Welcome to the 2022 FCS Jersey Countdown.
Leading up to Week 0 games on Aug. 27, HERO Sports will name the best returning FCS player by jersey number, 99-0. Due to rosters being updated at different times for teams across the country and to keep things consistent, jersey numbers are based on last season’s rosters.
The 99-0 countdown central page can be found here.
Note: Jersey numbers are based on 2021 rosters.
89: Efton Chism III, WR (So.) — Eastern Washington
Chism looks to be the next standout in a long line of EWU wide receiver greats. A three-star recruit out of Monroe, Washington, in the class of 2020, Chism chose the Eagles over offers from Air Force, Georgetown, Idaho, Idaho State, Montana State, and Northern Colorado.
As a true freshman in the 2021 spring, he caught 23 passes for 267 yards and one touchdown in seven games.
The 6-foot, 200-pounder then saw a breakout season last fall. Chism hauled in 57 catches for 735 yards and nine TDs in 13 games. In the 35-33 win against FBS UNLV to start the season, Chism caught three passes for 65 yards and a TD, including a dazzling spin move that caught the eyes of Twitter.
His nine receiving TDs led the team that finished second in the FCS with 44.0 points per game. Chism earned All-Big Sky Conference Third Team honors and was named a HERO Sports Freshman All-American.
Chism has tremendous hands and routinely makes highlight-reel one-handed catches. He’ll have to take another step forward as a sophomore for the Eagles to return to the playoffs. They lose their top two WRs in Talolo Limu-Jones and Andrew Boston, who combined for 2,000+ receiving yards and 13 TDs. Freddie Roberson (49 catches for 779 yards and six TDs) and Chism are now the go-to receivers for an offense that also has to replace the legendary career of QB Eric Barriere.
EWU is a program that’s proven to reload quickly. It is ranked No. 18 in our preseason Top 25. The Eagles never lack offensive weapons, and Chism is going to be a name known nationally for several more seasons.
