East Carolina produced the lowest amount of passing yards in 30 years during the 2023 season, and the fewest passing touchdowns in almost four decades.
ALEX FLINN, MASON GARCIA and RAHEIM JETER combined for 1,967 passing yards, or 163.9 yards per game to rank 120th out of 130 Football Bowl Subdivision programs last season. Their combined seven touchdown throws tied for last nationally in that category.
You have to go back to the 1993 season to find an ECU team with a lower passing yardage total (1,621) than this year, and to the 1984 campaign to find fewer touchdown throws (2).
The struggles in the passing game led to Mason Garcia’s benching and subsequent exit to the transfer portal after the season. It was also a factor in ECU parting ways with offensive coordinator DONNIE KIRKPATRICT. Flinn, who took over starting duties from Garcia, also opted to forego his final year of eligibility, leaving the Pirates with Jeter as the lone scholarship quarterback on the roster.
ECU hired JOHN DAVID BAKER from Mississippi to replace Kirkpatrick as offensive coordinator, and upgrading the talent and depth at quarterback became his immediate priority. Baker and the Pirates successfully filled those needs with a major recruiting score from the high school ranks and by adding two former four-star passers via the transfer portal.
Although the highlight of the class, quarterbacks weren’t the only impressive additions made by ECU.
Looking ahead to spring practice and how the Recruiting Class of 2024 might fit into the program, we present our annual position-by-position grades for the offensive signees. In addition, we’ll project the best organizational profile we can and look ahead to the recruiting needs as the coaching staff pursues the Class of 2025. These are all projections based on the final depth chart from last season and other information we’d gathered by press time but may be altered by position changes during spring practice, or program defections or additions.
Please note that transfer portal additions were not listed by ECU when it announced the signing Class of 2024. But all 13 of those players have officially enrolled in school and will participate in spring practice, according to ECU officials.
QUARTERBACK A+
WHAT THEY NEEDED: When the 2023 season began, the Pirates believed they had their quarterback for at least the next two years in place with MASON GARCIA, a former four-star prospect from South Carolina. But Garcia never found his footing in ECU’s offense and eventually surrendered the starting job to Flinn. Securing at least one quarterback prospect was already a need, but when both Flinn and Garcia left the program, getting at least two was imperative.
WHO SIGNED: The Pirates first landed a future quarterback star in COLE HODGE (6-2, 193) from Christian Academy of Louisville High in Louisville, KY. Hodge made a verbal commitment to ECU in June over Central Michigan and stuck with the pledge, despite heavy interest from other schools, and signed during the early period. He completed his prep career after leading CAL to back-to-back state 3A championship, producing 11,128 yards of total offense (9,186 passing, 1,942 rushing) and 135 touchdown passes. The latter is the second-best figure in Kentucky high school history. Hodge capped his senior year by earning Kentucky Player of the Year honors from Gatorade.
The struggles that plagued the offense during the 2023 season led the Pirates to reach into the transfer portal, where they made two important additions in KATIN HOUSER (6-5, 215) and JAKE GARCIA (6-3, 194).
Houser was ranked by 247Sports.com as the nation’s No. 14 quarterback prospect in the Class of 2022 at powerhouse St. Bosco Prep in California. He initially chose to play at Boise State before Big Ten Conference members Iowa and Michigan State jumped in with offers. Houser eventually signed with the Spartans for whom he would take over as the starter for the final seven games of the 2023 season as a redshirt freshman. In 11 games overall, Houser completed 112 of 191 passes for 1,130 yards and six touchdowns.
Despite the success in his first stint as a starter, Houser entered the transfer portal in early December. New offensive coordinator Baker made one of his first recruiting moves by flying to Michigan to meet with Houser in person and convinced him to come to campus for an official visit. Houser made a verbal commitment to the Pirates after that visit on December 16, signed on Dec. 22 and is enrolled for the spring semester. He’ll have three years of eligibility remaining.
Jake Garcia was rated the nation’s No. 8 quarterback prospect in the Class of 2021 by 247Sports.com coming out of Grayson High in Whittier, California. He was the object of an intense recruiting battle during which he first committed to Southern California before a change of heart led him to sign with Miami. Garcia threw two touchdown passes in his freshman debut in 2021 against Central Connecticut State, but sustained an ankle injury that sidelined him for the rest of the season. As a redshirt freshman in 2022, he passed for 803 yards and five touchdowns in eight games, including one start.
But projected to be a backup at Miami in 2023 behind Tyler Van Dyke, Garcia decided to enter the transfer portal and found a new home at Missouri. He never rose above third on the depth chart with the Tigers and didn’t take a single snap in ’23, which led him back to the transfer portal in late December.
