Tristen Eche, Keshawn Hill, Jared Johnson and Michael Wade will be the captains for the 2014 Sam Houston football team.

Bearkat head coach K. C. Keeler announced the quartet during this week's practice for the 2014 FCS Kickoff versus Eastern Washington on ESPN Saturday. Kickoff is 2:35 p.m. Central time.

“Leadership is going to be so important to our success this season,” Keeler said. “AThe capnd these four young men were selected as the top leaders on the squad by their teammates.”

New Road Jerseys

The four captains had the honor of being the first players to wear Sam Houston's new road jerseys Thursday afternoon at a team meeting. The Bearkats will wear all white Saturday in the contest at Eastern Washington.

Eche, an interdisciplinary studies major from Waco, is a starting linebacker for the Bearkats.

Hill, a general business major from Klein, has gained 2,312 all-purpose yards in 42 games as a running back and special teams player.

Johnson, a general core major from Grand Prairie, will be the starting quarterback for the Bearkats Saturday.

Wade, a health major from Arp, is the team's leading returning tackler as a safety.

Sam Houston departs Friday morning at 9:30 a.m. The Bearkats will do a short walk-through at Bowers Stadium before flying to Spokane.

“The players have worked extremely hard during the preseason,” Keeler said. “We had so many moving pieces in the mix since spring ball – a new coaching staff, new offense, new defense, a lot of new faces. We had a lot of catching up to do.”

The Bearkats own victories in each of their previous meetings with the Eagles. The Kats won 35-34 in the NCAA quarterfinals in 2004 and 45-42 in the NCAA semifinals in 2012.

Each time the two teams have met, both have been nationally ranked. This year Eastern Washington is the preseason No. 1 in The Sporting News poll while the Bearkats have been ranked No. 14 in the NCAA Coaches poll.

Bearkat alumni and fans across the state and the nation are scheduling FCS Kickoff “Watch Parties” for the August 23 SHSU versus EWU showdown. See this link for list of watch parties and locations.

Use this link to purchase Sam Houston football tickets.