CHENEY — A recruiting class that includes 17 players from in state was announced yesterday by Eastern Washington coach Paul Wulff.

"On paper, this is probably the best class we've ever had, but it will be two years down the road before we'll find out where these players are and how they will be able to help the program," Wulff said after signing 28 players.

Wulff lost 12 seniors from last year's co-Big Sky Conference championship team that finished 9-4 and advanced to the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs.

"This group has very good speed, and most importantly, I think this is a blue-collar class," he said. "We think these players will work extremely hard and do the things we ask them to do."

Eagles coaches signed quarterback Matt Nichols from Cottonwood, Calif. Nichols quarterbacked his school to a 21-4 record the last two seasons. Quarterback Josh Powell from Spokane's Shadle Park High was also recruited.

Other top players include running backs Robert Pearson from Sumner, and Tony Davis from Capitol High. Tony Coburn of Pasco also was a top rusher but was recruited as a defensive back.

The Eagles signed defensive back Aaron Cartwright of Mariner, who earned first-team All-Wesco South Division honors as a running back, cornerback and returner.

Other signings included Derek Brown from North Central as a linebacker, Jake Kragt from Lind-Ritzville as a defensive lineman and Cheney's Brett Igbinoba as a defensive back.

Defensive backs Brady Smith and Charles Searcy from Santa Monica Junior College in California will transfer to EWU. Smith is a 2003 graduate of Rogers High School.

Eastern Washington signings

Cody Bogar, dl, 6-5, 230, Deary (Idaho) HS; Makai Borden, rb/db, 5-11, 210, Puyallup; Aaron Boyce, wr, 6-3, 200, Kentwood; Brynsen Brown, wr, 6-2, 200, Emerald Ridge; Derek Brown, lb, 5-11, 195 North Central; Ryan Buenaflor, lb, 6-1, 220, Anacortes; Aaron Cartwright, db, 5-11, 185, Mariner; Tony Coburn, db, 5-9, 180, Pasco; Tony Davis, rb, 5-9, 180, Capitol; Graham Dorland, dl, 6-1, 225, Gig Harbor; Ryan Forney, ol, 6-4, 265, Central Kitsap; Lonnie Hosley, db, 5-8, 150, Evergreen (Vanc.); Brett Igbinoba, db, 5-10, 180, Cheney; Kenjamine Jackson, db, 5-9, 180, Kentwood; Savero Johnson, dl, 6-3, 240, (Freedom HS) Oakley, Calif.; Jacob Kragt, dl, 6-3, 200 Lind-Ritzville; Chad Kurz, te, 6-2, 215, La Mirada (Calif.) HS; Michael Land, ol, 6-5, 230, Walla Walla; Matt Nichols, qb, 6-3, 205, (West Valley HS) Cottonwood, Calif.; Nathan Overbay, te, 6-5, 225, W.F. West; Greg Peach, dl, 6-3, 220, Evergreen (Vanc.); Robert Pearson, rb, 5-10, 190, Sumner; Josh Powell, qb, 6-2, 210, Shadle Park; Sean Rock, ol, 6-4, 300, Kentwood; Charles Searcy, db, 5-9, 180, Santa Monica (Calif.) JC, Detroit, Mich; Brady Smith, db, 5-11, 195, Santa Monica (Calif.) JC, Spokane, Wash; Chris Thomas, ol, 6-5, 255, Sumner; Kyle Wilkins, db, 5-10, 185, Archbishop Murphy.