Nick Slogik was looking for something extra when considering places to continue his athletic career.

The Pennsylvania native found that at East Carolina, where he plans to play for both the football and baseball teams during the 2024-25 academic year.

Slogik, a 6-foot-5, 235-pound tight end from Bishop McDevitt High in Harrisburg, PA, made a verbal commitment to play for the ECU football team on June 23rd. But part of that agreement will allow Slogik to compete for the Pirates’ national power baseball program as well.

“I get to chase championships for two teams, and that was a huge appeal for me,” said Slogik, who chose ECU over football scholarship offers from Akron, Charlotte, Coastal Carolina, James Madison, Kent State, Marshall, Maryland, Old Dominion, Penn, Syracuse, Temple and Toledo.

Playing for championships is nothing new for Slogik. As a sophomore first baseman, he helped his former school, Warwick High in Lititz, PA, to the state 6-A baseball championship. Slogik hit .327 with seven homers and 20 RBIs for the title team and contributed an RBI single in the 6-4 championship win against Liberty Bethlehem. The performance earned Slogik first-team Section I honors in the Lancaster Lebanon League.

Slogik opted for a change prior to his junior year, transferring to state football power Bishop McDevitt. Playing tight end and defensive end, he helped the Crusaders capture the class 4-A title, contributing five receptions for 64 yards and two touchdowns on offense and making 16 tackles and 6.5 tackles for loss on defense.

“Because he was playing baseball all summer (before transferring to Bishop McDevitt) we didn’t have a ton of time to work with him before (preseason) camp started,” Bishop McDevitt football coach Jeff Weachter said. “And we had two Southeastern Conference wide receivers and another FCS receiver, so Nick didn’t get the ball a ton.

“But this year I had him all off season and we’ve really worked on his routes because the school he came from, they really didn’t throw the ball at all. He had no catches in two years there. So, he’s a very good blocker. But this year we’re going to use him a lot more in the passing game. He understands a lot more and he’s probably gotten a little faster. I’m expecting a big year from him.”

In addition to helping Bishop McDevitt win the state football crown, Slogik hit .432 with three homers and 11 RBIs last spring in 17 games for the baseball team.

Baseball was Slogik’s focus growing up, although football and basketball were family favorites. His father, Tim, played NCAA Division II football at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, while his aunt, Tracey Slogik Biesecher, was the starting center for the West Virginia women’s basketball squad from 1987 to 1990.

But after arriving at Bishop McDevitt, Slogik’s priorities shifted to football.

“I thought (my future) would be baseball when I was at Warwick,” he said. “But when I got here and experienced the (football) culture and saw all these guys who were going to play in college, I wanted to do that too.”

The football culture at Bishop McDevitt has produced several NFL players, including All-Pro running backs LeSean McCoy and Ricky Watters, and dozens of major college prospects. The 2022 state championship squad featured at least eight players who received offers from FBS programs, including running back Marquese Williams (Minnesota), wide receiver Tyshawn Russell (South Carolina), wide receiver Rico Scott (Alabama) and offensive lineman Gabriel Arena. Scott returns for his senior season in 2023 as a focal point of Bishop McDevitt’s offense along with Slogik and quarterback Stone Saunders, who is committed to Kentucky.

Slogik was actually more familiar with East Carolina’s baseball program when the Pirates offered him a football scholarship last April 21st.

“I really didn’t know a whole lot about the football program,” Slogik said. “But I started to follow them right after the offer and I knew pretty quickly it would be one of my top schools.”

But first Slogik had a big decision to make. He had already given a verbal commitment to the baseball program at Pittsburgh in August 2022 after helping Warwick to the state championship. But almost a year later, on June 16, 2023, he opted to back off that pledge to re-open his recruitment for schools that might allow him to play both sports.

East Carolina provided that opportunity.

“I’ve always had the ability to hit the (base) ball because I have really good eyes,” Slogik said. “Ever since I was little, I’ve loved baseball. The thing about East Carolina baseball is it’s every bit as awesome as the football team.”

But it’s football that will be his main concentration at ECU. Slogik will join a diverse tight end room that features veterans Shane Calhoun and Tyler Savage, both juniors, and freshmen Antonio Ferguson and Desirrio Riles.

Slogik is ready to make his presence felt when the time comes.

“In football, I’m really gritty,” he said. “I love to put people on their backs, and I have a really high motor. Every play I’m looking to pound somebody, whether it’s with the ball in my hands running people over or when I’m blocking and getting to pancake a defensive lineman.”

At present, Slogik is undecided on if he’ll graduate from Bishop McDevitt in December and enroll early at ECU. Baseball could be a factor in that decision, especially if he’s taken in the professional draft next June.

“There were a few people (baseball scouts) who came out to watch me this past summer,” he said. “But it depends on where I end up in the draft, if I go. It’s in the picture, but I’ll have to have a big (senior) season for that to be realistic.”

ECU CLASS OF 2024 FEATURE PROFILES
• Pennsylvania dual-sport star picks Pirates
• Miami linebacker may see freshman action
• ECU wins battle for Kentucky prep quarterback
• Official visit sealed the deal with Kenny Walz
• Highlight reel leads ECU to defensive lineman
• Safety turned mom’s blessing into football future
• Hoops star turned offensive tackle picks ECU
• Class of 2024 starts with prized receiver

• ECU 2023 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
• ECU FOOTBALL RECRUITING CLASS OF 2024
• ECU FOOTBALL RECRUITING CLASS OF 2023