Editor’s note: The “TIGHT END/H-BACK” section of this article has been updated since the original publication date.

The COVID-19 pandemic had a dramatic impact on the 2020 college football season and recruiting for the Class of 2021.

With summer camps and visits to campus all but erased due to virus outbreak, coaching staffs had to get creative in pursuit of talent. Zoom calls and virtual campus tours became the new normal in recruiting.

But despite the challenges, East Carolina still managed to add significant offensive talent to its roster for the 2021 season, especially at the skill positions.

As we do annually, here’s Bonesville’s position-by-position grades for ECU’s Class of 2021 offensive recruits. We’ll speculate on how each player fits into the Pirate program, project the best organizational profile we can, and look ahead to what the program may need as the coaching staff pursues the recruiting Class of 2022.

QUARTERBACK B+

WHAT THEY NEEDED: The ECU quarterback room was already stocked with young talent, so there was no urgency to sign anyone in the Class of 2021. Four of the five returning scholarship quarterbacks are now listed as freshmen or redshirt freshmen due to the NCAA granting everyone an extra year of eligibility because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Even three-year starter Holton Ahlers is now a junior eligibility-wise when under normal circumstances he’d be entering his senior campaign in 2021.

WHO SIGNED: Walter “Tre” Simmons III (6-2, 180) was one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the 2021 recruiting class and is rated the No. 3 signal caller in the state of Florida by 247Sports.com. Simmons racked up 5,745 career passing yards and 830 rushing as a four-year starter at Oakleaf High School in Orange Park. He entertained scholarship offers from 20 FBS programs, including Georgia Tech, Illinois, LSU, Virginia Tech and West Virginia before choosing ECU last August.

HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF: Simmons, whose father and grandfather were college football players, is a splendid athlete capable of making big plays with his arm and legs. He decribes himself as a cross between Lamar Jackson and Russell Wilson. ““I have the legs of Lamar and the arm of Russell Wilson. Being able to take over a game goes with the Russell Wilson part, too.” As an early enrollee, Simmons will get his feet wet at ECU during spring practice. But with Ahlers entrenched as the starter and Garcia a solid number two at this point, Simmons isn’t likely to see much action in 2021. His all-around skills, however, should make a him a factor on the quarterback depth chart by 2022.

BIG ONE THAT GOT AWAY: Billy Edwards from Burke, VA, was an early quarterback target for the Pirates, who extended a scholarship offer in June 2019 while he was on campus for an unofficial visit. Edwards returned to Greenville again in September, but ECU was his only FBS offer at that point. Over the next few months, Edwards added 10 more FBS schools to his list and eventually made a verbal commitment to Old Dominion in June 2020. He backed off that pledge in December to sign with Atlantic Coast Conference member Wake Forest.

WHO’S BACK: Ahlers, through his leadership, charisma and toughness, has been the face of the ECU program since before he stepped on campus. He’s proven pretty effective on the field too, having moved up to sixth on ECU’s career list for passing yardage (7,093), seventh in completions (556), fifth in quarterback rushing yards (1,060) and fourth in total yards (8,153) with at least one more full season to go.

But Ahlers has paid a price with the physical pounding he’s endured while at times carrying the ECU offense. That’s why promising freshman Mason Garcia (6-5, 238) should get more snaps in 2021. Garcia appeared in three games last season, and even made the start against Navy when Ahlers was held out due to COVID-19 protocols. He came close to leading the Pirates to victory while providing 104 yards passing and 63 rushing against the Middies.

Redshirt freshman Alex Flinn (6-1, 219) didn’t play a snap, but ended 2020 at No. 3 on the depth chart behind Ahlers and Garcia. Redshirt freshman Bryan Gagg (6-3, 211) also saw no action in 2020, but played in one game in 2019 when he finished the year as Ahlers’ backup.

Yet another redshirt freshman is Ryan Stubblefield (5-10, 208), who will battle Flinn and Gagg for the QB3 spot on the depth chart this spring.

Walk-on Ty Moss (6-1, 194) rounds out the quarterbacks on ECU’s current 2021 roster.

WHO’S GONE: Popular walk-on Caiden Norman spent four years as one of the program’s top scout team performers and as the sideline signal caller on game days. Norman appeared in three games during his career and completed one of two passes he attempted.

