of the 2025 season, Dotson was granted a medical redshirt and returns for one more year.
“It’s a blessing,” Dotson said. “Last year I thought it was going to be my last. I got a lot of key takeaways that put me in the spot I am right now.”
Now healthy, Dotson wants Eastern Washington’s offense to establish a physical identity while remaining balanced.
“Ground and pound,” Dotson said. “But we can throw the ball. Having two quarterbacks that are studs makes it easy.”
The Eagles have been building toward the 2026 season since last November, according to Dotson.
“It started at the end of our last game,” he said. “Everybody that stayed had that same mindset. We’ve been working on it since our last game last year.”
For Best, the message to fans is simple as another season approaches.
“Support these kids,” Best said. “The crowd makes a ton of difference. That’s why they call it home-field advantage.”
Eastern Washington opens the 2026 season Aug. 29 at Northern Arizona before returning home to face Northern Iowa on Sept. 5.
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