East Carolina moved quickly to secure Garcia’s services, signing him up on Jan. 16. Like Houser, Garcia is already enrolled at ECU and has three years of eligibility left.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF: Houser and Garcia are both big talents who have experienced college football at the highest levels. Because he finished 2023 as the starter at Michigan State, Houser is the early favorite to win the starting job at ECU for 2024. He’s known for his accuracy as a passer and for his ability to operate outside the pocket or on the run.
Jake Garcia is one of those guys who’ll dazzle you with his arm strength. He isn’t afraid to rifle the ball into tight windows or throw deep. But Garcia has been mistake-prone at times, which could be due, in part, to the multiple offensive systems he’s had to learn due to his well-traveled career. Improvement in that area by Garcia would make the quarterback competition very interesting in spring practice and preseason camp.
Hodge is also a tremendous athlete with a championship pedigree. He plays with great poise, exhibits strong leadership skills and has a unique ability to read defenses for a high schooler. Hodge will have to wait a year or more for his opportunity at ECU, but when his time comes, he has the ability to shine.
BIG ONE THAT GOT AWAY: The Pirates reportedly extended scholarship offers to at least five Florida prep quarterbacks, and actually had EVANS CHUBA (6-4, 205) from Clearwater Academy International on campus for an official visit in June. Chuba, who threw for 2,173 yards and 20 touchdowns as a senior, also made official visits to Syracuse, Arkansas State and Washington State during June before choosing the Cougars on June 27.
ECU also made a late offer in November to one of the nation’s top junior college passers on TY KEYES (6-2, 225) from East Mississippi Community College. Keyes passed for 3,350 yards and 33 touchdowns in 2023 and fielded almost a dozen scholarship offers. He ultimately decided to sign with Louisiana Tech.
WHO’S BACK: The lone scholarship quarterback returning for ECU is sophomore RAHEIM JETER (6-3, 219), a dual-threat performer who appeared in one game last season. Jeter completed one of two passes for minus-1 yard and gained nine yards on his only rushing attempt.
Sophomore TY LITTLE (5-11, 179) is a preferred walk-on from Wilmington, NC, who passed for more than 5,000 career yards at Michael Jordan’s alma mater, Laney High School.
WHO’S GONE: MASON GARCIA had been touted for three years as the heir apparent to record-setting ECU quarterback HOLTON AHLERS. Garcia earned the starting nod to begin the 2023 season, opening games against Michigan and Marshall. But he was eventually benched in favor of ALEX FLINN. Although he continued to play, Garcia never regained his starting job. He finished his ECU career playing in eight games (3 starts) and 408 yards passing. Garcia has since signed to play for Football Championship Subdivision Austin Peay.
Flinn handled the starting duties for most of 2023, passing for 1,555 yards and six touchdowns. Although he had an extra year of eligibility, Flinn announced in late January he wouldn’t be returning to the football field, presumably to focus on his continuing education.
NEEDS FOR 2025: ECU’s quarterback room looks pretty deep at this stage with Garcia and Houser both having three years of eligibility left, Jeter three years and Hodge four. But in this day and age of college football it’s hard to imagine them all staying around for that long.
So, signing at least one quarterback in the Class of 2025 is a good idea for depth purposes and for insurance in case any of the current quartet leaves the program. The Pirates extended a flurry of scholarship offers to prep quarterbacks in January and early February. One of the more intriguing ones was to KSAAN FARRAR, a 6-3, 215-pound dual-sport star from Green Run High in Virginia Beach. According to a Twitter post by Farrar, he received his offer in early February after a throwing session on campus with ECU’s new offensive coordinator Baker.
Farrar has passed for more than 3,000 yards, rushed for more than 500 yards and accounted for 40 touchdowns so far in his football career at Green Run. Also a top-notch point guard in basketball, Farrar has football offers so far from Liberty and Marshall in addition to ECU.
PROJECTED ORGANIZATIONAL DEPTH CHART FOR SPRING
Katin Houser, Anaheim, CA (6-3, 215) Sophomore
Jake Garcia, Grayson, GA (6-3, 194) Sophomore
Raheim Jeter, Spartanburg, SC (6-3, 219) Sophomore
Cole Hodge, Louisville, KY (6-2, 193) Freshman
Ty Little, Wilmington, NC (5-11, 179) Soph.
