SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Attempting to break an Eastern Washington University receiving record is like trying to set a franchise passing mark with the Patriots.

It can push you or let it break you.

Patriots undrafted rookie wide receiver Efton Chism let Cooper Kupp’s many, many receiving records with the Eagles motivate him. Now, the two wide receivers, who rank among the very top in Eastern Washington history, will face off in Super Bowl LX.

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“Make no bones about it, Efton Chism talked about it all the time,” Eastern Washington University head coach Aaron Best, who was also on staff when Kupp was a wide receiver from 2012-16, told the Herald this week. ” ‘I won’t reach Cooper Kupp’s status, but I’m not going to stop trying to reach Cooper Kupp’s status.’ So, it was unattainable, but in his mind, he was motivated by trying to attain the unattainable. That’s not an everyday mindset.”

After redshirting his freshman season, Kupp, a Rams third-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, caught 428 passes for 6,464 yards and 73 touchdowns (marks that surpass some college passing records) in four years on the famous red field at EWU in Cheney, Wash.

“It’s ridiculous. I think he’s one of the best FCS players of all time,” Chism said Wednesday. “And so for me to come in there and have that stature and those goals up there, man, it’s always just like a running thing I’m always chasing. No matter what, no matter how good or how great of a season I was having, there was always someone that’s better and always something that was pushing me to try to reach that next step.”

Chism reached the next level when he signed with the Patriots as an undrafted free agent this offseason.

Patriots executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf recalled the team almost had to recruit him as a free agent. But offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels’ lineage of success with undersized slot receivers didn’t hurt.

The 5-foot-10, 198-pound receiver stood out enough in training camp and preseason to make the 53-man roster. He made an impact late in the year, after Mack Hollins suffered an abdominal injury, and caught four passes for 95 yards and his first career touchdown in a three-game span.

Best wasn’t shocked to see him make the team

“I’d be lying if I said I was surprised. Both are just wired differently,” Best said of Chism and Kupp. “Their DNA is their DNA. They’re hard-wired differently than most people. Success is the only option. They’re going to find ways to garner success, whether it’s individual, team or side of ball success.”

Kupp and Chism are different types of players, however. Kupp, at 6-foot-1, 205 pounds, was able to be moved around more in the Eastern Washington offense due to his size and the Eagles’ previous offensive scheme.

But Best still found similarities between Chism and Kupp as players and people.

He saw two selfless wide receivers who can get open, use space to their advantage, play on special teams and pick up yards after the catch.

“The air went out of the stadium when either those guys caught the ball and got tackled right away,” Best said.

Off the field, Best saw “caring, charismatic, dedicated, committed, team-first” human beings who took a “we-not-me approach.”

Chism had been following Kupp for years before he even landed at Eastern Washington.

At 12 years old and not even playing organized football yet, Chism sat on the end-zone side of Husky Stadium in Seattle, clad in Eastern Washington red with his “uncle” when the University of Washington beat the Eagles in a 59-52 shootout. Kupp, then a redshirt sophomore, caught eight passes for 145 yards with three touchdowns against an FBS opponent with four future Day 1 or 2 draft picks playing in its secondary.

“He’s kind of a legend,” Chism said. “I look up to him a bunch and I’m excited to compete against him.”

The two have never met, but they have exchanged texts. Chism hopes to thank Kupp for giving him a pathway to the NFL when they see each other Sunday at Super Bowl LX.

Kupp has also kept tabs on Chism from afar.

“Really good football player. Definitely followed him. Shoot, his career at Eastern Washington was really cool,” Kupp said. “It’s really awesome, seeing him get the opportunity in his first year to be in a Super Bowl. That’s a really cool thing. Looking forward to seeing him on Sunday.”

Chism, like Kupp, played his entire career at Eastern Washington, even when other opportunities came calling.

Chism said he received offers from schools in the SEC, Big 12 and Mountain West, but he preferred to leave a legacy at Eastern Washington. He wants to be viewed like Kupp or former Patriots wide receiver Kendrick Bourne as a pro that Eastern Washington players can look up to and aspire to be.

And because Chism stayed with the Eagles, he was able to attain the unattainable.

Chism needed 11 catches to break Kupp’s single-season record during his season finale, his senior year. Best let that be known to the team heading into Chism’s final college game.

Chism caught 13 passes for 119 yards and a touchdown, giving him 120 receptions for 1,311 yards and 13 touchdowns on the season.

“It was pretty cool,” Chism said. “It was, not like a joke going into it, but into the game, our coach told us in front of everyone. I was like, ‘all right,’ but I knew we needed, like, 11 catches in one game. And I was like, ‘here we go. Let’s see.’ And then it happened. I’m super grateful.”

Kupp, 32, is now in the backend of his NFL career. He’s accumulated 681 catches for 8,369 yards with 59 touchdowns in nine seasons, earning the triple crown by leading the league with 145 catches for 1,947 yards and 16 touchdowns with the Rams in 2021.

Chism might never put up those types of gaudy numbers, but Best sees two players with what he calls “the IT factor.”

“Ball is something they chase,” Best said. “It’s not recreational to those guys. It’s a profession. They were both professionals before they got to the professional ranks, is the best way I can say it.”

Chism set a solid foundation for the rest of his pro career this season. On Sunday, he’ll meet an idol and play in the Super Bowl. In that regard, he’s already reached one level of Kupp’s status.