Football Recruiting
Report
Monday, February 16, 2015
By Sammy Batten |
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Recruiting report card: Defense
Impact players plug holes; Pirates still
shopping
Recruiting Class of 2015 Thumbnail Sketches...
By
Sammy Batten
©2015 Bonesville.net
All rights reserved.
Players at every position on East
Carolina's defensive unit completed their eligibility at the end of the
2014 season, including six starters. The result was a wide-ranging list
of needs to cover those losses in the recruiting Class of 2015.
Despite a small number of scholarships
available, the Pirates managed to address their needs by signing players at
six different positions. Three of the eight are players who signed with
ECU's Class of 2014, but didn't enroll until last month.
“We knew what we wanted and were
selective at every position,'' ECU coach Ruffin McNeill said. “We lost our
defensive MVP in Brandon Williams and linebacker, so we needed replacements
there. We wanted to fill our corner spots and add depth up front. So we did
all that.''
McNeill may not be done adding to his
defensive class. He stated on signing day that the Pirates had “one or two''
other prospects who might be sign in the next two to three weeks, and it's
our belief those will be defensive players likely from the junior college
ranks.
But even without those additions, the
Pirates have put together a solid defensive class that features several
players capable of making an impact fall. Here's a closer,
position-by-position look at the defensive class, how we graded them and a
look ahead to what ECU's needs will be for the Class of 2016.
Please note that all class designations
indicate the player's status for the 2015 season.
DEFENSIVE END → C+
WHAT THEY NEEDED: Because many of ECU's
front-line defenders are capable of playing both end and nose tackle in the
3-4 alignment, there didn't originally seem to be a need because no one at
end was scheduled to graduate after 2014. But an end starter and a key
backup listed on the depth chart for the Birmingham Bowl did depart,
although just one of those was a scholarship player. So signing one became
the number.
WHO SIGNED: Re-signed is a better
description of
Kyron
Speller from Virginia Beach. Speller was actually part
of ECU's recruiting Class of 2014 after three years as a two-way starter at
Kempsville High School. Playing fullback on offense and end on defense as a
senior in 2013, Speller made 65 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and six sacks
to earn All-Beach District honors from The Virginian Pilot newspaper. Army,
Navy and James Madison had offered Speller out of high school.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF: The 6-foot-1,
235-pound Speller is a hybrid linebacker-end who gives the Pirates lots of
options on defense. He has the speed to play on the edge and rush the passer
from outside linebacker or end, and the strength to handle the physical play
at inside linebacker. ECU will start him out at end during spring practice,
but don't be surprised if he shows up at a different spot when preseason
camp starts next August.
BIG ONE THAT GOT AWAY: When the Pirates
landed a verbal commitment from 6-4, 240-pound
Emmanuel Olenga from Charlotte's
Olympic High in December it was regarded as a considerable coup. Though a
raw football talent, Olenga is a long, lean, athletic player with the
potential to develop into an NFL prospect. But just a month after making his
pledge to ECU, Olenga backed off and decided to play for N.C. State. It was
one of the most disappointing losses of the recruiting cycle for the
Pirates.
WHO'S BACK: The biggest defensive
“recruit'' for ECU is player scheduled to make a major comeback in 2015.
Terrell Stanley started 12 of 13 games at end for the Pirates in 2013,
ranking second on the team in tackles for loss (10) and sacks (7). Stanley
would have been an all-star candidate in 2014, but had his entire season
wiped out after being seriously injured in a preseason car accident. The
good news is Stanley is on the mend, has been working with the team in
off-season conditioning and is expected to be cleared for limited contact
during spring practice. The senior should be ready for action next fall and
ready to re-claim his starting job. In Stanley's absence, players like
senior Johnathon White and Fred Presley stepped up to help fill the void.
White made seven starts and Presley five, and together they combined for
12.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 quarterback sacks. Presley, a former walk-on,
earned a scholarship last August and led the Pirates with six sacks. Both
return along with sophomore Demage Bailey, who saw action in three games
last season. Trying to crack the end rotation in spring practice will be
sophomore Randall Anderson and red-shirt freshman Shaun James.