RUNNING BACK B
WHAT THEY NEEDED: East Carolina has one of the deepest running back rooms in the American Athletic Conference. And there was only one junior in the bunch when the 2023 season began, so the need was minimal. Signing one back was the appropriate number to land for the Class of 2024.
WHO SIGNED: T.J. ENGLEMAN (5-9, 175), from Hughes Center High in Cincinnati, Ohio, was originally the first verbal commitment to the recruiting Class of 2024 for Georgia Tech. Engleman made that pledge to the Yellow Jackets during his sophomore year at Princeton High. But when Geoff Collins was dismissed as Tech’s head coach, Engleman re-opened his recruitment and eventually chose East Carolina in June over Charlotte.
A quarterback for much of his prep career, Engleman passed for 1,200 yards and rushed for more than 600 as a senior while accounting for 17 touchdowns. He earned All-Southwest District and All-Cincinnati Metro Athletic Conference honors for his efforts.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF: Engleman is an explosive athlete (4.4-second speed in the 40-yard dash), who has a low center of gravity which makes it hard for defenders to knock him off his feet. Since he’s played primarily at quarterback in high school, he may need some time to pick up the nuances of the running back position at the college level. Luckily, the Pirates won’t have to rush him into action, so he’ll have time to develop, starting this spring practice. But Engleman has the makeup and potential to become a back very similar to former ECU standout Keaton Mitchell.
BIG ONE THAT GOT AWAY: Three-star D.J. BUTLER, from WP Davidson High in Mobile, AL, actually took one of his official visits to East Carolina in late June right before he made a verbal commitment to Coastal Carolina. But the 6-foot, 185-pounder, who racked up 3,964 yards rushing during his prep career, would back out of that pledge and sign with Houston.
WHO’S BACK: The top two rushers from 2023 return in senior RAHJAH HARRIS (5-11, 211) and sophomore JAVIOUS BOND (5-11, 176).
Harris, a former AAC Rookie of the Year, bounced back from an ACL tear that limited him to five games in 2022 to start all 12 games last season. He ran for a team-best 485 yards and scored five times, but bigger numbers are expected next fall as Harris will be a strong candidate for All-AAC honors.
Bond was one of the pleasant surprises of the 2023 season for the Pirates, making significant contributions at running back and on special teams. In just nine games, Bond racked up 231 yards rushing and averaged a team-high 5.8 yards per carry. He also caught 10 passes for 52 yards, averaged 21.4 yards on nine kickoff returns and made five special team tackles.
Former four-star prospect KAMARRO EDWARDS (5-11, 220) saw his most significant action at ECU last season since transferring from North Carolina. Edwards, a junior, played in six games, rushing 14 times for 67 yards and two touchdowns. Junior MARLON GUNN JR. (5-11, 210) also saw plenty of action last fall, appearing in nine games and gaining 65 yards on 24 carries.
Redshirt sophomore C.J. ARMSTRONG (6-0, 185), a former all-state performer from Wilson, NC, and sophomore GRAYSON KLUE (5-9, 178) are walk-ons who round out the returning running back corps. Neither played in 2023.
WHO’S GONE: The team’s No. 3 rusher, GERALD GREEN, played in seven games during his one season in Greenville after transferring from Georgia Southern. Green contributed 101 yards and two touchdowns in 25 carries, while also catching eight passes for 38 yards. He has moved on through the transfer portal to Troy.
JOSEPH MCKAY, who missed last season with a leg injury, chose in early December to enter the transfer portal after playing in just two games in three years at ECU. McKay had yet to announce his next destination as of Feb. 5.
NEEDS FOR 2025: With Harris entering his final year of eligibility, and Edwards and Gunn with two years left, securing at least two running back prospects makes sense for the Pirates in the Class of 2025.
Running backs already targeted by ECU include DEMON JUNE (5-11, 215) from nearby Jacksonville High, JAVIAN MALLORY (5-11, 200) from Boca Raton, FL, and R.J. BOYD (6-0, 200) from Waycross, GA. Those three and others received scholarship offers from the Pirates in January.
June, who has racked up two straight 1,000-yard rushing seasons at Jacksonville, also has offers from Georgia Southern, Old Dominion and Toledo. Two of June’s Jacksonville teammates, kicker JOHN B. GLOVER and lineman MILES PARKER recently announced they will be joining the ECU program next fall.
Mallory piled up 1,415 yards and scored 18 times last season at West Boca Raton High. He already pulled in more than 20 scholarship offers with the Pirates joining the competition on Jan. 31. Boyd has picked up offers from Arkansas State, Indiana, Missouri, N.C. State and South Florida along with ECU.
