East Carolina’s wide receiver corps took some significant hits during the offseason with its second-leading pass catcher Audie Omotosho completing his eligibility and All-American Athletic Conference second-team pick Tyler Snead opting to forgo his final year to pursue a professional career.
The Pirates then started spring practice in March minus the top returning receiver after fourth-year junior C.J. Johnson was suspended indefinitely in early February for “not living up to the standards we set for our program,” according to ECU head coach Mike Houston.
So, conceivably, the Pirates could be without their top three receivers when the 2022 season starts Sept. 3 against N.C. State.
Those scenarios have turned receiver into a position of great focus as ECU pursues the Recruiting Class of 2023. The Pirates have reportedly offered scholarships to at least 16 Class of ’23 receiver prospects as of March 31. Because schools can’t comment on who they’ve extended offers to, these offers are based on published reports or Twitter posts by the players themselves.
It’s interesting to note that 13 of the 16 receivers offered by ECU so far are from either North Carolina (8) or Georgia (5), where the talent is extremely deep at that position in the Class of 2023.
Here’s a brief look at the 16 receivers ECU has reportedly offered to date, and how the Pirates may stand with them in the early going.
C.J. ADAMS (6-3, 210) Pebblebrook HS, Mableton, GA: The latest wide receiver offer from ECU went out in March to the versatile Adams, who saw action at quarterback, running back and safety as a junior in addition to his pass catching duties. He was primarily a quarterback as a sophomore, passing for 1,428 yards and 18 touchdowns. But Adams made a quick and successful transition to receiver in 2021, leading the team with 54 catches for 936 yards and 11 scores. The Pirates joined an offer list that already included Charlotte, Connecticut, Duke, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Old, Dominion, South Carolina, UAB, Virginia and Virginia Tech on March 28.
PAUL BILLUPS JR. (6-2, 185) Western Branch HS, Chesapeake, VA: Billups is the No. 1-rated receiver in Virginia, according to 247Sports.com. He’s a two-way standout who was a first-team All-Region 6-A pick at receiver as a junior and a second-team selection as a free safety on defense and as a punt returner. East Carolina joined the competition for Billups with an offer in late January, but has yet to get him on campus for a visit. There is still time for ECU to make up some ground with Billups before he drops his final five schools on May 11.
QUE’SEAN BROWN (5-8, 160) East Forsyth HS, Kernersville, NC: This jitterbug piled up 1,809 all-purpose yards as a junior to earn Central Piedmont 4-A Conference Offensive Player of the Year honors. Brown, who has been timed at 4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash, caught 41 passes for 1,001 yards and 20 touchdowns, while also adding 229 yards and four scores rushing. ECU offered Brown last November and he attended a Junior Day event in Greenville in January. He’s also made spring trips to Duke, James Madison, Miami of Ohio and N.C. State. The Wolfpack hasn’t offered, but the others along with Austin Peay, Charlotte, Coastal Carolina, Delaware, Marshall, Massachusetts and Navy have.
ELIJAH CALDWELL (6-1, 190) Northwestern HS, Rock Hill, SC: Caldwell enjoyed one of the best years by a receiver in South Carolina in 2021. He snared 77 passes for 1,247 yards and 15 touchdowns with a four-catch, 147-yard, three-TD performance against rival Rock Hill highlighting the performance. The South Carolina Coaches Association named Caldwell to their all-state squad and he was first-team All-Area by the Spartanburg Herald. ECU joined a lengthy list of schools that have offered Caldwell in February. Others include Charlotte, Coastal Carolina, Duke, Eastern Michigan, Gardner-Webb, James Madison, Kent State, Marshall, Massachusetts, Old Dominion, Utah and Western Kentucky.
KEVIN CONCEPCION (5-11, 173) Chambers HS, Charlotte, NC: A slot receiver with good hands and exceptional short-area quickness, Concepcion has been a prominent part of two state championship teams at Chambers. As a junior, he caught 38 passes for 586 yards and eight touchdowns, while also returning three punts for scores as Chambers reached the state 4-A finals for a third straight year. Concepcion has reeled in more than 20 FBS offers, including one from ECU last October. It seems, however, that this will come down to a battle between arch rivals N.C. State and North Carolina.
TAMARCUS COOLEY (6-1, 185) Rolesville HS, Rolesville, NC: The younger brother of Louisville running back Trevion Cooley is a multi-purpose athlete who literally did it all for his prep squad at Knightdale last year. Tamarcus Cooley led the Knights in receiving (41 catches, 663 yards, 6 TDs), racked up 386 yards and two scores on kickoff returns and rushed 14 times for 102 yards and three more touchdowns. If that wasn’t enough, he made 40 tackles, two tackles for loss, three sacks and two interceptions on defense and averaged 34.5 yards per punt. All that earned Cooley All-Triangle honors from the Raleigh News & Observer. He has since transferred to state power Rolesville. ECU’s offer to the younger Cooley went out in late January, but his campus visits in March consisted of Elon, James Madison and N.C. State.
CHRIS CULLIVER (6-3, 180) Maiden HS, Maiden, NC: Culliver started his varsity career at rival Bandys as a running back, racking up 473 yards and three touchdowns as a freshman. But he made an impressive transition to receiver after transferring to Maiden, collecting 33 catches for 593 yards and three touchdowns in a COVID-19 shortened sophomore campaign. Culliver earned Catawba County Player of the Year honors as a junior when he caught 60 passes for 1,215 yards and 23 touchdowns. ECU became one of Culliver’s 17 FBS offers in January. Interest in the Pirates seems low for Culliver at this stage with UNC, N.C. State, Florida State and Virginia Tech looking like the frontrunners.