WHO'S GONE: Chrishon Rose started most of
his senior season at end for the Pirates after working at the nose tackle
spot due to injuries as a junior. Walk-on Terry Biles provided backup at
both end spots, appearing in 13 games and starting four.
NEED FOR 2016: Stanley and White complete
their eligibility after the 2015 season, and Presley is done a year later,
meaning all the currently proven players at end will be gone in two seasons.
Those losses would dictate ECU spend at least one or two scholarships in the
upcoming class on ends. One to watch could be 6-3, 220-pound Jimmie Taylor
from the powerhouse Southwest Onslow High program in Jacksonville. The
Pirates have already offered Taylor and figure to make him a priority
target.
NOSE TACKLE → C+
WHAT THEY NEEDED: Signing one was the
objective from the outset and the Pirates filled that need very quickly.
WHO SIGNED:
Justin Brown from Ayden-Grifton High
just outside of Greenville was the first player to make a verbal commitment
to the Class of 2015. The Pirates were the first to offer the 6-3,
310-pounder and he accepted immediately. Brown made 63 solo tackles, 17
tackles for loss and six sacks as a senior. Brown may not be the last signee
at tackle. McNeill indicated on signing day the Pirates may be adding one or
two more players to the class and one of those could be junior college
tackle Darius Commissiong. Commissiong is a former Georgia Tech player who
spent last season at Iowa Western Community College. The 6-2, 290-pounder
had ECU as one of his favorites in January, but had to meet requirements for
a junior college degree before being eligible to transfer. So don't be
surprised to see his name added to the signing class as we get closer to May
and graduation day.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF: Brown is a Terry
Williams clone, whose wide frame takes up a lot of space in the middle of
the defensive front. But like Williams, Brown is more than just a big body.
He's strong, is quick off the ball and knows how to use his hands to ward
off blockers, a tactic he perfected through a successful prep career as a
wrestler. The Pirates would probably prefer to red-shirt Brown next fall,
but don't be surprised if he winds up landing a backup role. If ECU can also
add Darius Commissiong to the class, the position grade will improve to a
B+. Commissiong already has major college experience having spent a season
at Georgia Tech before being dismissed from that program.
BIG ONE THAT GOT AWAY: ECU really snared
its primary nose tackle in Brown early, so there wasn't really a big one to
lose.
WHO'S BACK: Junior K'Hadree Hooker played
in every game except for South Florida last year and was the starter at nose
tackle for the Birmingham Bowl against Florida due to the absence of Terry
Williams, who was declared ineligible in late December. Another junior,
Demitri McGill, played in 10 games and made a start in a league game against
Connecticut. A third nose tackle who saw playing time in 2015 was sophomore
Mike Myers (4 games).
WHO'S GONE: Terry Williams was a big man
at 6-1, 353 pounds who made major contributions to ECU's defense when he was
healthy and eligible. Williams was a first-team All-American Athletic
Conference pick last season after making 34 tackles and 7.5 tackles for
loss. But he didn't get a chance to finish his career after being ruled
ineligible in December for the Pirates' Birmingham Bowl game against
Florida.
NEED FOR 2016: If ECU is able to bring
Commisiong aboard, the need to sign a nose tackle in the Class of 2016
diminishes significantly. But the Pirates have already targeted two
potential tackle recruits in 6-3, 290-pound Jalen Rice from Williamston's
Riverside High School and 6-0, 301-pound Darius Anderson from Missouri City,
TX.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER → C+
WHAT THEY NEEDED: The Pirates went heavy
on outside linebackers in the 2014 class, so even though two players at
those positions completed their eligibility last season the need was
minimal. Still, bringing in one was what we projected after signing day in
2014.