NEEDS FOR 2022: Barring injuries or transfers, quarterback doesn’t loom as a major priority for ECU in the Class of 2022. Still, the Pirates jumped in early with a June 2019 offer to Sicklerville, NJ, quarterback Donovan Leary (6-2, 190), the younger brother of N.C. State quarterback Devin Leary. The Pirates are one of 11 schools that have offered Leary, though oddly the Wolfpack aren’t one of those. Leary completed 83 of 162 passes for 996 yards and five scores in a six-game junior campaign at Timber Creek High.

PROJECTED PRE-SPRING DEPTH CHART

Holton Ahlers, Junior
Mason Garcia, Freshman
Alex Flinn, Redshirt freshman
Bryan Gagg, Redshirt freshman
Ryan Stubblefield, Redshirt freshman
Walter Simmons III, Freshman
Ty Moss, Redshirt freshman

RUNNING BACK B+

WHAT THEY NEEDED: East Carolina was already well stocked with young and experienced running back talent when the 2021 recruiting cycle began. The Pirates added Arkansas graduate transfer Chase Hayden last May, which further increased the depth. But while the need wasn’t immediate to bolster the running back corps, signing at least one in each cycle is standard.

WHO SIGNED: Despite the loaded ECU running back stable, and being pursued by at least seven Southeastern Conference programs, including national champ Alabama, Joseph McKay (6-0, 216) opted for the Pirates five days after receiving an offer in early December. A rare four-year varsity player at Central High in Phenix City, AL, McKay capped his career by earning Player of Year honors from the Opelika-Auburn News as a senior. He ran 158 times for 1,523 yards and 19 touchdowns. The performance included three 200-yard games and helped McKay set a school career record with 55 touchdowns.

HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF: McKay’s power and balance make him a difficult runner to tackle. He also has the speed to outrun defenders once in the open field. In many ways, he’s similar to last year’s ECU freshman sensation, Rahjai Harris. With the defections suffered by ECU’s running back corps since the end of the 2020 season, McKay could wind up in the game rotation with Harris and Keaton Mitchell next fall.

BIG ONE THAT GOT AWAY: This is a first, but we’re not talking about a prospect. Instead, the departure of a prominent member of the coaching staff gets this distinction. Running backs coach Da’Rail Sims was only at ECU for two seasons, but had a major impact on the program. Sims was an excellent recruiter, who helped land not only last year’s freshman rushing duo of Rahjai Harris and Keaton Mitchell, but also receiver Tajh Hudson in the 2020 class, and running back Joseph McKay and safety Cruz Temple in 2021. Louisville lured him away for a similar position in January and the Pirates have replaced him with Chris Foster, who spent the last five seasons at Georgia Southern.

WHO’S BACK: The top two rushers from 2020 and leading ground gainer from 2019 are all expected to return. Freshmen Rahjai Harris (5-10, 228) and Keaton Mitchell (5-9, 181) proved to be an effective one-two punch for the Pirates in their rookie campaign. Harris led ECU with 624 yards rushing on 128 carries and scored four times to earn All-American Athletic Conference and league Rookie of the Year honors. Mitchell ranked just behind Harris with 443 yards on 88 rushes, while also contributing as a receiver and kick returner.

Sophomore Demetrius Mauney (6-0, 202) played in 12 games and started four as a rookie in 2019 when he produced a team-best 446 yards on 125 carries. Mauney saw action in six games last season, but due to nagging injuries and COVID-19 protocols missed time and didn’t log a single carry. A return to freshman form for Mauney in 2021 would be a major boost to ECU’s running game.

Other returning members of the ECU running back corps are redshirt freshman walk-on Derrick Alston Jr. (5-10, 204) and sophomore walk-on Asa Barnes (5-9, 207). Barnes appeared in two games in the second half of 2020, but didn’t record a carry.

WHO’S GONE: Attrition, by graduation and transfer, took a significant bite out of ECU’s running back roster. The opening-day starter for 2020, Darris Pinnix, decided to enter the transfer portal following a difficult season in which he lost his father and saw playing time diminish with the emergence of Harris and Mitchell. Pinnix departed after having played in 32 games with 15 starts for the Pirates, and 860 career rushing yards.