PROJECTED ORGANIZATIONAL DEPTH CHART FOR SPRING
Rahjai Harris, Duncan, SC (5-11, 211) Senior
Javious Bond, Macon, Ga (5-11, 176) Sophomore
Kamarro Edwards, Havelock, NC (5-11, 220) Junior
Marlon Gunn Jr., Baton Rouge, LA (5-11, 210) Junior
C.J. Armstrong, Wilson, NC (6-0, 185) Redshirt Sophomore
Grayson Klue, Greenville, SC (5-9, 178) Sophomore
T.J. Engleman, Atlanta, GA (5-9, 175) Freshman
WIDE RECEIVER A+
WHAT THEY NEEDED: Receiver was a priority for the Class of 2024 for ECU, despite some strong additions in the Class of 2023. Landing at least three replacements at receiver was a legitimate need.
WHO SIGNED: The Pirates scored impressive recruiting wins by signing four prep standouts and three talented receivers via the transfer portal.
Four-star YANNICK SMITH (6-3, 190) from Summerville, SC, headlines the quartet of high school receivers landed by ECU. The group also features the first player committed to the class in TRENTON CLOUD (6-1, 170) of Greensboro, NC, DILLON LORICK (6-1, 180) from Thompson’s Station, TN, and JYRON WAITERS (5-10, 180) of Florence, SC.
Smith was one of the best athletes in South Carolina, earning all-star status in basketball and football. As a senior on the gridiron, he caught 69 passes for 1,528 yards and 19 touchdowns to earn All-Lowcountry Player of the Year honors from the Charleston Post & Courier.
Cloud racked up 184 career receptions for 2,572 yards and 35 touchdowns and was a four-time All-Metro 4-A Conference pick at Dudley High, while Waiters earned All-Region VI 4A second-team honors as a quarterback-receiver.
Lorick was already being recruited by new ECU outside receivers coach Dyrell Roberts when the latter was at Eastern Michigan before joining the Pirate staff. Upon arriving at ECU, Roberts continued his pursuit of the three-year starter from Tennessee private school powerhouse Lipscomb and eventually won his pledge in June over 18 other schools that offered scholarships.
From the portal, ECU signed O’MEGA BLAKE (6-2, 190), who played the last three years at South Carolina, ANTHONY SMITH (6-2, 190) from N.C. State and WINSTON WRIGHT JR. (5-10, 183) from Florida State.
The Pirates were heavily involved with Blake’s recruitment as a prep player at South Pointe High in Rock Hill, SC. He took several unofficial visits to ECU before settling on South Carolina, where he played sparingly until injuries in the receiving corps opened up more opportunity in 2023. Blake responded by making 19 catches for 250 yards and two touchdowns, highlighted by a five-catch, 86-yard effort against Georgia. He’ll have two years of eligibility left at ECU.
Smith spent four years at N.C. State, but never was able to establish himself as a prominent contributor in the receiver corps. He entered the transfer portal after catching 13 career passes for 243 yard and three touchdowns for the Wolfpack.
Wright was a budding star in his first three collegiate seasons at West Virginia during which he produced 129 catches for 1,338 yards and seven touchdowns and earned second-team All-Big 12 Conference honors in 2021. He also ranked as the nation’s 19th-best kickoff returner with a 26.9 average.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF: The Pirates improved their depth and talent at wide receiver with this class. Several of the signees should make significant contributions next fall, and some are expecting to challenge for starting jobs.
One of those is Smith. Folks down in Summerville, SC, began comparing him to ex-Green Wave star and NFL Pro Bowler A.J. Green this season, which may be a stretch. But Smith has all the tools to become a stellar receiver at the major college level. He’s effective running with the ball after making a catch and his size makes him tough to bring down.
Waiters, who is already enrolled at ECU, and Lorick are versatile athletes who add value as receivers and specialists. Cloud is a possession receiver who rarely misses a pass thrown in his direction.
If healthy, Wright could be a game breaker in the passing game and as a kick returner. “Show Time Jet” is super quick, elusive, fast and has experience playing in one of the nation’s premier conferences.
Blake and Smith have the speed to provide the deep threat that was missing in an ECU offense that averaged only 9.5 yards per catch in 2023.
BIG ONE THAT GOT AWAY: Technically, the Pirates haven’t lost CAMERON WRIGHT (6-3, 210), who was one of the most productive receivers at the junior college level in 2023. Wright, who actually played against ECU while at Memphis in 2022, hauled in 56 passes for 953 yards and 11 touchdowns this season at East Mississippi Community College. He took an official visit to ECU in November and left impressed. He also took an official visit to Liberty in early December, but to date Wright has not committed to any team.