WHO SIGNED: ECU discovered
C.J. Maybin while recruiting his
former teammate at Cardinal Gibbons High in Pompano Beach, FL, Erik Lenzen,
a freshman offensive lineman. The 6-4, 195-pounder played mostly safety in
the prep ranks and earned a reputation for making big plays. As a senior he
returned two interceptions for touchdowns to earn first-team All-Broward
County honors. The Pirates beat out Bethune-Cookman, Florida International,
Georgia State, Ohio, Rutgers, Syracuse, Temple and Western Michigan for
Maybin's services.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF: Maybin's length,
speed and instincts are skills that should help him make the transition to
outside linebacker with ease. He'll likely require a red-shirt year to gain
the size and strength required for the physical style at the major-college
level, but two years down the road he could be a beast.
BIG ONE THAT GOT AWAY:
Danny Thomas from Godby High in
Tallahassee, FL, was rated among the nation's top 35 outside linebacker
prospects by Rivals.com. The Pirates seemed to have pulled off an early
recruiting coup by securing Thomas' verbal commitment on May 23, 2014. But
on August 4, Thomas pulled a switcheroo, backing off his pledge to ECU to
stay closer to home and play for American Athletic Conference rival South
Florida.
WHO'S BACK: Headlining an experienced
group of outside linebackers in 2015 will be all-star candidate and senior
Montese Overton. Overton was one of the defense's top playmakers in 2014,
ranking third in total tackles with 68, but also producing 11.5 tackles for
loss and three sacks. Four others are also back who saw significant action
in backup roles last year in junior Dayon Pratt (33 tackles, 2 tackles for
loss in 12 games), sophomore walk-on Joe Allely (21 tackles, 13 games),
sophomore Pat Green (8 tackles, 13 games) and senior Jeton Beavers (2
tackles, 12 games). Pratt would be the projected starter opposite Overton at
this point, but Allely came on strong at the end of last season and could
challenge for the job as well. Junior Reece Speight saw limited action in
two games last year, while sophomore Kirk Donaldson, out all last season
with a knee injury, will be vying for his initial playing time with the
Pirates this spring. Talented red-shirt freshmen Yiannis Bowden, Massaddiq
Walton and Markel Winters could also make an impact at the outside
positions.
WHO'S GONE: Maurice Falls appeared in 38
games for the Pirates over the last three seasons and started all 13 games
in 2014. Falls finished with 36 tackles and five tackles for loss as a
senior. Reserve Jake Geary, whose career was hindered by injuries, also
departs after playing in 13 games last season.
NEED FOR 2016: Signing three outside
linebackers in the 2014 class and adding Maybin means the Pirates should be
well stocked there for the immediate future. They may try add one player
there in the 2016 class, but unless something special jumps out at them that
should be about it.
INSIDE LINEBACKER → B
WHAT THEY NEEDED: Two or three was the
objective at inside linebacker to ensure the program's depth at those
positions.
WHO SIGNED:
Tony Baird,
a 6-3, 210-pounder from Virginia Beach originally committed to the Pirates
in 2014. But Baird agreed to come in a year later and did so last month by
enrolling for the spring semester. He produced an incredible senior year at
Ocean Lakes High School in 2013 when he made 132 tackles, 23 tackles for
loss and 12 sacks. He chose ECU over an offer from Navy. Late in the process
of recruiting the Class of 2016, the Pirates latched on to
Darius
Wright, a 6-foot, 220-pounder from Irmo, SC, who
played most recently at Hutchinson Community College. Wright was the last
player to make a verbal commitment in January after completing a two-year
career at Hutchinson in which he made 132 tackles, three sacks and three
interceptions. He chose ECU over offers from Appalachian State, Arkansas
State and Nebraska.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF: Wright's
experience and physical style make him an immediate candidate for playing
time next fall, and conceivably a challenger for the starting job left
vacant by Brandon Williams. Since Baird sat out last season, he, too, could
be ready to see action on special teams, although he could probably use a
few extra pounds before getting significant playing time on defense.