Another veteran back, Trace Christian, took the graduation route. Christian played in 25 games and made two starts during his ECU career, and finished with 431 yards rushing.

One of the biggest disappointments of 2020 for the Pirates was Chase Hayden. It was with much fanfare and excitement that Hayden joined the ECU program as a graduate transfer last May from Arkansas. He was a proven talent from the SEC who was expected to make an immediate impact for the Pirates. But after three games and 16 carries for 62 yards, Hayden opted to skip the rest of the 2020 season. He entered the transfer portal and committed to Illinois in early January.

NEEDS FOR 2022: The Pirates have a young running back group with the top four on the depth chart classified as freshmen or sophomores. But they are only an injury or transfer away from being down to one or two scholarship rushers. So signing two in the Class of 2022 should be a high priority.

ECU has cast its recruiting net over a handful of four-star backs, including two of North Carolina’s top prospects in the 2022 class. The Pirates were the first to offer 5-9, 203-pound Michael Allen, who plays in the shadow of Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium at Greenville’s Rose High School. ECU’s offer came right after a sophomore season in which Allen rushed for 906 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Like Allen, Cleveland High’s Omarion Hampton is being recruited on a national level. The 6-foot, 218-pounder racked up 2,402 yards and scored 35 times as a sophomore and is now up to 18 FBS offers, including ECU, which extended last May.

A third four-star back on ECU’s radar is George Pettway (5-11, 185) from Nansemond-Suffolk Academy in Suffolk, VA. Pettaway received a June 2020 offer from ECU to join a competition along with 22 other programs.

PROJECTED PRE-SPRING DEPTH CHART

Rahjai Harris, Freshman
Keaton Mitchell, Freshman
Demetrius Mauney, Sophomore
Asa Barnes, Sophomore
Derrick Alston Jr., Redshirt freshman
*Joseph McKay, Freshman

*Denotes player signed, but not enrolled yet

WIDE RECEIVER B-

WHAT THEY NEEDED: Three or even four receivers was the target number when the recruiting cycle began based on potential graduation losses over the next two seasons. The NCAA ruling granting an extra year of eligibility to players altered that need. But with four to five receivers in position to opt out of that extra year after 2021, signing three was still a legitimate objective.

WHO SIGNED: Troy Lewis, a rangy 6-3, 200-pounder from Matoaca High in Chesterfield, VA, was part of a successful stretch of verbal commitments secured by ECU in June and July last year. Lewis was named Matoaca team MVP as a junior when he hauled in 35 catches for 672 yards and five touchdowns. The performance also earned him third-team All-Region 5B honors.

T.J. Lockley (6-0, 175) played quarterback at Mainland High in Daytona Beach, FL., as a senior and first made a verbal commitment to Illinois. But a staff change there prompted Lockley to re-open his recruitment and East Carolina reaped the benefit. Lockley completed 85 of 160 passes for 1,071 yards and 13 touchdowns as a senior, while also rushing 69 times for 410 yards and another score.

HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF: Lewis is a big target with great length, who developed the ability to run away from defenders as a junior. He projects as an outside receiver in the mold of current Pirate C.J. Johnson.

Although Lockley played quarterback as a prep senior, he does have experience as a receiver. He played the position effectively as a junior. Lockley will play in the slot for ECU where his speed and shifty moves make him a dynamic, big-play prospect with the ball in his hands.

BIG ONE THAT GOT AWAY: A pair of quality receiver prospects who first made verbal pledges to the Pirates wound up abandoning ship. Three-star Toler Keigley from Mobile Christian School in Mobile, AL, committed to ECU in early July, but eventually had a change of heart and decided to join former prep quarterback teammate Kason Lincke at Western Carolina.

Javonte Sherman, who starred at Valdosta High in Georgia, chose ECU on June 4. But by December was reconsidering his decision. Middle Tennessee State swooped in to take advantage and signed him on Feb. 3.

WHO’S BACK: Five players who recorded a reception from last season return, along with six others others who saw action in at least three games.