The Pirates also had Warner Robins, GA, receiver CAMERON FLOWERS (5-11, 173) on campus for an official visit in June. But he wound up signing with Western Kentucky.
WHO’S BACK: Sophomore CHASE SOWELL (6-2, 187) was the Pirates’ leading receiver last season, his first after transferring in from Colorado. Sowell is back along with three others who logged receptions in 2023.
Sowell started 10 of 12 games at one of the outside receiver positions while recording 47 receptions for 622 yards and a touchdown. Senior JHARI PATTERSON (5-11, 188) and redshirt sophomore BROCK SPALDING (5-10, 180) join Sowell as returning receivers with starting experience. Patterson made two starts at inside receiver and played in 12 games overall in 2023. He ranked fourth in team receiving with 20 catches for 137 yards. Spalding started twice at outside receiver and made three catches for 25 yards in 12 games overall.
Two other receivers who saw action in 2023 are junior KELAN ROBINSON (6-3, 202) and sophomore JOSH MURPHY (6-1, 185). Robinson appeared in 10 games and made one catch for four yards, while Murphy played in six games without a reception.
Another veteran attempting to bounce back from injury is junior KERRY KING (5-10, 171). King, a former walk-on, was projected to play a major role for the receiving corps last season after making six catches for 52 yards in 11 appearances in 2022. But a preseason knee injury sent him to the sidelines. A healthy return for King would be a significant boost for the Pirates.
Rounding out the returning receiver corps are sophomore MCCALLUM WRIGHT (6-2, 183), sophomore BLUE COLEMAN (5-11, 193), sophomore RYAN STEPHENS (5-9, 167) and sophomore MALIK EVERETT (6-3, 203).
WHO’S GONE: JAYLEN JOHNSON enjoyed a solid two seasons with the Pirates after transferring in from Georgia. Johnson had 71 catches for 806 yards and six touchdowns over a 22-game career in the Purple and Gold. He ranked second among ECU receivers last season with 45 catches for 466 yards and two touchdowns.
JSI HATFIELD was one of ECU’s most valuable and experienced performers in 2023. He ranked third in receiving (27 catches, 341 yards, 1 touchdown) and led the team in punt (13 for 96 yards) and kickoff returns (9 for 197). Hatfield played in 48 career games at outside receiver and closed out his career with 71 receptions for 1,104 yards and six touchdowns.
JARETT GARNER (4 catches, 22 yards in 10 games) and RYAN KING (4 games, no catches) are other departing receivers who played last season. King has entered the transfer portal, but as of Feb. 5 had not announced a new school.
The Pirates also lost Class of 2023 receiver prospect ZION AGNEW to the transfer portal. Agnew didn’t see action last season and has since moved on to NCAA Division II Lenoir-Rhyne.
NEEDS FOR 2025: Patterson, Smith and Wright are expected to exhaust their eligibility after the 2024 season, which means three scholarship players need to be replaced. Three others — Blake, King and Robinson — are juniors. To start replenishing the roster for those impending exits, signing four receivers should be the starting point.
The Pirates have already filled one of those spots with a verbal commitment from 2024 quarterback signee COLE HODGE’s younger brother, CONNOR HODGE. Connor Hodge announced back in August his plans to join his brother in the fall of 2025 in Greenville. Connor, who was a Kentucky all-state pick as a defensive back last season, led the Bluegrass State with 114 catches, was second with 1,494 receiving yards and was third with 23 touchdowns.
Two in-state ECU receiver targets are Greensboro Dudley’s NASIR NEWKIRK (6-2, 185) and C.J. NEELY (6-1, 197). The duo each had more than 50 catches for more than 1,000 yards during their junior season. Neely has pulled in offers from Charlotte, ECU and Temple, while Newkirk is being courted by Appalachian State, Charlotte, Georgia, Georgia State, Liberty, Notre Dame, Old Dominion, USF, Virginia Tech and Wisconsin.
PROJECTED ORGANIZATIONAL DEPTH CHART FOR SPRING
*Note: Outside receiver positions are interchangeable, and those players may work at both X and Z positions.
