Bonesville: The Authoritative Independent Voice of East Carolina

News & Features from ECU, the AAC and Beyond

  • Home
  • News & Features
  • Recruiting
  • Photos
  • Audio
  • Roundup
  • Comments
  • Legacy Archives

• ECU 2022 Football Schedule
• ECU 2022-23 Hoops Schedule
• ECU 2023 Baseball Schedule

— Recruiting Thumbnails —
Football: 2023 • Hoops: 2023-24

Football Recruiting Report: Pirates land a center with pedigree

May 23, 2016 By Sammy Batten Leave a Comment

Tweet
Share
Share
Pin
John Spellacy (247sports.com
John Spellacy (247sports.com

He’s part of a prestigious Cleveland, Ohio-area family that has a long history of public service. Like the majority of males in his family, John attends St. Ignatius High School, a highly regarded private school for boys known for excellence in academics, athletics and the performing arts.

“My great grandfather, my grandfather, my dad, all my uncles and cousins all went there,” John Spellacy. “It’s one of the best schools in Ohio.”

Attending St. Ignatius has afforded Spellacy the opportunity to play football for an Ohio legend in school alum Chuck Kyle, who has coached the Wildcats to a record 11 state championships and more than 300 total victories over the last four decades.

Kyle also coached Spellacy’s father, also named John, a talented linebacker recently named to the Marshall University Athletics Hall of Fame.

The younger Spellacy will follow in his father’s footsteps again, this time as a college football player with the East Carolina Pirates. Spellacy joined ECU’s recruiting Class of 2017 while on a visit to campus in late April.

A 6-foot-1, 285-pound center, Spellacy picked the Pirates over offers from Army and N.C. Central. He was also receiving interest from Bowling Green and Syracuse.

“They (ECU staff) first got in touch with me in early April,” Spellacy said. “I really didn’t know anything about East Carolina at the time. But the more I talked with their coaches the more I liked them. And the more they watched my film, the more they seemed to like me.

“So I visited there for their Elite Junior Day (April 9) and was offered. Then I went back two weeks later with more of my family members. I really liked it and felt at home. So I committed.”

The opportunity fulfilled a dream for Spellacy, who grew up hoping to play college football like his father.

The elder Spellacy starred for Marshall as its football program was finally overcoming the tragic airplane crash in 1970 that has forever linked that school to East Carolina. The Thundering Herd had lost to the Pirates on November 14 and were traveling back home when the crash occurred outside of Huntington, WV, killing all 75 people on board, including the team’s players and coaches.

Marshall was on the rebound in 1985 when the elder Spellacy joined the program as a middle linebacker. He would go on to record 392 career tackles (eighth on career list), 27 tackles for loss and seven sacks in a four-year career that was highlighted by the Thundering Herd advancing to the NCAA Division I-AA title game in ’87.

“My family has always had a strong connection to football,” the younger Spellacy said. “I played hockey when I was younger, and basketball. I also played baseball my freshman year in high school. I played first base and I was decent. But football was always the thing I loved the most. That’s why I eventually gave up baseball because I knew I wanted to play football at the next level.”

Spellacy made the St. Ignatius varsity football team as a sophomore. He’s played center and defensive line for the Wildcats the last two season and earned All-Northeast Lakes District honors as a junior.

The Pirates have recruited Spellacy to play center.

“I’m a true center,” Spellacy said. “I’d say my number on strength is quickness. I’m able to get around with my feet and I use good technique. I’m pretty strong, too, and I have the knowledge to read defenses to call out our blocking schemes.”

The Pirates used three different players at center last season due in part to injuries. Two of those players, J.T. Boyd and Christian Matau, are expected to return in 2016. But Boyd completes his eligibility following the 2016 season and Matau will be a senior in 2017.

Spellacy is the fourth player to make a verbal commitment to the Pirates for the Class of 2017 and is the first offensive lineman.