Headlining the group are three of the top four pass catchers from 2020 — No. 1 junior Tyler Snead (53 catches, 524 yards, 5 TDs), No. 3 sophomore C.J. Johnson (19-405-6) and No. 4 graduate student Audi Omotosho (18-198-0). Snead, who produced touchdowns receiving, passing and on a return a year ago, was a second-team all-league pick at receiver and as a return specialist. Johnson is the unit’s big-play threat who averaged 21.3 yards per catch.

Junior Cam Burnette (4-69-0) and junior Jsi Hatfield (6-31-0) were also contributors in the receiver rotation.

Freshman Taji Hudson played in nine games without a catch, but finished the 2020 season at No. 2 on the depth chart at the Z receiver position. Senior Jonathan Johnson also appeared in nine games and completed the year at No. 3 at X receiver.

Freshman Tyler Savage (three games), sophomore Andrew Pegues (six games), junior Maceo Donald (five games) and redshirt freshman Cam Burgess (three games) are other returning receivers who experienced playing time in 2020.

Redshirt freshman Terrance Copper Jr., redshirt freshman Kerry King, redshirt freshman Josh Murphy and freshman Hunter Harrelson round out the receiver returnees on the spring roster.

WHO’S GONE: Blake Proehl was one of the most reliable receivers in ECU history. Proehl caught almost everything thrown his way over a four-year career, finishing with 130 receptions for 1,576 yards and nine touchdowns. Proehl could have taken advantage of the extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA, but opted instead to begin pursuit of a pro career. His leadership, work ethic and play on the field will be missed.

NEEDS FOR 2022: Omotosho and Johnson will be completing their eligibility after 2021, and five others classified as juniors could also set sail. All that makes receiver a big priority in the 2022 class for ECU. Signing as many as four should be the target.

The Pirates are reported to have offered scholarships to 11 receiver prospects in the ’22 class already. One of the biggest names on that list is Shaleak Knotts (6-2, 175) from Monroe, a four-star prospect who has already attracted 19 scholarship offers from schools such as Arkansas, Georgia, Miami, Michigan State, Penn State and Texas.

ECU was also one of the first to extend an offer to Quanye Veney (5-11, 160) from Highland Springs, VA, a talented receiver and return specialist who also stars on the basketball court.

PROJECTED PRE-SPRING DEPTH CHART

X OUTSIDE RECEIVER

C.J. Johnson, Sophomore
Cam Burnette, Junior
Jonathan Johnson, Senior
Tyler Savage, Freshman
*Troy Lewis, Freshman

*Denotes player signed, but not enrolled yet

Z OUTSIDE RECEIVER

Audi Omotosho, Graduate student
Taji Hudson, Freshman
Andre Pegues, Sophomore
Cole Burgess, Redshirt freshman
Kerry King, Redshirt freshman

H INSIDE RECEIVER

Tyler Snead, Junior
Jsi Hatfield, Junior
Maceo Donald, Junior
Terrance Copper Jr.
Josh Murphy, Redshirt freshman
*T.J. Lockley, Freshman
Hunter Harrelson, Freshman

*Denotes player signed, but not enrolled yet

TIGHT END/H-BACK A

WHAT THEY NEEDED: Nobody exited the tight end room after the 2020 season, and Traveon Freshwater was also shifted from defense to the position early in the ’20 campaign. Still, there was room to add at least one recruit at the position with Zech Byrd on track to complete his eligibility next fall.

WHO SIGNED: Technically, Ryan Jones is a graduate transfer, but is enrolling at the same time as the recruiting Class of 2021, so we’re including him in this profile. Jones (6-2, 231) was a four-star prospect and some, including yours truly, thought he was the No. 1 recruit in North Carolina as a senior at Mallard Creek High in 2016. He was one of those athletes who could excel on either side of the ball and first committed to North Carolina as a wide receiver. Jones, however, flipped to Oklahoma where he played in 18 games as a linebacker with made three starts before entering the transfer portal. He announced East Carolina as his next destination last June, but his enrollment was delayed a semester when he came up one class short of completing graduation requirements at Oklahoma. Jones completed that class last fall and enrolled at ECU in January.