Outside receiver (X)
Chase Sowell, Humble, TX (6-2, 187) Sophomore
Brock Spalding, Lorton, VA (5-10, 180) Redshirt sophomore
Josh Murphy, Myrtle Beach, SC (6-1, 185) Sophomore
Anthony Smith, Huntingtown, MD (6-2, 190) Senior
Blue Coleman, Charlotte, NC (5-11, 193) Sophomore
Outside receiver (Z)
Kelan Robinson, Grand Prairie, TX (6-3, 202) Junior
Kerry King, Highland Springs, VA (5-10, 171) Junior
O’Mega Blake, Rock Hill, SC (6-2, 190) Junior
Malik Leverett, Evans, GA (6-3, 203) Sophomore
McCallum Wright, Raleigh, NC (6-2, 183) Sophomore
Inside receiver (H)
Jhari Patterson, Asheville, N.C. (5-11, 188) Senior
Winston Wright Jr., Savannah, Ga. (5-10, 183) Redshirt senior
Ryan Stephens, Greensboro, N.C. (5-9, 167) Sophomore
TIGHT END B
WHAT THEY NEEDED: The Pirates were in need of one or two tight ends in the Class of 2024 with the graduation of RYAN JONES and two others set to depart after the 2024 season.
WHO SIGNED: Help for ECU’s baseball and football teams arrives in the form of 6-4, 231-pound NICK SLOGIK from Lititz, PA. A two-way performer on the gridiron, Slogik made 13 catches for 205 yards and four touchdowns on offense as a senior at Bishop McDevitt and 41 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and three sacks on defense. A slugging first baseman in baseball, Slogik picked ECU in June because he could compete for championships in both sports in Greenville.
The Pirates really struck gold in mid-January when they landed a commitment from former Mississippi and Oregon tight end CASEY KELLY (6-3, 245). Kelly, the brother of Ole Miss quarterback CHAD KELLY and nephew of NFL great JIM KELLY, was also a quarterback at Mallard Creek High in Charlotte before signing with the Rebels. He appeared in 34 games in three years at Ole Miss, accumulating 28 catches for 282 yards and three touchdowns. Transferring to Oregon last year, he played in 13 games with the Ducks, making five catches for 43 yards and two scores.
While at Ole Miss, Kelly was tutored by new ECU offensive coordinator John David Baker. The connection led Kelly to the Pirates after he entered the transfer portal on Jan.16. Kelly has one year of eligibility left.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF: Slogik is a bruising, physical blocker who is still developing as a receiver. He’s capable of helping already as a blocker in short-yardage situations or on special teams. It’s more likely he’ll redshirt, however, in 2024 because of ECU’s current depth at tight end.
Because of his pass catching skills, Kelly should become an important weapon for the Pirates and a favorite target for whoever wins the quarterback job. It’s taken him time to develop as a tight end after playing quarterback in high school. But now reunited with Baker, he could be primed for a breakout season.
BIG ONE THAT GOT AWAY: The Pirates were among more than 20 major programs to offer in-state tight end JACK LARSEN from Charlotte Catholic, but never really were in the hunt. Larsen wound up signing with Notre Dame.
ECU did, however, receive an official visit from New Orleans tight end HUBERT CALISTE JR. in early June. The 6-4, 235-pounder wound up committing to Indiana after a visit there later in June, but wound up signing with Football Championship Subdivision Mississippi Valley State on Feb. 7.
WHO’S BACK: The entire tight end roster from 2023 is scheduled to be back, including three players who made starts last season.
Senior SHANE CALHOUN (6-2, 242) headlines the list of returnees. Calhoun is one of the most experienced players on ECU’s roster, having appeared in 39 games over four seasons with 26 starts. He started the first seven games last season before a wrist injury sidelined him for the final five contests. Calhoun has been an effective blocker and pass catcher during his career and will enter 2024 with 63 career receptions for 594 yards and six touchdowns.
Sophomore DESSIRRIO RILES (6-3, 247) and senior TYLER SAVAGE (6-4, 234) each saw significant action in 2023. Riles played in 11 games and made five starts (9 catches for 30 yards), while Savage bounced back from a preseason injury to appear in seven games with one start (6 catches, 31 yards).
Sophomore walk-on JACKSON BARKER (6-4, 221), who moved from defense to offense early in the year, wound up playing in 11 games, mostly on special teams.
Sophomore ANTONIO FERGUSON (6-3, 223) and sophomore MASON BROWN (6-4, 228) are other players back at the tight end position. Ferguson played in six games last season, mostly on special teams.
WHO’S GONE: No one. The entire tight end group is back for 2024.
NEEDS FOR 2025: The Pirates are scheduled to lose Calhoun, Kelly and Savage after the 2024 season. The departures will leave a big void to be filled, so landing at least two tight end prospects to maintain depth is necessary in the Class of 2025.
