At first glance, it may
appear that East Carolina’s coaching staff had a two-track mind when
recruiting talent for its defense in the Class of 2006.
Of the 14 recruits
expected to play defensive positions next fall, 11 of those were either
defensive linemen or linebackers. While that may seem like overload to
the casual observer, the ECU coaches were actually addressing immediate
and major needs with those signings.
The situation at
linebacker was especially precarious after four-year middle linebacker
starter Chris Moore, starting outside linebacker Richard Koonce and a
top backup on the outside, Josh Chilsom, completed their eligibility
last fall. The result saw the ECU staff sign seven linebacker prospects,
including three from the junior college ranks who are expected to have
an immediate impact on defense.
While ECU wasn’t as
desperate for help on the defensive front, securing more talent at that
position was also important. The Pirates will lose at least three
prominent members of its defensive front after the 2006 season and six
more are scheduled to depart after ’07.
Here’s a
position-by-position graded analysis of the defensive players of the
recruiting class and some thoughts on how they may impact the Pirates
next fall.
DEFENSIVE END (B)
WHO SIGNED: Joe
Council (6-3, 245) Walterboro, S.C.; Davion Holman (6-4, 245)
Orlando, Fla.; Travis Melvin (6-6, 260) Fayetteville, N.C.; Willie
Smith (6-6, 230) Kenly, N.C.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF:
None of these guys figure to see the field in 2005, but what the
Pirates did acquire with this group is some excellent potential.
Melvin and Smith are projects. Melvin, in fact, played mostly at
offensive tackle in high school. But both are tall, athletic
specimens who, with a year of intensive weight training, could
develop into special players. Council is a tremendously quick
athlete who actually split time between defensive end and linebacker
in high school. He and Holman will also have some work to do in the
weight room before seeing action, but both should be ready by 2007
when the current defensive end ranks begin to thin out.
WHO’S BACK: Senior
Shauntae Hunt started 10 games for the Pirates last year at one end
and fellow senior Michael MacDonagh started three of the final four
games at the opposite end. One of those is likely to give way to
junior Marcus Hands, if he’s able to return 100 percent from
shoulder surgery that prematurely ended his 2005 season. Hands was
ECU’s sack leader before suffering the injury. Providing depth
behind that trio should be junior Michael LaGow, red-shirt freshman
Scotty Robinson and junior walk-on Craig Harper.
NEEDS FOR 2007: The
Pirates need to sign two or possibly three more defensive ends
because they lose five to graduation over the next two years.
DEFENSIVE/NOSE TACKLE (F)
WHO SIGNED: Any of the
defensive end signees could win up here, but those four are expected
to start out their careers at end.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF:
Still to be determined.
WHO’S BACK: Junior
Brandon Setzer and his backup, junior Wendell Chavis, manned one
tackle position all season, while junior Mark Robinson made nine of
his 10 starts at nose tackle. Senior Dontre Brown and junior Fred
Hicks also saw extensive action at nose tackle, so the Pirates look
well stocked here for the immediate future.
NEEDS FOR 2007: All
five of the above will be gone after the ’07 season, so signing at
three tackles would be a wise move.
LINEBACKER (A+)
WHO SIGNED: Chris
Atkins (6-3, 200) Chattahoochee, Fla.; A.J. Johnson (6-2, 225)
Atlanta, Ga.; Nick Johnson (6-1, 225) Charlotte, N.C.; Lorenzo
Osborne (6-3, 200) Atlanta, Ga.; Orlando Farrow (6-3, 235)
Georgetown, Del.; Danny Muhwezi (6-3, 235) Germantown, Md.; Fred
Wilson (6-2, 255) Cross, S.C.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF:
The Pirates not only filled some immediate needs by signing three
junior college transfers at linebacker, but they looked to the
future as well by bringing in four prep players at the position.
Farrow, Muhwezi and Wilson are all already enrolled at ECU and will
immediately join the competition to replace graduated starters Chris
Moore and Richard Koonce in spring practice.
WHO’S BACK: Sophomore
Pierre Bell is a budding star at outside linebacker, and junior
Durwin Lamb and sophomore Jarrett Wiggins saw extensive action in
backup roles last season. Senior Patrick Dosh spent time last season
on offense as a blocking back, but is expected to return to defense
this spring. Dosh was one of ECU’s top special teams tacklers in
’05. Junior Quentin Cotton was a highly touted prep player who got
his feet wet last year. Cotton should become a factor on special
teams or at linebacker this season. Junior Julius Hill, who
transferred in from the U.S. Naval Academy last year, may also have
something to offer.
NEEDS FOR 2007:
Honestly, the Pirates could take the year off at this position in
recruiting, but with the talent at linebacker in the upcoming senior
class they’ll probably be able to nab one or two quality guys.
SAFETY (C)
WHO SIGNED: Dan
Wideman (6-2, 210) Greenwood, S.C.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF:
It’s hard to say for sure that the Pirates helped themselves in this
area because Wideman may wind up playing other positions. He was a
stellar running quarterback in high school, but his speed, body type
and aggressive attitude seem to be a good fit for safety. Either
way, Wideman probably won’t be ready to make a contribution until at
least a year down the road.
WHO’S BACK: Senior
Pierre Parker returns as a potential all-star candidate at free
safety, while senior Kyle Chase is also back after seeing extensive
action last season as the No. 2 strong safety. Three red-shirt
freshmen with excellent promise in Jeremy Chambliss, Van Eskeridge
and Chris Mattocks should vie for backup roles.
NEEDS FOR 2007:
Recruiting several safeties should be a priority for ECU. Parker and
Chase are set to graduate next May, leaving only four players to man
the two safety positions. It’s imperative the Pirates not only sign
two or three safeties, but to find at least one who can make an
immediate impact.
CORNERBACK (B+)
WHO SIGNED: Dekota
Marshall (6-1, 185) Jacksonville, N.C.; Darryl Reynolds (6-1, 185)
New Bern, N.C.; Travis Simmons (5-10, 175) Tallahassee, Fla.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF:
Speed. The three corners signed by the Pirates will wind up being
three of the fastest on the roster immediately. Dekota Marshall has
been timed at 10.56 seconds in the 100-meter dash, Darryl Reynolds
is one of the state’s top hurdlers and Travis Simmons is a 4.4 40
guy. That speed won’t only be valuable to ECU in the secondary, but
also on special teams where all three are potential big-play makers
as return men.
WHO’S BACK: Senior
Kasey Ross started all 11 games at one corner position last season,
while sophomores Stacy Walls and Travis Williams both appeared in 11
games as backups. There’s also senior Erode Jean, a former starter,
and exciting sophomore J.J. Millbrook.
NEEDS FOR 2007: Every
team needs to sign at least two corners and ECU is no exception. But
with the talent the Pirates got this year at the position that
should be all that’s necessary.
Overall, this was an
excellent class for East Carolina because it met immediate needs and
built for the future. Therefore it gets a solid B grade from us.
Next, we’ll take a look at
how the rest of Conference USA fared in recruiting this year and compare
those classes to the Pirates.