CHRISTIAN HAMILTON (6-0, 175) Hickory Ridge HS, Harrisburg, NC: National powers such as Clemson, Georgia, Notre Dame and Penn State have been in pursuit of this four-star prospect. Hamilton produced that kind of interest after a breakout junior season in which he caught 49 passes for 916 yards and 12 touchdowns to earn all-area honors from The Charlotte Observer. The Pirates laid their cards on the table with an offer on March 31, 2021, but didn’t make the cut when Hamilton announced his top 12 schools in January.
NATHAN LEACOCK (6-4, 190) Millbrook HS, Raleigh, NC: Leacock was one half of a dynamic receiver duo last season at Millbrook along with Wake Forest signee Wesley Grimes. He caught 37 passes for 734 yards and 10 touchdowns to earn all-league honors and an offer from ECU in early December. Leacock, whose father was a track athlete at N.C. State, received his first offer from the Wolfpack and is being projected by several recruiting services to stay at home for his college career.
NAKAI POOLE (6-3, 205) Norcross HS, Norcross, GA: Poole combined with teammate and ECU offer Zion Taylor for one of the best receiver combos in Georgia last season. It was a breakout year for Poole, who had just eight catches for 190 yards and three touchdowns as a sophomore. He earned first-team All-Region 7-7A honors after making 40 catches for 703 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. The effort caused a dramatic rise in recruiting interest as Poole went from one offer to start the 2021 season to more than 25 currently. ECU offered Poole back in January, but since then Poole’s crowded visit list hasn’t included the Pirates. He has, however, been to Auburn, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Wake Forest in March and has trips planned to Pittsburgh, Virginia and Virginia Tech in April.
MARKELL QUICK (5-10, 160) Hough HS, Cornelius, NC: Quick is aptly named. He’s been timed at 4.42 seconds in the 40-yard dash and 11.99 over 100 meters. Quick used that speed and agility to haul in 53 catches for 799 yards and 10 touchdowns for state 4-A power Hough as a junior, teaming with future UNC quarterback Tad Hudson. He had seven of those receptions and 125 yards in a single half against West Cabarrus. ECU came in with an offer in January to join Central Michigan, Fordham, Eastern Kentucky, Howard and Old Dominion in pursuit of Quick. He was on campus at ECU in late March and has also visited Wake Forest this spring.
NOAH ROGERS (6-1, 180) Rolesville HS, Rolesville, NC: Rogers is one of the headliners of a tremendous group of in-state receivers in the Class of 2023. He’s a consensus four-star prospect who is ranked among the nation’s top 10 at receiver by almost every recruiting service. More than 20 FBS schools have offered Rogers, who caught 70 passes for 1,432 yards and 22 touchdowns as a junior. ECU got involved early with an offer last September, but so far Rogers’ main interests seems to be N.C. State.
KESHAUN SINGLETON (6-3, 190) Meadow Creek HS, Norcross, GA: This two-way star earned first-team All-Region 7-7A honors from the Atlanta Journal Constitution as a junior at wide receiver. Singleton caught 25 passes for 438 yards and four touchdowns on offense, but was just as good on defense at free safety where he made 45 tackles and two tackles for loss. ECU, which offered Singleton in January, received an unofficial visit in late March. Eastern Kentucky, Liberty, Marshall, Minnesota, Mississippi State and Wake Forest are other suitors at this stage, but ECU is the only one of those he has visited so far.
ZION TAYLOR (6-1, 185) Norcross HS, Norcross, GA: First-team all-county and All-Region 4-7A honors came Taylor’s way as a junior at Parkview High where he made 48 catches for 700 yards and seven touchdowns. He played two seasons on the varsity at Parkview before transferring to Norcross for his final prep season in 2022. Charlotte, Coastal Carolina, Connecticut, ECU (Jan. 24, 2022 offer), Duke, Georgia State, Georgia Tech, Liberty, Pittsburgh, Utah, Wake Forest and UAB make up his offer list at present. Taylor has stated publicly his intentions to visit ECU, but as of late March had only a trip to Florida State.
QUENTIN THOMAS (6-0, 200) Eagles Landing Christian Academy, McDonough, GA: Thomas is another talented product of the Eagle’s Landing program that has already given ECU star running back Keaton Mitchell. As a junior, Thomas caught 46 passes for 897 yards and three touchdowns. He’s a slot receiver-type who runs precise routes and isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty blocking for teammates. He was scheduled to make an unofficial visit to ECU on March 19, but it’s not been confirmed he actually made the trip. Thomas has, however, been on campus at Georgia Tech, North Carolina and Wake Forest this spring.
KRYSTIAN WILLIAMS (6-2, 170) Collegiate School, Richmond, VA: Williams is a superb athlete who at one point last year had the best recorded long jump of any high schooler in the country. He parlayed that skill and a 4.45-second 40-yard dash speed into a all-state honors on offense and defense as a junior. Williams had 26 receptions for 604 yards and seven touchdowns on offense, while picking up a sack and three picks on defense. The Pirates, who offered in February, certainly have Williams’ attention and are making a strong push. Boston College, Northwestern, Old Dominion, Rutgers, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest are the main competition at this stage.
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