High-Flying Eagle Lands in New England
After signing with the Patriots, Efton Chism III will get an NFL audition.
Though he didn’t get a call on draft day, Efton Chism III, the superstar receiver whose senior season rewrote the Eagle record books, is ready to make his mark at the next level.
Just a day after the National Football League draft concluded, Chism ’24 signed as an undrafted free agent with the New England Patriots. There he will compete to join former EWU wide receiver Kendrick Bourne, a seven-year NFL veteran who is currently on New England’s roster.
Because only a fraction of the nation’s most talented players can secure a spot in each year’s seven-round NFL draft, the league’s teams often rely on undrafted players to fill spots on their 54-man rosters. In 2018, Bourne himself entered the league as an undrafted free agent.
Chism’s move to Boston comes on the heels of his remarkable 2024 senior campaign, one that saw him surpass Cooper Kupp’s single season reception record with 120 catches — an eye-popping total which led both the Big Sky Conference and the entire FCS. During his final Eagle appearance at Northern Arizona, Chism notched his 53rd consecutive game with a reception, topping Kupp’s previous record of 52. “While the catch numbers might stand out, the real eye-opener is Chism’s blend of play strength and competitiveness,” wrote NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein before the draft. “He can make the first tackler miss, and will do whatever it takes to pick up yardage.”
That combination of power and determination was a Chism trademark during each of his five years on the Eagle’s roster. It was also a big reason why, over the course of that career, Chism earned 10 All-American awards and four All-Big Sky honors, two of them first-team selections.
The Patriots begin mandatory mini-camp for rookies in June, with their full-squad training camp in Foxborough, Massachusetts scheduled for July.
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Roos Field, Eastern’s cherished football stadium, was built in 1967 and is today in need of substantial updates. The goal of our planned improvements? To create a more welcoming experience for students, alumni and fans. Thanks to the support of the Eagle faithful, EWU’s Stadium Renovation Fund is almost halfway to achieving its goal of $13 million. Now, as we look forward to a winning season this fall, is the perfect time to share your pride in the home of Eagle Football. Donate today!
