While the focus was on East Carolina’s deficiencies on offense during the 2023 season, the Pirates’ defense quietly became one of the best units in the American Athletic Conference.
ECU allowed 341.3 yards per game to rank second among AAC teams in total defense, was third in rushing defense (122.2), fourth in passing defense (219.2) and fourth in scoring defense (219.2). The Pirates limited opponents to 13 points or less in five games, although three of those resulted in losses.
Coordinator BLAKE HARRELL will have back perhaps the most experienced unit of his five-year tenure at ECU in 2024 with at least 11 players returning with starting experience.
To continue the defensive improvement, the Pirates have brought in a collection of high school standouts and transfers to add to the mix, with many of them joining the squad for spring practice.
Looking ahead to spring and how the Recruiting Class of 2024 might fit into the program, we present our annual position-by-position grades for the defensive 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 recruiting Class of 2025. These projections are based on the final depth chart from last season and other information 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. But all 13 of those players, including six on defense, have officially enrolled in school and will participate in spring practice, according to ECU officials.
EDGE B+
WHAT THEY NEEDED: With All-AAC candidate CHAD STEPHENS completing his eligibility in 2024, and another edge contributor having graduated in ERIC DOCTOR JR., the Pirates were looking to sign at least two players on the edge.
WHO SIGNED: TORIN BRAZELL (6-2, 250), from Starke, FL, was a late addition to the Class of 2024. Brazell committed to the Pirates on Jan. 28 and signed Feb. 7. He was a four-year letterwinner at Bradford High School where he collected 254 tackles, 71 tackles for loss and 26.5 sacks in 46 career games. Brazell chose ECU over offers from The Citadel, Alabama A&M, Alabama State, Arkansas State, Bethune-Cookman, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, North Alabama, Ohio, Western Kentucky and Western Michigan.
The Pirates also received a boost in mid-December when Louisville transfer RYHEEM CRAIG (6-3, 220) chose to continue his career in Greenville. Craig is originally from Taylorsville, NC, where he was a three-star prospect at Alexander Central High School. He was offered by ECU out of high school but signed with the Cardinals. He spent three seasons at Louisville, playing in 19 games with nine tackles and one sack.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF: As indicated by his prep stats, Brazell excels at making plays in the backfield. He is extremely fast (4.7 40-yard dash speed), quick and agile, which allowed him to easily blow past prep offensive linemen. Because of his athleticism, Brazell could easily earn early playing time on special teams next fall.
Craig was a tremendous pass rusher in high school, but never got a real opportunity to prove his talents in Louisville. He’ll come to ECU with a chip on his shoulder and two years of eligibility to make a bigger impact.
BIG ONE THAT GOT AWAY: An hour-and-a-half southwest of Greenville is the town of Clinton, which produced former ECU standouts such as LEONARD HENRY and JERRIS MCPHAIL. The latest star from there is AMARIS WILLIAMS, a 6-2, 257-pound defensive lineman who achieved four-star status from 247Sports.com by the end of his senior campaign. The Pirates were among the first schools to offer Williams back in October 2022, and he took an unofficial visit to Greenville in June 2023. But the national powers such as Georgia, Ohio State, Oklahoma and Penn State turned Williams’ focus out of state. He wound up committing first to Florida before flipping to Auburn right at the early signing period in December.
WHO’S BACK: Entering his fourth season as a starter will be one of the ACC’s top returning pass rushers in senior CHAD STEPHENS (6-1, 271). The Greensboro, NC, native has already logged 32 career starts for the Pirates with 111 tackles, 25 tackles for loss and seven sacks. He ranked eighth among AAC players a year ago in tackles for loss (12.0) and produced three sacks along with 41 tackles while starting all 12 games at the edge.
Seeing the most action at edge behind Stephens was J.D. LAMPLEY (6-3, 254). Lampley, a junior, made 17 tackles, six tackles for loss and two sacks while appearing in all 12 games. Although he saw most of his action behind Stephens on the edge, Lampley was also used at times as a tackle.
Redshirt junior JASIYAH ROBINSON (6-3, 224) made two tackles in three games last season, while redshirt freshman KIERAN DAVIS (6-1, 252) didn’t see the field in 2023. Davis is the son of former first-round NFL defensive end draft pick and Super Bowl champion CHARLES GRANT.
Sophomore PRESTON CARR (6-3, 301) along with redshirt freshmen AJANI FARMER (6-3, 255), KYLER PUCKETT (6-1, 246) and CARSON PARKER (6-2, 243) round out the edge contingent. Farmer is a local product from Greenville’s Rose High, while Puckett created 32 tackles for loss over a three-year prep career at Southwest Guilford High in High Point, NC. Carr made 33 tackles for loss and 16.5 sacks at Roxboro (NC) Person High before signing with Navy. He spent a year at the Navy’s prep academy before transferring to ECU.
WHO’S GONE: One experienced performer at the edge spot has departed the program. ERIC DOCTOR JR. played in 29 games, mainly on special teams, over the last three seasons. Doctor had a year of eligibility remaining but opted to graduate instead.
NEEDS FOR 2025: The Pirates ranked 13th among AAC teams in sacks last season, so improving the pass rush should be a priority with the Recruiting Class of 2025. The three top players on the edge depth chart entering spring practice will be seniors or juniors, so signing at least two or even three edge rushers seems like a reasonable goal.