Jacob Coleman (6-4 215) was a four-year varsity letterwinner at Matoaca High in Chesterfield, VA. Coleman was used at a variety of positions, but as a junior he emerged as a quality tight end prospects when he caught 35 passes for 391 yards and four touchdowns. The performance earned him first-team All-Region 5B honors. Coleman was also a second-team selection at punter. He’s the younger brother of ECU safety Jonathan Coleman.

After the February signing day, the Pirates also picked up graduate transfer Aaron Jarman (6-6, 255) from AAC rival Temple. Jarman, who played his prep ball at nearby North Lenoir High in Kinston, will have three years of eligibility left at ECU.

While at Temple, Jarman saw significant action in 2019 and 2020 on special teams and rotated at tight end. He even made a start as a redshirt freshman against UCF.

HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF: Jones, who’ll have two years of eligibility left at ECU, automatically becomes the best athlete in the tight end room, and that’s saying a lot. Although he hasn’t played offense in several seasons, we expect he’ll make the transition quickly and immediately provide a downfield threat from the tight end spot. Jones has the size to play attached to the line of scrimmage or work as a blocker in the backfield. But his real value is going to be as a receiver who should quickly become a favorite target for quarterback Holton Ahlers.

Coleman is an explosive athlete who has the ability to make jaw-dropping catches. He’s also the kind of big target every quarterback likes to have when in the red zone.

Jarman is an excellent blocker from the tight end position, so he could see action immediately on running plays.

BIG ONE THAT GOT AWAY: ECU jumped into the fray with South Mecklenburg High’s Bryson Nesbit late in the game. As the 6-6, 235-pounder didn’t seem to have a favorite among the 20-plus FBS offers he had at the time, the Pirates decided to make a play last May. The Pirates weren’t among his top five, however, released in October, and Nesbit eventually wound up committing to North Carolina in December right before the early signing period.

WHO’S BACK: All three players who took snaps at tight end in 2020 are scheduled to return next fall. Freshman Shane Calhoun (6-2, 236) started seven of nine games there last season, catching five passes for 83 yards.

Sophomore Jeremy Lewis (6-3, 230) is a versatile player who appeared in six games and made one start. Lewis, who can split out in the slot or play attached to the line, had three catches for 15 yards in 2020. Senior Zech Byrd (6-7, 276) provides the muscle at tight end and is the most experienced of the returnees. Byrd has 18 career games under his belt, including five starts.

Added to the tight group one game into the 2020 season was freshman Traveon Freshwater (6-1, 268), who began his ECU career at defensive tackle. But after seeing action in the season opener against Central Florida, he made the switch to tight end and spent the rest of the year adjusting to the transition. Freshwater is an athletic, physical athlete very capable of blossoming into a major contributor at tight end.

WHO’S GONE: Nobody in ECUs tight end corps departed after the 2020 season.

NEEDS FOR 2022: Byrd will be a senior in 2021, while Jones and Lewis are on track to complete their eligibility following the 2022 campaign. Filling at least two of those spots will be an important task for the Pirates in 2022 recruiting cycle.

Two prospects already on ECU’s radar are Jake Johnson from Bogart, GA, who 247Sports.com ranks the nation’s No. 3 tight end in the 2022 class, and Marques Dunn from Jonesboro, GA.

Johnson (6-5, 210) is the son of former Super Bowl champion Brad Johnson and brother of LSU quarterback Max Johnson. He’s produced 24 touchdown receptions in 26 games at Ocanee County High and the Pirates are among the 14 schools that have extended scholarships to date.

Dunn (6-2, 215) has received offers from Coastal Carolina, ECU, Georgia State, Kent State, Liberty and Pittsburgh among others.

PROJECTED PRE-SPRING DEPTH CHART

Shane Calhoun, Sophomore
Jeremy Lewis, Junior
Zech Byrd, Senior
Ryan Jones, Junior
Aaron Jarman, Graduate student
*Jacob Coleman, Freshman

*Denotes signed, but not yet enrolled

UPDATES TO “TIGHT END/H-BACK” SECTION OF THIS ARTICLE AFTER ORIGINAL PUBLICATION DATE:

• Added Chesterfield, VA, Matoaca High School tight end Jacob Coleman

• Added Kinston, NC, North Duplin High School via Temple graduate transfer tight end Aaron Jarman

CENTER C+

WHAT THEY NEEDED: Over the course of the 2020 season signing a center prospect became more of a need. Getting at least one to replace graduating Fernado Frye would have fulfilled that demand.