An intriguing in-state tight end already targeted by ECU is 6-8, 230-pound NAJAI HINES from South Garner High in Garner, NC. As you might guess, Hines is an accomplished basketball player who averaged 14.9 points and 12.2 rebounds as a junior. He’s still developing as a football tight end but caught 15 passes for 227 yards and three touchdowns last season. That was good enough to draw early scholarship offers from the Pirates (Oct. 25) and Appalachian State, Temple, Troy and South Carolina.
PROJECTED ORGANIZATIONAL DEPTH CHART FOR SPRING
Shane Calhoun, Jacksonville, FL (6-2, 242) Senior
Dessirrio Riles, Jacksonville, FL (6-3, 247) Sophomore
Tyler Savage, Aldie, VaA (6-4, 234) Senior
Casey Kelly, Buffalo, NY (6-3, 235) Senior
Antonio Ferguson, Apopka, FL (6-3, 223) Sophomore
Jackson Barker, Fuquay-Varina, NC (6-4, 221) Sophomore
Mason Brown, Warsaw, NC (6-4, 228) Sophomore
Nick Slogik, Lititz, PA (6-4, 231) Freshman
OFFENSIVE LINE B+
WHAT THEY NEEDED: ECU suffered some veteran losses to the transfer portal after the 2023 season, which significantly increased the number of blockers needed in the recruiting class to fill the voids. Four or five became the target with a heavy emphasis on grabbing a couple from the portal with college experience.
WHO SIGNED: Seven offensive linemen were secured by ECU — three prep players, two junior college transfers and two others from the portal.
The Pirates signed tackle prospects from the high school ranks in ZACK BOEHLY (6-5, 278) from Plantation, FL, and PEYTON REEDER (6-5, 290) from Indian Trail, NC. Boehly was a first-team All-Broward County pick who entertained more than 15 college scholarship offers before choosing ECU. Reeder was an all-area pick by the Charlotte Observer after producing 90 pancake blocks and not allowing a sack as a senior.
KENNY WALZ (6-5, 300), from Midlothian, VA, is capable of playing anywhere along the offensive line. Walz produced 186 pancake blocks over his final two seasons at Manchester High, earning all-region and all-state honors along the way.
From Southwest Mississippi Community College, the Pirates added 6-5, 305-pound KENDARIUS SMALL. Originally from Tuscaloosa, AL, Small played in 18 games at Southwest Mississippi the last two seasons, starting all nine as a sophomore.
JAYSON TARPEH (6-6, 315), from Woodbridge, VA, spent last season at Lackawanna College where he played tackle for an offense that averaged 36.3 points a game. He came to Lackawanna after two years at Virginia Military. Tarpeh played in nine games with the Cadets.
DARIUS BELL (6-5, 315) comes to ECU via the transfer portal from Football Championship Subdivision Maine. Bell, from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, started 17 of 19 games he played in for the Black Bears. He’ll have two years of eligibility left with the Pirates.
Florida State is where QUE’SHON SAPP (6-4, 325) from Leesburg, GA, spent the last two seasons. Sapp spent most of his time working on the Scout team with the Seminoles but did play in two games. He was originally headed to Florida A&M after entering the transfer portal. Sapp backed off that pledge, however, when A&M’s head coach Willie Simmons left in early January. A&M’s loss was ECU’s gain as Sapp will have three years of eligibility remaining.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF: Depth and experience were major benefits from the Class of 2024 signings.
Bell, Sapp, Small and Tarpeh are already enrolled at ECU and should begin competing for playing time in spring practice. Because of their college game experience, Bell and Small should immediately become factors at the tackle spots.
Walz’s versatility, including the ability to play center, could help him rise up the depth chart quickly next fall, while Boehly and Reeder will join the tackle corps.
BIG ONE THAT GOT AWAY: JONATHAN YOUNG (6-6, 290) was rated the No. 6 junior college offensive tackle prospect by 247Sports.com. Young, from Iowa Central Community College, took an official visit to East Carolina on Nov. 24. But a Dec. 8 visit to ECU’s AAC rival Memphis eventually led him to sign with the Tigers.
WHO’S BACK: Four starters and two primary backups headline the list of offensive linemen back in the fold for ECU in 2024.
Grad student DUSTYN HALL (6-4, 297) started 12 times between center and left guard in 2023. He opened the season as the starting center before shifting positions. That prompted senior HAMPTON ERGLE (6-7, 315) to shift from a starting job at right tackle to center for the final nine games.
Senior PARKER MOORER (6-5, 311) manned the left tackle spot for all 12 games last season and should be an all-star candidate next fall. Sophomore JACOB SACRA (6-6, 313) also looks like a star-in-the-making after logging 12 starts at right guard.
