Eastern Washington’s opener tests a quarterback room shaped by last year’s injuries
Nate Bell has taken most of the first-team work, but Aaron Best still sees a decision that can change before, during or after Saturday at Northern Arizona. Jake Schakel has starting experience, and Kaden Rolfsness just gave the staff fresh evidence in the final scrimmage.
AUG 23, 2026
Games Nate Bell started last season before an injury against Sacramento State.
Touchdowns Kaden Rolfsness threw to Drew Carlson in Friday’s scrimmage.
Quarterbacks Eastern Washington expects to travel this season.
01 · The NewsWhat Happened
Eastern Washington head coach Aaron Best said Friday that redshirt junior Nate Bell would start if the Eagles played Northern Arizona that day. Bell has handled most of the No. 1 reps ahead of redshirt sophomore Jake Schakel, but neither quarterback played in Friday’s final preseason scrimmage. Kaden Rolfsness worked with the third group and threw two touchdown passes to redshirt sophomore receiver Drew Carlson. Eastern Washington has not released an official depth chart for Saturday’s opener. Rolfsness is in line for the third spot ahead of freshman Brady Annett. Best said he expects all four quarterbacks to travel this season. “We’re going to make the best informed decision we can make,” Best said, “and that’s not just going into a game, that’s during a game, that’s postgame.”
02 · The StakesWhy This One Matters
Bell is the likely starter, but Eastern Washington’s recent quarterback history makes the second and third spots matter right away. Bell started six games last season before an injury against Sacramento State ended his day. Schakel started the next two before an injury against Northern Colorado pushed the job again. Rolfsness finished the season as the starter. That is a lot of live-game experience for a room that still has no official chart. Friday added a small but useful wrinkle. Carlson turned four catches into 95 yards and two scores, with both touchdowns coming from Rolfsness while several starters sat out. That work does not threaten Bell’s place. It gives the staff one more reason to keep Rolfsness ready.
03 · The Detail Beneath the HeadlineWhat Most People Are Missing
The top two quarterbacks missing the final scrimmage is the detail that gets lost in the projected order. Bell and Schakel have taken the important camp reps, but neither got a public tune-up in the last full rehearsal before the opener. Rolfsness did, and he made the most of the afternoon with the third unit. That does not make him the better choice at quarterback. It does mean the Eagles enter Saturday with their emergency plan having just handled a live scrimmage while the two players ahead of him watched. If the game stays clean, that detail disappears. If it does not, it gets loud quickly.
“Rolfsness did, and his connection with Carlson gave the third group a real moment in a 100-degree afternoon.”
The Wire Desk04 · The PersonnelWhat the Decision Tells Us
Best’s quarterback order is built on camp work, not a formal depth chart. Bell has taken most of the No. 1 reps, which makes him the projected starter. Schakel remains the experienced challenger after starting when Bell went down last season. Rolfsness is third, yet he is not an untouched reserve. He finished last year on the field and has now spent a scrimmage running the third group with enough success to produce two scoring throws. Best also left room for the order to change during the game. That is not a promise of a rotation. It is a clear sign that Eastern Washington is preparing for decisions after the first snap, not only before it. Freshman Brady Annett sits fourth for now, while all four quarterbacks are expected to travel. The opening chart will tell us who starts. The first quarterback change, if it comes, will tell us how much the staff trusts the next name.
05 · The ThesisThe Pate State Read
Eastern Washington should open with Bell. The camp reps point there, and Best has said as much. The useful part of this quarterback room is what sits behind him. Schakel has already been asked to start after an injury. Rolfsness has already finished a season as the starter. Neither player is walking into the opener cold. There is a limit to that comfort. Bell and Schakel did not play in the final scrimmage, so the Eagles did not get one last public look at the top of the order. Rolfsness did, and his connection with Carlson gave the third group a real moment in a 100-degree afternoon. That is evidence, not a new depth-chart decision. Bell gets the first snap. The more important Saturday question is whether Eastern Washington can move to Schakel or Rolfsness without the offense losing its footing.
06 · The Watch ListWhat We're Watching
Who takes the first snap at Northern Arizona?
Bell is the expected starter based on Best’s comments and the camp rep order. A different opening quarterback would signal a change before the official depth chart ever arrives.
Who enters after the first quarterback leaves?
Schakel is next in the current order, while Rolfsness has the latest starting experience. That choice will show whether the staff follows camp or leans on the player who finished last season.
Does the backup get the whole offense?
If Schakel or Rolfsness takes over and Eastern Washington keeps its normal calls, the staff trusts that quarterback to operate without protection from the playbook. A narrow package would say the opposite.
Does Carlson stay involved with the starters?
Carlson made his biggest scrimmage impact while working with Rolfsness and the younger group. His snaps after the regular players return will show whether Friday created a lasting role or a one-afternoon pairing.