BIG ONE THAT GOT AWAY:
Abu Kai-Kai was a powerful 6-2,
245-pounder from Nokesville, VA, who made an early decision to play for ECU
last April over an offer from Old Dominion. It appeared the Pirates may have
gotten a true “sleeper'' in Kai-Kai, who was a late bloomer at Kettle Run
High School. But somewhere between his commitment and signing day the two
sides parted and Kai-Kai wound up joining the program at NCAA Division II
Fairmont State.
WHO'S BACK: Second-team All-American
Athletic Conference pick Zeek Bigger, who led the Pirates with 140 tackles
last season, will headline the defensive unit as a senior next fall.
Sophomore Joe Carter (9 tackles in 12 games), sophomore Ray Tillman (9
tackles, 8 games) and walk-on junior Cameron White (7 tackles, 7 games) will
rejoin Bigger after serving in backup roles last season. Junior Drayvon
Fairley and walk-on sophomore Jordan Williams were other inside linebackers
who saw playing time last season mainly on special teams. The status of
junior Devaris Brunson is uncertain for spring practice. Brunson's promising
career took a big hit in the second game of the 2014 season against South
Carolina when he suffered a severe knee injury in the fourth period. If
Brunson can return to form, he could emerge as a leading contender for the
starting job opposite Bigger.
WHO'S GONE: Former walk-on Brandon
Williams enjoyed a stellar senior season by making a team-leading 124
tackles along with 13.5 tackles for loss. The performance earned Williams
second-team All-American Athletic Conference honors.
NEED FOR 2015: Bigger will be the only
inside linebacker completing his eligibility after the 2015 season, but that
is a huge loss. With Brunson, Fairley and White in line to leave after 2016,
the Pirates will be looking pretty thin if they don't go ahead and grab at
least two in the next recruiting class. Watch ECU make a serious run at
Laurinburg's Jonathan Smith, a 6-1, 220-pounder who has already received
offers from Duke, Georgia Southern, Georgia Tech, North Carolina, N.C.
State, Old Dominion and West Virginia.
SAFETY → B-
WHAT THEY NEEDED: Two seemed like an
adequate class right after signing day in 2014 because only two scholarship
safeties were scheduled to leave the program over the next two seasons.
WHO SIGNED:
Corey
Seargent, a 6-foot, 180-pounder from Rock Hill, SC, is
the third player originally from the Class of 2014 who held off his
enrollment until this spring. Seargent was a star defender as a prep senior
in 2013 as Northwestern High rolled to a 15-0 finish and state championship.
He produced 148 tackles and four interceptions to earn The Charlotte
Observer's Region Defensive Player of the Year honors.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF: The Pirates landed
a player in Seargent whose motor always runs at full speed, exhibits great
toughness and loves to hit people. Expect him to see action as a true
freshman on special teams because of those traits and it shouldn't be too
far down the road before he's getting snaps at strong safety.
BIG ONE THAT GOT AWAY: One of the top
in-state safety prospects was Jarius Morehead from Eastern Guilford High
School. Morehead, a three-star recruit according to Rivals.com, listed East
Carolina and N.C. State as his top two teams in May 2014, but two months
later he pulled the trigger on a verbal commitment to the Wolfpack and
remained true to that pledge through signing day.
WHO'S BACK: The starting free safety in
every game except the Birmingham Bowl is returning in senior Domonique
Lennon. Lennon made 12 starts and finished fourth on the team with 65
tackles during the regular season, but was ruled ineligible for the
postseason. He is on the spring roster recently released by ECU and should
be an all-star candidate next fall. Junior Terrell Richardson moved up to
Lennon's free safety spot for the bowl game for his second start in 12 games
last season. Richardson made 20 tackles on the year. Walk-on sophomore Bobby
Fulp, who cracked the depth chart last season and appeared in 12 games,
sophomore Travon Simmons (9 games, 1 start), sophomore Cody Purdie (4 games)
and sophomore Xavier Smith (2 games) are others back with game experience.
