Tom Hall had just been named head football coach at Blessed Trinity High School in March 2021 when he received a request from a surprising source. Former Parade All-American, three-year starter at the University of Georgia and first-round National Football League draft pick Charles Grant wanted to meet with Hall regarding his son. Hall was… [ More… ]
Recent News & Features
VIEW FROM THE EAST
Pirates in grind mode
East Carolina offensive coordinator Donnie Kirkpatrick is just over three weeks away from matching wits with an N.C. State defense that returns 10 starters from a 9-3 team. His focus for the present is preparing his platoon in preseason camp. ECU will scrimmage Saturday morning, a break from the specific structure of the sessions thus… [ More… ]
ECU Recruiting News
Pirates find a gem in Palmetto State receiver
When it comes to developing under-rated receivers into record breakers at the college level, few programs have done that better than East Carolina. From Mitchell Galloway to Justin Hardy to Tyler Snead, the Pirates have excelled at making stars out of receivers who were lightly recruited or joined the program as walk-on players. Galloway and… [ More… ]
VIEW FROM THE EAST
Pirates (No. 73?) open preseason camp
East Carolina is scheduled to start preseason camp at 9:40 this morning and conclude the initial workout at 11:50 a.m. “I expect us to look like a really good football team day one,” said ECU coach Mike Houston last week. “There’s really no excuses not to. The guys that are going to be on the… [ More… ]
ECU Recruiting News
Official visit swayed North Mecklenburg star
The path of Demoris Jenkins’ football career is an old tale for a new age. Jenkins, a 6-foot-5, 220-pounder, grew up just outside Charlotte in Huntersville, NC, with hopes of becoming a college basketball player and beyond. He dreamed of playing for state 4-A powerhouse North Mecklenburg and its heralded basketball coach Duane Lewis, who… [ More… ]
VIEW FROM THE EAST
Houston looks ahead on AAC Media Day
As is customary for media day in the American Athletic Conference, commissioner Mike Aresco led off Thursday with remarks addressing the myriad of issues that confront college football — NIL, the transfer portal, conference realignment and its consequential shift in the balance of power, and possible expansion of the College Football Playoff. Aresco said the… [ More… ]
ECU Recruiting News
Physical Georgia receiver poses tough matchup
Sometimes early talent assessments do become reality. Such was the case with Malik Leverett, who was a dominant player at Greenbriar Middle School in Evans, GA, during the 2017 and 2018 season. As an eighth grader in 2018, Leverett piled up almost 1,000 yards rushing and scored 24 touchdowns, despite sitting out the fourth quarter… [ More… ]
VIEW FROM THE EAST
Pirates continue development
East Carolina’s 2022 season ended with a 35-13 home loss to No. 4 Cincinnati on Nov. 26 with the cancellation of the Military Bowl. The Pirates, coming off a 7-5 campaign, return to action on Sept. 3 at noon against N.C. State at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. Spring practice culminated on April 9, but player development and… [ More… ]
ECU Recruiting News
Pirates project lineman Durant as center
Kameron Durant, a 6-foot-3, 305-pound offensive lineman from Summerville, SC, sent out emails last February to 100 college football coaches in an effort to generate recruiting interest. Only one coach responded — East Carolina offensive line coach Steve Shankweiler. Shankweiler, who has more than 40 years of coaching experience at the college level, was acquainted… [ More… ]