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

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

Football Recruiting
Former Duke pledge Romero pivots to Pirates

July 2, 2019 By Sammy Batten Leave a Comment

Tweet
Share
Share
Pin

Because of the major college talent ahead of him, Jason Romero didn’t have the chance to really shine until his junior season for state 4-A powerhouse Scotland County HIgh School. And even then, Romero played in just eight games before an injury sent him to the sidelines.

But the lack of experience didn’t keep major college programs such as Duke, Coastal Carolina, Florida International, Old Dominion, Temple and Wake Forest from handing out scholarship offers to the defensive end. The Atlantic Coast Conference Blue Devils, in fact, coaxed a verbal commitment out of Romero last September.

Romero did eventually back off that pledge in early December, opening the door for East Carolina and its new coaching staff headed by Mike Houston. After hosting Romero during a Juinor Day in March and for football camp earlier this month, the Pirates finally secured a pledge from the 6-foot-5, 240-pounder on June 24.

Jason Romero (247sports.com)

The time spent on campus for camp on the weekend of June 15 cemented Romero’s decision to choose ECU.

“It impacted it (decision) a lot,” Romero said. “I talked to the starting defensive end, and really the whole defensive line. The players really showed me a lot about East Carolina, and the coaches were telling me how I was a player they really needed. It was just a great experience and made me realize ECU is the best fit for me.”

Scotland coach Richard Bailey believes the Pirates will be getting the best football version of Romero, who spent his formative years in Strasburg, PA, before moving to Marlboro County, SC, for his seventh- and eighth-grade years.

Romero moved to Laurinburg, NC, as a freshman where he played for the Scotland junior varsity for a season. He made 113 tackles and 20 tackles for loss with the JVs.

“He was a raw … a tall, skinny kid at the time who could run,” Scotland’s veteran head coach Richard Bailey said. “You could definitely see the potential.”

“Potential” couldn’t get Romero on the field for many varsity snaps as a sophomore on a senior-laden team that would finish 12-2 and reach the state 4-A championship game. Two big talents standing in Romero’s way that season were senior Tony Smith and sophomore Mohamed Kaba.

Smith was the Fighting Scots’ sack leader for two straight seasons and wound up earning a scholarship offer to play at Georgia State, where he’ll be a redshirt freshman in 2019. Kaba was a sophomore sensation who ranked just behind Smith in tackles for loss and sacks. Now a rising senior linebacker at Clinton High School, Kaba made a verbal commitment to South Carolina in May.

“It helped me mature being around Tony and Muhamed,” Romero said. “My work ethic blew up.”

With Smith graduated and Kaba transferring to Clinton, Romero took center stage on the Scotland defensive front as the 2018 season got underway. He made eight tackles and two sacks in the second game of the season against Durham Hillside and followed that up with a 10-tackle, two-sack effort against Marlboro County.

Then came Hurricane Florence in September. The storm forced postponement of football games, and flooding in the aftermath disrupted the county’s water service and prompted mandatory evacuations in some areas.

Romero left the county to take refuge with relatives in Durham. The situation became so severe in Scotland County that Romero actually considered staying in Durham and playing for Northern Durham High as a mid-season transfer. But when it became evident he wouldn’t be eligible at Northern Durham, Romero headed back to Laurinburg where he rejoined the Fighting Scots in early October, making seven tackles and a tackle for loss in his return against Hoke County.

Just when Romero was started to hit his stride, he suffered a neck injury in the final minutes against rival Richmond County that ended his season. Still, Romero finished with 51 tackles, six tackles for loss and six sacks over eight games.

Bailey is a veteran coach who has helped develop more than 20 Football Bowl Subdivision players in an 18-year career between Fayetteville’s Jack Britt High and Scotland. They include current active players such as Georgia State’s Smith, North Carolina linebacker Jonathan Smith and Georgia running back Zamir White.

Bailey says Romero’s skills are comparable to another big-time talent he coached at Jack Britt, former Appalachian State and NFL player Marques Murrell. Murrell produced 36 career sacks and set a school record with 18 forced fumbles in helping Appalachian State win consecutive NCAA Division I-AA titles in 2005 and 2006.

“Jason is a probably a little like Marques Murrell,” Bailey said. “He’s a little taller and bigger than Marques was in high school. If Marques had been a little bigger he would have been at Florida State instead of Appalachian State. But they both run well, are fast off the edge and have a high motor. Jason definitely has the potential to be a big-time player, too. He’s still raw. I think his best football is still ahead of him.”

As an example of Romero’s potential, Bailey recalled a play the defensive end made on special teams last season against Lumberton.

“He picks up a short kickoff and starts running it back,” Bailey said. “He’s running over and away from people for about 38 yards. It was impressive and was a great example of his athleticism.”

With four of the six players anticipated to be on ECU’s depth chart at the defensive end positions next fall scheduled to exit the program over the next two years, Romero believes he’ll have the opportunity to compete for playing time immediately when he arrives on campus in 2020.

“Absolutely. I feel like after my senior season I’ll go ahead straight to college,” he said. “I feel like if I work hard enough I can play or even start as a freshman.”

Romero’s commitment gives ECU 10 in the month of June and 13 overall. He’s the second defensive lineman to pick the Pirates, following West Brunswick High tackle J’Vian McCray.

RECRUITING CLASS OF 2020 THUMBNAILS…
RECRUITING CLASS OF 2019 THUMBNAILS…

Related

Tweet
Share
Share
Pin

Filed Under: Football Recruiting, News & Features, Recruiting, Recruiting Class of 2020

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

Recent News & Features

THE SPORTS OBJECTIVE: ABSOLUTE EMPOWERMENT
Jeff Connors with Vonta Leach

ECU Recruiting News
Class of 2024 starts with prized receiver

Baseball News
ECU completes sweep

Baseball News
Pirates take series with walkoff win

Baseball News
Godwin passes Godwin

VIEW FROM THE EAST
Pirates have work to do

Baseball News
Pirates nip Tribe, 6-5

Baseball News
Seahawks top No. 10 ECU

ECU Recruiting News
Late pitch lures lineman with pedigree

Baseball News
ECU takes doubleheader for series sweep

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
Class of 2024 starts with prized receiver

ECU Recruiting News
Late pitch lures lineman with pedigree

Recruiting Evaluation Part 2: Defense
Report card: Quality talent fills big holes

Recruiting Evaluation Part 1: Offense
Report card: Pirates reload at skill spots

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

Recent Web Roundups

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Monday, March 20, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Sunday, March 19, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Saturday, March 18, 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
Monday, March 20, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Sunday, March 19, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Saturday, March 18, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Friday, March 17, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Thursday, March 16, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Tuesday, March 14, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Monday, March 13, 2023

More Web Roundups

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