Junior ZION WILSON (6-1, 300) and sophomore EMMANUAL POKU (6-6, 282) also provided quality depth last season at left guard and right tackle respectively. Wilson played in 11 games and Poku in nine.
Scholarship linemen who didn’t see action last season returning for 2024 include sophomore JIMARION MCCRIMMON (6-4, 269), sophomore MARIEO NEOLIEN (6-6, 315), sophomore KAMERON DURANT (6-3, 301) and sophomore BRYCE WEAVER (6-4, 315). Recruited walk-ons JAKE CROCKER (6-6, 329), TREY HARDISON (6-3, 303) and WILLIAM COATS (6-3, 296) are also in the offensive line mix.
WHO’S GONE: Nine offensive linemen either graduated or entered the transfer portal after the 2023 season. Among those were at least three players with starting experience.
OWEN MURPHY handled starting duties at right tackle for nine of 12 games last season, his second and final with ECU after transferring in from Akron.
RICHARD PEARCE started three games and played in 10 at right guard as a sophomore but opted to enter the transfer portal after the season. Pearce has since signed up to play for New Mexico.
ISAIAH FOOTE, a former starter at right guard, joined Pearce in the portal after seeing action in 39 career games with the Pirates. He’s found a new home Football Championship Subdivision Western Illinois.
Valuable reserve tackle WALT STRIBLING played in 44 career games at ECU has also departed.
Others missing from the blocking corps will be backup center RYAN BECKMAN and backup guard KEZIAH EVERETT, both of whom graduated, plus transfer portal departees ELISHA SAMPLES (Wofford) and OMARI ALLEN (Hampton).
NEEDS FOR 2025: Three potential starters complete their eligibility after the 2024 campaign in Ergle, Hall and Moorer. So, despite the large haul of offensive linemen in the current recruiting class, it seems appropriate to secure at least four in the next recruiting cycle.
SHEDRICK SURRATT JR. (6-3, 305), from Gaffney, SC, is rated the nation’s No. 43 offensive tackle prospect. Surratt added East Carolina on Jan. 14 to his offer list, which also includes Appalachian State, Central Michigan, Cincinnati, Coastal Carolina, Georgia Tech, Marshall, South Carolina, USF and Virginia Tech.
MICHAEL GIBBS (6-4, 265) is a product of Wilmington, NC, Hoggard High. Gibbs got his second offer from ECU on Oct. 5, but now has Appalachian State, Charlotte, Coastal Carolina, Duke, Liberty, N.C. State, Old Dominion and Penn State among his suitors.
PROJECTED ORGANIZATIONAL DEPTH CHART FOR SPRING
LEFT TACKLE
Parker Moorer, Charlotte, NC (6-5, 311) Senior
Darius Bell, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (6-3, 315) Junior
Marleo Neolien, Freeport, NY (6-6, 315) Sophomore
Zack Boehly, Plantation, FL (6-5, 278) Freshman
LEFT GUARD
Dustyn Hall, Punta Gorda, FL (6-4, 297) Graduate
Zion Wilson, Belhaven, NC (6-1, 300) Junior
Trey Hardison, Jacksonville, NC (6-3, 303) Sophomore
Will Coats, Clayton, NC (6-3, 296) Sophomore
CENTER
Hampton Ergle, Lexington, SC (6-7, 315) Senior
Kameron Durant, Summerville, SC (6-3, 301) Sophomore
RIGHT GUARD
Jacob Sacra, Madison, VA (6-6, 315) Sophomore
Bryce Weaver, Greenville, NC (6-4, 315) Sophomore
Que’Shon Sapp, Leesburg, GA (6-4, 325) Sophomore
Kenny Walz, Midlothian, VA (6-5, 300) Freshman
RIGHT TACKLE
Emmanuel Poku Charlotte, NC (6-6, 282) Sophomore
Jimarion McCrimon, Kissimmee, FL (6-4, 269) Sophomore
Jayson Tarpeh, Woodbridge, VA (6-6, 315) Junior
Jake Crocker, Princeton, NC (6-6, 327) Sophomore
Petyon Reeder, Indian Trail, NC (6-5, 290) Freshman
OVERALL OFFENSIVE GRADE A-
Just a super job by the ECU staff addressing major needs on offense. There is immediate help at nearly every position, especially at the quarterback and wide receiver spots. With this group, the Pirates have made significant upgrades to an offense that struggled throughout the 2023 season.
Thanks, Sammy
Super report !