WHO SIGNED: Richard Pearce (6-3, 305) was a rare four-year varsity play at Hueytown High School in Alabama. Pearce played a major roll in helping future Alabama running back Roydell Williams pile up 1,289 yards in 2019 and as a senior was selected to participate in the annual Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic. Capable of playing center or guard, Pearce will likely work at both positions this spring after enrolling at ECU in January.

HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF: Pearce is versatile and enrolled early at ECU to get a head start on his college career. That’ll work to his advantage in regards to competing for playing time next fall, as will his aggressive attitude.

BIG ONE THAT GOT AWAY: East Carolina offered no less than five players with center skills, but Pearce was the only player who showed a serious interest in the Pirates.

WHO’S BACK: The Pirates can go four deep at the center position with players who have seen action at the college level.

The returning starter is graduate student Fernando Frye (6-3, 303). After transferring to ECU in 2017, Frye has worked at all three offensive line positions, although most of his game work occurred at guard and center. Frye started all nine games at center in 2020, giving him 22 starts in 30 overall games during his career as a Pirate. He’s taking advantage of the extra year granted by the NCAA to play another season at ECU.

Redshirt freshman Trent Holler (6-2, 311) ended the 2020 season as the backup to Frye. Holler now has 11 games of college experience under his belt (9 in 2020, 2 in 2019) and should head into spring practice as the No. 2 center. But under certain conditions, Holler could wind up back at guard in 2021.

Hopefully, ready to compete for playing time at center will be sophomore Peyton Winstead (6-3, 300). Winstead, if healthy, is the wild card in the center completion. He’s missed two straight seasons, due in part to shoulder issues, but as a true freshman in 2018 started the final six games. A rebound by Winstead could also allow Frye or Holler to bolster the depth chart at guard.

WHO’S GONE: Frye was supposed to be exiting, but is taking advantage of the NCAA extending an extra year of eligibility to fall sports athletes. So the Pirates didn’t lose any of the centers on their roster from 2020.

NEEDS FOR 2022: The addition of Pearce as a center possibility helps offset the loss after 2021 of Frye and continued questions about Winstead’s health. A return by Winstead would lessen the quest for a center prospect in the 2022 class for ECU. The Pirates at present seem comfortable that will happen since there are no reports of scholarship offers to any pure centers at this stage in the recruiting cycle.

PROJECTED PRE-SPRING DEPTH CHART

Fernado Frye, Graduate student
Peyton Winstead, Sophomore
Trent Holler, Redshirt freshman
Richard Pearce, Freshman

OFFENSIVE GUARD C+

WHAT THEY NEEDED: We thought guard would be a major point of emphasis for ECU in the 2021 recruiting class. Veterans such as Cortez Herrin, Sean Bailey and Jaison Fournet were set to close out their college careers at the end of ’21 and replacing them appeared to be a big need. Guess we were wrong.

WHO SIGNED: Pearce, who was mentioned above at center, is a guard possibility along with the last player to sign with ECU during the early December period, Kyjuan Phillips (6-4, 295). Phillips, from Dr. Phillips High in Orlando, FL, was a three-year varsity player at Dr. Phillips and entertained scholarship offers from Colorado State, Coastal Carolina, Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Kent State, Liberty, Middle Tennessee State and Pittsburgh before picking the Pirates.

The only addition to the recruiting class ECU added on the February signing date was guard prospect, Noah Brown, a 6-4, 305-pounder from Reagan High in Pfafftown, NC. Brown had offers from Coastal Carolina and N.C. Central, but opted to join the Pirates as a preferred walk-on.

ECU could wind up adding other guard prospects through the transfer portal or junior college ranks.

HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF: Brown, Pearce, Phillips are quality prospects who played for highly successful high school programs. They have the size, athleticism and attitude to develop, in time, into major contributors at East Carolina. Unfortunately, the Pirates are facing a lack of depth at guard and may need one or two of them to develop quickly to serve in a backup role. Pearce, because he’ll participate in spring practice, will likely be best prepared to handle such an assignment.

