East Carolina Football Recruiting News | Recruiting Class of 2014

This page last updated: 08.11.13

Most recent: Added thumbnail sketch on Ocean Lakes (VA) OLB Massadiq Walton

Total known commitments to date: 7

Thumbnails are included for players who have signed letters of intent or made non-binding verbal commitments during the Class of 2014 recruiting process.

Thumbnails compiled by Al Myatt.
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Text in BOLD BLUE CAPS denotes
link to full-length feature profile
by recruiting analyst Sammy Batten.

STEPHEN BAGGETT (6-5, 221), TE, Beaufort, SC ... Baggett committed to the Pirates on Wednesday, June 19 after receiving offers from Appalachian State and Charlotte. ... He was reportedly impressive in a workout at an ECU camp on June 12. ... Special teams coordinator Kirk Doll handled Baggett's recruitment. ... His hometown is listed as Ladys Island, SC. ... Baggett had 18 catches for 372 yards with four touchdowns as the Eagles were 4-7 overall in 2012. ... Beaufort is coached by Mark Clifford, who earned his Master's degree from ECU. ... Baggett said he liked ECU's offense and the program's family atmosphere. ... He runs 40 yards in 4.6 seconds. ... He has also played defensive end at Beaufort but projects on the offensive side for the Pirates. [Listed 06.22.13]

JOE CARTER (6-2, 210) LB, Ponte Vedra High School, Ponte Vedra, FL ... Carter committed to East Carolina on June 28 after a recruiting period handled by Pirates defensive coordinator Rick Smith. ... He also had offers from Air Force, Appalachian State and UAB. ... Carter took an unofficial visit to Michigan State in June. ... Programs showing interest included Virginia, Ball State and Valdosta State. ... Carter's weight-lifting numbers include 285 pounds in the bench press, 245 pounds in the clean and 425 pounds in the squat. ... He has a 3.4 grade point average. ... The Sharks went 9-2 in 2012 under Coach Mike Lloyd. ... Carter had a blocked punt and a sack in a 21-3 season-opening loss to Orange Park. ... Ponte Vedra won nine straight before a season-ending 16-13 loss to Bishop Kenny in which Carter had four solo tackles and one assist. ... Carter had an interception return for 10 yards in a 31-14 win over Palatka on Oct.19. ... He finished the season with four tackles for losses and two sacks. ... Carter had a season high eight tackles (three solo, five assists) against Orange Park. ... He recorded seven tackles twice, against cross town foe Nease in a 35-7 win on Sept. 21 and against Matanzas in a 34-3 victory on Oct. 5. [Listed 07.10.13]

KYLE ERICKSON (6-4, 285) OL, Fayetteville (NC) Jack Britt High School ... Erickson became East Carolina's first commitment for the February, 2014 signing class prior to the Purple-Gold spring football game on April 20. ... Britt is coached by Brian Rimpf, a 3-time All-Conference USA selection at ECU who went on to play four seasons for the Baltimore Ravens. ... Britt won the Eastern 4-AA championship in 2012. ... Erickson moved up to the varsity during his freshman season at Britt. ... He has played left tackle for the Buccaneers but is projected as a center or guard for the Pirates. ... Erickson made the All-Mid-South 4-A Conference team last season and also was on the All-Cape Fear region team chosen by The Fayetteville Observer. ... Erickson's commitment was reported by Fayetteville Observer and Bonesville writer Sammy Batten. ... Duke, North Carolina and Wake Forest had shown interest in Erickson. ... Rimpf said Erickson has an aggressive mentality and wants to play. ... Erickson said he liked the players in the program and academic emphasis in addition to the football atmosphere at ECU. ... Erickson helped Britt to a Cumberland county-best 5,422 yards of total offense last season. [Listed 04.23.13]

ERIK LENZEN (6-6, 280) OT, Cardinal Gibbons, Fort Lauderdale, FL ... Lenzen committed to ECU on July 1 after weighing offers from Bowling Green, Florida International, Massachusetts, South Alabama and Toledo. ... Pirates offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley and ECU offensive line coach Brandon Jones handled his recruitment. ... Gibbons offensive coordinator Matt DuBuc is a former wide receiver at Texas Tech, where Jones and Riley graduated. ... The Warriors are coached by Michael Morrill. ... Gibbons was 7-3 in 2012 after starting 6-0. ... Lenzen has quick feet, good running ability and is an effective pass blocker. ... He said he expects to redshirt as a freshman before competing for playing time at offensive tackle. ... Lenzen is ranked No. 18 in Broward County by the Sun-Sentinel newspaper. [Listed 07.02.13]

CODY PURDIE (5-10, 175) S, New Bern (NC) High School ... Purdie played linebacker for New Bern's 2012 state 4-A champions. ... He accepted an offer from East Carolina on June 10. ... Purdie has started for the Bears since his sophomore season. ... New Bern, coached by Bobby Curlings, was 15-0 last season, topping Porter Ridge, 39-38, for the state title. ... Purdie forced a fumble on a blitz in the third quarter that Curlings said helped change momentum in the championship game. ... Purdie had a team-high 143 tackles last season with 10 sacks and 20 tackles for loss. ... On the offensive side, Purdie's contributions included 177 yards rushing with eight touchdowns on just 28 carries. ... He is projected as a safety at ECU. ... Charlotte, North Carolina-Chapel Hill and N.C. State had shown interest in the Bears' versatile standout. [Listed 06.20.13]

DREW TURNAGE (6-0, 185) S, Ayden-Grifton High School ... Started on the varsity as a freshman at free safety during the state playoffs. ... Earned All-Carolina 1-A Conference and All-Pitt County honors as a junior. ... ECU defensive coordinator/secondary coach Rick Smith made a scholarship offer to Turnage on May 10 and he made a verbal commitment to the Pirates on May 13. ... Turnage moved from linebacker on the Charger JV to safety on the varsity after an injury sidelined the starter. ... Turnage held the position down during playoff wins over Trask (42-21) and Gates County (28-13). ... As a sophomore, Turnage started in the secondary and also saw time at running back ran as the team went 13-2 and finished as state runner-up in the 1-AA class with a 20-14 loss to Swain County in the championship game. ... Turnage ran for more than 500 yards last season as Ayden-Grifton went 9-3. ... Turnage has been clocked in 4.4 seconds for 40 yards. ...He's also getting it done in the classroom with a 3.0 grade point average. ... Also has participated in track and field for the Chargers in sprints, sprint relays and long jump. ... Recruited as a safety for the Pirates, a position that will undergo significant graduation losses over the next two years. ... Coached by Paul Cornwell at Ayden-Grifton. [Listed 06.12.13]

MASSADIQ WALTON (6-4, 240) OLB, Ocean Lakes High School, Virginia Beach, VA ... Walton committed to East Carolina on August 9. ... He had also received an offer from the Naval Academy and had received interest from Virginia Tech, James Madison and Massachusetts. ... Walton played for a 14-1 team in 2012. ... The Dolphins are coached by Chris Scott. ... Walton called ECU associate head coach John Wiley to accept ECU's scholarship offer. ... He plans to major in engineering. ... Walton reportedly possesses a good mix of pass rushing and run stopping skills. ... Ocean Lakes also has freshman defensive end Demetri McGill and sophomore offensive lineman Chaz Lowery in the Pirates' program. ... Ocean Lakes was 8-3-1 in 2011. [Listed 08.11.13]