Promising red-shirt freshmen Blake Norwood and Drew Turnage will also be in
the mix at safety.
WHO'S GONE: Lamar Ivey was a four-year
letterwinner who earned a starting job as a senior. Ivey started the first
11 games at strong safety, but a wrist injury limited his activity in the
final two contests. He finished with 59 tackles and two interceptions on the
year. Walk-on Christian Simmons played in four games early and was on the
depth chart for the bowl game, but didn't play.
NEED FOR 2016: Only Lennon completes his
eligibility after the 2015 season and Richardson is the only junior safety
in the program, so finding at least one recruit to add next February is the
goal.
CORNERBACK → C+
WHAT THEY NEEDED: Four scholarship
corners will be departing the ECU program over the next two seasons, so
replacing at least half of those was the objective for 2015.
WHO SIGNED: The Pirates added a pair of
two-way high school standouts in
Colby Gore from Little River, SC,
and
Nhyre
Quinerly of Portsmouth, VA. The 5-11, 170-pound Gore
piled up 1,499 all-purpose yards as a wide receiver as a senior and made 79
tackles and four interceptions at safety on defense for North Myrtle Beach
High School. He chose the Pirates over offers from Charlotte, Coastal
Carolina and Marshall. Quinerly (5-11, 180) helped Lake Taylor High to the
state title and earned first-team Class 4A All-State honors on both sides of
the ball.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF: Both Gore and
Quinerly are versatile athletes who could play corner or safety for the
Pirates. But both seem initially best suited for corner where the current
depth will allow them to be brought along slowly before being rushed into
action. Once they become accustomed to ECU's defensive scheme, however, both
have the potential to become solid playmakers in the secondary.
BIG ONE THAT GOT AWAY: ECU came on strong
with Northwest Missouri Community College cornerback Treston Decoud in the
later stages of recruiting, after he backed off an original commitment to
Utah State. The Pirates didn't extend an offer until early January and
Decoud took it seriously enough to make his final official visit to
Greenville on January 30. But after trips to ECU, Toledo and Oregon State,
he signed with the Beavers.
WHO'S BACK: Four players who experienced
plenty of action at cornerback in 2014 are scheduled to be back. The quartet
is headed by an all-star candidate in senior Josh Hawkins, who appeared in
13 games and made 11 starts. Hawkins produced 44 tackles and a team-best
five interceptions. Senior Rocco Scarfone (13 games) and junior DeShaun Amos
(13 games) each made one start a year ago, and junior DaShawn Benton saw
action in 11 games. Sophomore Travis Phillips (one game) is also back.
WHO'S GONE: A two-year corner starter,
Detric Allen capped his career with a strong senior season in which he made
60 tackles.
NEED FOR 2012: Hawkins and Scarfone are
gone after next season and Amos and Benton follow after 2016. The focus at
corner should be on securing at least two very good ones. The Pirates
already have their eyes on two Floridians in 5-10, 173-pound Malek Young
from Coconut Creek and Roger Cray, a 5-9, 165-pounder from Lake City.
OVERALL DEFENSIVE GRADE → C+
Although not quite as impressive as the
prospects ECU
signed on the offensive side, the
defensive class is a solid group with some immediate impact players like
Darius Wright and helps enhance the program depth at every position.
OVERALL CLASS GRADE → B
Coach Ruffin McNeill noted the Pirates
were after quality not quantity in this class, and that's exactly what they
produced. The
offensive recruits are clearly the
stars, but under-rated guys like Justin Brown, Corey Seargeant, Kyron
Speller and Darius Wright have the potential to be big contributors very
early on defense or special teams. If ECU had held onto to some of the
recruits who defected from the class, like Danny Thomas and Emmanuel Olenga,
the defensive and overall grades would have been even higher. But B makes it
one of the better signing groups in the American Athletic Conference in our
opinion.
E-mail Sammy Batten
PAGE UPDATED
02/16/15 07:50 PM.
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