BIG ONE THAT GOT AWAY: Michael Gonzalez, who helped protect future UNC quarterback star Sam Howell at Sun Valley High in Monroe, NC, was offered by East Carolina early in the recruiting cycle. But the 6-4, 280-pounder’s interest in the Pirates never really materialized and he chose to play for ACC member Louisville.

WHO’S BACK: Two starters and a top backup are expected to be the core of ECU’s guard units in 2021. Those include left guard Avery Jones (sophomore, started last eight games), left guard Sean Bailey (grad, started all nine games) and left guard backup Hampton Engle (redshirt frosh/two games). Jones and Bailey have the potential to challenge for all-league honors next fall.

Redshirt freshman Isaiah Foote and Grayson Lewis both played in one game last season, while redshirt freshmen Nick Bernhard and John Ross Edwards were scout team performers.

ECU could shift centers Trent Holler or Fernando Frye to bolster the guard position. Both have game experience at those spots.

WHO’S GONE: The Pirates were unscathed when it came to losses at guard.

NEEDS FOR 2022: ECU still lacks depth at the guard spots and Bailey’s lengthy ECU career comes to an end after 2021. So the need here is immense and would seem to require 2-3 prospects be signed from the Class of 2022 to bolster the positions.

The Pirates are already targeting 6-4, 290-pound Desaun Williams from Colonial Heights, VA, 6-3, 269-pound Steve Nahmias from Atlanta, GA, and Jason Seraphin (6-3, 300) from Miami, FL.

PROJECTED PRE-SPRING DEPTH CHART

LEFT GUARD

Avery Jones, Sophomore
Hampton Engle, Redshirt freshman
Grayson Lewis, Redshirt freshman
Nick Bernhard, Sophomore
John Ross Edwards, Redshirt freshman
Kyjuan Phillips, Freshman

RIGHT GUARD

Sean Bailey, Graduate student
Trent Holler, Redshirt freshman
Isaiah Foote, Freshman
Grant Copeland, Redshirt freshman
Richard Pearce, Freshman

*Denotes player signed, but not enrolled yet

OFFENSIVE TACKLE C

WHAT THEY NEEDED: Because three of ECU’s tackles will be departing in the next two seasons, signing at least two was the goal during the 2021 recruiting efforts.

WHO SIGNED: Three-star Canaan Clark (6-6, 310) from Cumming, GA, was a two-standout at Forsyth Central High the last three seasons. Clark was an all-region selection twice and collected scholarship offers from Georgia State and Tennessee Tech.

HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF: Clark is still a raw talent who will need some seasoning before being ready to contribute at the college level. But he’s extremely mobile for a player his size and has great length, both of which will serve him and ECU well in time.

BIG ONE THAT GOT AWAY: Atlanta, GA, product, Jakiah Leftwich (6-6, 290) received a May 2020 offer from East Carolina, but nine days later he made a verbal commitment to Georgia Tech. Massive junior college tackle, Caleb Etienne (6-8, 310) was also in play after a March offer, but didn’t make his top three released in October. Oklahoma State wound up landing Etienne a month later.

WHO’S BACK: Five players with at least one ECU start under their belt at tackle are expected to return in 2021.

Redshirt freshman Nishad Strother opened 2020 as the Pirates’ starter at right guard. But when All-AAC performer D’Ante Smith went out with an injury before the opener, Strother shifted to left tackle where he started seven straight games. But Strother himself suffered a knee injury that sent him to the sidelines for the final two games.

Junior Bailey Malovic handled right tackle for eight of nine games in 2020, while grad student Justin Chase made one start at each tackle spot and freshman Walt Stribling the Temple game at left tackle.

The Pirates are hopeful for a return to health for sophomore Noah Henderson, who sat out the entire 2020 campaign. Henderson held down the right tackle position in 2019, starting 11 of 12 contests, so his experience would be a valuable asset.

Also expected to be in the mix at tackle is redshirt freshman Jaquez Powell (6-4, 317), who played in a single game last year.