Related

Tweet
Share
Share
Pin

Filed Under: FB Recruiting Class of 2017, Football Recruiting

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent News & Features

ECU Recruiting News
Towering lineman Neolian still honing skills (updated)

Basketball News
Pirates top SMU, 77-72

VIEW FROM THE EAST: NORTH TEXAS
The new American

Basketball News
ECU rally falls short

ECU Recruiting News
More help is on the way to ECU secondary

Basketball News
Porter leads Shockers past Pirates

VIEW FROM THE EAST: FAU
The new American

Basketball News
Pirates rally past Tulsa to snap losing streak

ECU Recruiting News
Portal delivers blue chipper RaRa Dillworth

VIEW FROM THE EAST: CHARLOTTE
The new American

More News & Features

ECU Schedules

  • ECU 2021 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2020-21 Basketball Schedule
  • ECU 2021 Baseball Schedule

ECU Recruiting

  • Football Recruiting Class of 2021
  • Football Recruiting Class of 2020
  • Football Recruiting Class of 2019
  • Football Recruiting Class of 2018
  • Football Recruiting Class of 2017
  • Hoops Recruiting Class of 2021-22
  • Hoops Recruiting Class of 2020-21
  • Hoops Recruiting Class of 2019-20
  • Hoops Recruiting Class of 2018-19
  • Hoops Recruiting Class of 2017-18
  • Hoops Recruiting Class of 2016-17

Past Football Schedules

  • ECU 2020 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2019 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2018 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2017 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2016 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2015 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2014 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2013 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2012 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2011 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2010 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2009 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2008 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2007 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2006 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2005 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2004 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2003 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2002 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2001 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2000 Football Schedule
  • Historical Schedules

Past Basketball Schedules

  • ECU 2019-20 Basketball Schedule
  • ECU 2018-19 Basketball Schedule
  • ECU 2017-18 Basketball Schedule
  • ECU 2016-17 Basketball Schedule
  • ECU 2000-2015 Basketball Archives

Past Baseball Schedules

  • ECU 2020 Baseball Schedule
  • ECU 2019 Baseball Schedule
  • ECU 2018 Baseball Schedule
  • ECU 2017 Baseball Schedule
  • ECU 2016 Baseball Schedule
  • ECU 2015 Baseball Schedule
  • ECU 2001-2014 Baseball Archives

Recruiting Class Profiles

ECU Recruiting News
Towering lineman Neolian still honing skills (updated)

ECU Recruiting News
More help is on the way to ECU secondary

ECU Recruiting News
Portal delivers blue chipper RaRa Dillworth

Class of 2023 Early Signing Review (UPDATED)
Pirates tap transfer portal for more talent

AAC Early Signing Review
New members dive into AAC recruiting wars

Class of 2023 Early Signing Review
First wave of recruits just the beginning

ECU Recruiting News
Brown finds way to ECU through portal

ECU Recruiting News
Transfer safety McDaniel destined for ECU

ECU Recruiting News
Pirates land coveted Spartanburg quarterback

ECU Recruiting News
Swift ECU recruit ‘in a class of his own’

ECU Recruiting News
Pirates win out for Georgia prep linebacker

ECU Recruiting News
Linebacker with pedigree charts path to ECU

ECU Recruiting News
Pirates find a gem in Palmetto State receiver

ECU Recruiting News
Official visit swayed North Mecklenburg star

ECU Recruiting News
Physical Georgia receiver poses tough matchup

ECU Recruiting News
Pirates project lineman Durant as center

ECU Recruiting News
ECU spotted potential in Conley lineman

ECU Recruiting News
ECU lands fleet-footed Georgia defensive back

ECU Recruiting News
‘Football town’ helps draw Short to Pirates

ECU Recruiting News
ECU targets edge rushers

ECU Recruiting News
Pirates aim high for interior line talent

ECU Recruiting News
Well stocked Pirates enter fray for O-linemen

ECU Recruiting News
ECU faces uphill battle in hunt for tight ends

ECU Recruiting News
Pirates cast wide net for wide receivers

ECU Recruiting News
Loaded Pirates still courting running backs

Recent Web Roundups

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Wednesday, February 8, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Monday, February 6, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Sunday, February 5, 2023

Writer Archives

  • Bonesville Staff
  • Brian Bailey
  • Sammy Batten
  • Bethany Bradsher
  • Brett Friedlander
  • Al Myatt
  • NFF
  • Greg Vacek
  • Danny Whitford

Recent Web Roundups

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Wednesday, February 8, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Monday, February 6, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Sunday, February 5, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Saturday, February 4, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Friday, February 3, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Thursday, February 2, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Wednesday, February 1, 2023

More Web Roundups

Copyright © 2023 Bonesville.net · Website by Seaport Webworks. · Log in · Privacy Policy