Four things we learned from Eastern Washington spring football camp | Analysis

May 2—Friday night's spring game capped off a series of 15 practice sessions for the Eastern Washington football team, which won't officially reconvene until July 28 when the 2026 preseason begins.

Compared to the previous two scrimmages this spring, the Red-White game was a more even contest, with the offense scoring four touchdowns and the defense accruing most of its points through fourth-down stops.

"Defense is usually ahead in any spring or fall," EWU head coach Aaron Best said, "and it's nice to have a little back-and-forth affair."

A number of key players were held out Friday for precautionary reasons or because of injuries they sustained in the spring. They will now have a few months to heal up and amp up for a season that begins Aug. 29 at Northern Arizona, the Eagles' first of nine Big Sky games on the 12-game schedule.

Spring revealed plenty about Eastern's team, including four notable developments over the last month:

No decision in QB battle

Nate Bell and Jake Schakel remain locked in a duel for the No. 1 quarterback position. Both Bell and Schakel started multiple games during the 2025 season, and the Eagles appear confident that either one could lead them this fall.

They pose different threats to opposing defenses. Bell, a redshirt junior, was notably less accurate last season than Schakel was, completing 53% of his passes compared to Schakel's 69%. But Bell is also a credible threat to run: He led the Eagles last season in both rushes (118) and rushing yards (663).

Schakel, a redshirt sophomore, is a more prototypical passer — this was most clearly evident in Eastern's near upset over Montana when he completed 43 of 63 attempts for 451 yards — without quite the mobility of Bell.

Regardless, after starting four different quarterbacks last season it's almost certain Bell and Schakel — and possibly third-stringer Kaden Rolfsness — will see the field plenty in 2026.

Help wanted on special teams

The specialists group has been borrowing from other position groups. Best acknowledged throughout the spring how thin the group of long snappers, kickers and punters has been, with just three players — Bennett Nield, Soren McKee and Luke Faccone, respectively — filling those three roles. Best said Friday he expects the team to add another kicker over the summer.

But wide receiver Trenton Swanson, and to an extent the quarterback Bell, have edged their way into roles on special teams that could be significant.

First, there's Swanson, a redshirt freshman transfer from Idaho who got plenty of reps with the receivers this spring — and also proved consistently capable of booting kickoffs into the end zone. He even flashed the ability to make field goals.

"If our best chance to put the ball in the back of the end zone is Swanny, then we'll go with Swanny," Best said. "If it's somebody else, then we'll go with somebody else."