WHO’S GONE: D’Ante Smith was a two-time All-AAC selection and probably would have earned the all-league trifecta if not for an injury in the fourth quarter of the season opener that ended a 26-game streak as an ECU starter. Smith could have returned for 2021, but opted instead to test the NFL Draft waters. The decision seems to be paying off for Smith, who was one of the top performers at the Senior Bowl All-Star game in January and has earned an invite to the NFL combine.

NEEDS FOR 2022: Smith is already gone and Justin Chase departs after the 2021 campaign. Replacing those two at the very least will be ECU’s goal.

The Pirates are already looking to fill those spots in two areas where they’ve enjoyed recent recruiting success, Georgia and South Carolina. Chase Sweigart (6-5, 300) from Chapin, SC, has ECU among his early offer list along with Liberty, Old Dominion and Virginia Tech. The Pirates have also joined the hunt along with Arizona State, Kansas, Michigan State and Mississippi for Grayson Mains (6-5, 265) from Suwannee, GA.

PROJECTED PRE-SPRING DEPTH CHART

LEFT TACKLE

Nishad Strother, Redshirt freshman
Justin Chase, Graduate student
Walt Stribling, Freshman

RIGHT TACKLE

Bailey Malovic, Junior
Noah Henderson, Sophomore
Jaquez Powell, Redshirt freshman
*Canaan Clark, Freshman

*Denotes player signed, but not enrolled yet

PLACEKICKER C+

WHAT THEY NEEDED: The decision in December by All-AAC performer Jake Verity to enter the NFL Draft opened the door for ECU to pursue another placekicker in the days leading up to the early signing period.

WHO SIGNED: The Pirates added Laith Marjan from Enloe High in Raleigh, NC, on signing day in December. Marjan (6-3, 194) converted 14 of 22 field-goal tries as a sophomore and junior, including 11-14 as a junior. He also had offers from Air Force and Army. Walk-on Colson Graham from Asheville, NC, has also been added to the spring roster.

HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF: Marjan is solid insurance behind Verity’s heir apparent, redshirt junior Patrick Nations. He has the leg strength to handle ECU’s kickoffs immediately, which can relieve some of the pressure off Nations in his first year as full-time placekicker.

BIG ONE THAT GOT AWAY: ECU didn’t pursue any placekickers until Verity’s decision, so Marjan was its one and only target.

WHO’S BACK: Nations has been waiting patiently for two seasons behind Verity. The left footer has a strong leg and has converted field goals in excess of 60 yards in practice at ECU. Expect Nations to continue the success in the kicking game established by Verity.

WHO’S GONE: Verity exited as ECU’s all-time leader in points (352) and converted 74 of 98 field-goal attempts (75.5 percent). The latter is third-best in school history. Walk-on Michael Tilley also departed via graduation.

NEEDS FOR 2022: With the addition of Marjan, the need here is slim. Don’t look for ECU to use a scholarship on a kicker in the 2022 cycle.

PROJECTED PRE-SPRING DEPTH CHART

Patrick Nations, Redshirt freshman
*Laith Marjan, Freshman
Owen Daffer, Redshirt Freshman
Colson Graham, Freshman

*Signed, but not enrolled

OVERALL OFFENSIVE RECRUITING GRADE B

A small class featuring some strong additions at the skill positions earned the Pirates a better-than-average grade for their offensive recruiting class. They could have used some more help at the offensive line spots, but even added athleticism at those positions.

OVERALL DEFENSIVE RECRUITING GRADE B

The number of immediate impact players in the defensive class, especially in the secondary, drove the grade higher. The Pirates did an excellent job adding experience with grad transfers and junior college players that upgrade the depth and talent at safety and cornerback. Those additions more than made up for missing on adding a prospect or two at defensive end.

OVERALL RECRUITING CLASS GRADE B

East Carolina’s 2021 class was rated eighth among American Athletic Conference schools by 247Sports.com, but we think it’s a cut above that. The Pirates upgraded the athleticism on offense at the skill spots and brought in some impact players on defense in major areas of need. They all should help the Pirates continue their rise in the Mike Houston era.

• Sammy Batten Recruiting Report Card, Part 1 •

• Sammy Batten Recruiting Report Card, Part 2 •

ECU FOOTBALL RECRUITING: CLASS OF 2021 THUMBNAIL SKETCHES