Among ECU early edge targets are teammates from 2023 Georgia state 1-7A champion Milton High. CALEB ELLIS (6-3, 265) and CALEB BELL (6-3, 260) combined for 14 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks during Milton’s drive to the state crown. Bell was offered by ECU in early December to go with earlier bids by Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, Georgia Tech, Georgia State, Indiana State, Kansas, Liberty, Missouri, N.C. State, Southern Methodist and South Florida. Ellis received his offer from the Pirates on Jan. 24. He also holds offers from Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Indiana and Liberty.
PROJECTED ORGANIZATIONAL DEPTH CHART FOR SPRING
Chad Stephens, Greensboro, NC (6-1, 271) Senior
J.D. Lampley, Rockingham, NC (6-3, 254) Junior
Jaysiyah Robinson, Groveport, OH (6-3, 224) Redshirt Junior
Ryheem Craig, Taylorsville, NC (6-3, 220) Junior
Kieran Davis, Roswell, GA (6-1, 252) Redshirt Freshman
Torin Brazell, Starke, FL (6-2, 250) Freshman
Preston Carr, Timberlake, NC (6-3, 301) Sophomore
Ajani Farmer, Greenville, NC (6-3, 255) Redshirt Freshman
Kyler Puckett, High Point, NC (6-1, 246) Redshirt Freshman
Cason Parker, Charlotte, NC (6-2, 243) Redshirt Freshman
DEFENSIVE TACKLE B+
WHAT THEY NEEDED: The Pirates entered 2023 well stocked at the interior defensive line positions. But portal losses, combined with the fact that the top two tackles on the depth chart are upperclassmen, caused that need to increase as the season unfolded. Signing at least two became the goal.
WHO SIGNED: ECU scored a major recruiting victory in the state of Florida by signing 6-2, 291-pound JAVON WILLIAMS from Pinellas Park High in Largo. Williams enjoyed one of the best seasons for a defensive lineman in the state as a senior when he made 83 tackles, 40 tackles for loss and 10 sacks. The performance capped a prep career in which Williams played in 32 games, made 205 tackles, 83 tackles for loss and 23 sacks.
Williams committed to ECU in June over more than a dozen other scholarship offers and stayed true to his pledge through December when he signed a national letter of intent.
In January, Wake Forest, NC, product JADEN MCKENZIE (6-2, 286) announced he’d be joining the Pirates after five seasons at Ohio State. McKenzie served in mostly a reserve role during his time with the Buckeyes, playing in 22 games with 20 career tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss. He’ll have one year of eligibility left at ECU.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF: Williams is a weight room beast whose strength alone will eventually make him a valuable asset on ECU’s defensive front. He’s built low to the ground, which makes it difficult for blockers to lock him up. This will wind up being a real recruiting coup for the Pirates in the long run.
McKenzie brings experience at the highest level of college football to the defensive front. He’s also a powerful, agile athlete capable of clogging up the middle or pushing into the backfield to make plays. McKenzie, who’ll participate in spring practice with the Pirates, should work himself into the tackle rotation immediately.
BIG ONE THAT GOT AWAY: NATE GABRIEL, a three-star tackle prospect from Auburndale, FL, received an offer from ECU on April 19, 2023, and took an official visit to campus on June 8. But that was before two other officials to West Virginia and USF later that month. Gabriel wound up committing to the Mountaineers in August and signed in December.
WHO’S BACK: All three players who logged starts at the tackle positions in 2023 are scheduled to return for 2024.
Leading the trio is senior D’ANTA JOHNSON (6-2, 294), whose 32 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and four sacks earned him second-team All-AAC honors. Johnson enters his final campaign with the Pirates having played in 32 career games with 53 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss and five sacks.
Junior ELIJAH MORRIS (6-2, 272) was limited to eight games and four starts a year ago due to injury. But Morris has started 35 games during his ECU career while producing 86 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks.
Another senior, SUIRAD WARE (6-2, 272), has played multiple positions on ECU’s front line over three seasons. But his main responsibilities in 2023 were at tackle, where he started the first nine games. He made 18 tackles, six tackles for loss and a sack while appearing in 12 games overall.
A fourth member of the defensive tackle contingent who saw significant action in 2023 is sophomore C.J. MIMS (6-2, 305). Mims played in all 12 games, making 14 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks.
Redshirt freshman LOGAN WRIGHT (5-9, 307) is a recruited walk-on from Greensboro, NC, where he played for powerhouse Dudley High School. Wright set the career record for sacks at Dudley with 53 and was an all-state pick as a senior.
WHO’S GONE: Two four-year letterwinners have departed the program via the transfer portal.
JASON SHUFORD never made a start at ECU but played in 35 games with 11 tackles. Shuford has found a new home for his final year of eligibility at Marshall.
XAVIER MCIVER worked in 30 games over four years with ECU, making 22 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. McIver, who played in nine games in 2023, entered the transfer portal on Dec. 1 and has transferred to Football Championship Subdivision Tennessee-Martin. McIver will have one year of eligibility left with the Skyhawks.
NEEDS FOR 2025: Major contributors in Johnson and Ware will exit after the 2024 season along with McKenzie. Securing replacements for that trio should be a priority for the recruiting Class of 2024.
The Pirates were among the first to offer the top in-state tackle prospect, CHARLES HOUSE (6-3, 288), from North Mecklenburg High in Huntersville. House was tabbed by ECU as a sophomore in December 2022. Since then, he’s racked up more than 20 offers from the likes of Florida State, Georgia and Michigan, among others.
One of ECU’s latest offers went out Feb. 16 to 6-2, 270-pound JULIUS COLUMBUS from Gainesville, GA. Columbus is coming off a junior year in which he made 91 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and 20 sacks. He’s currently holding offers from Appalachian State, Arkansas State, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Jackson State, Liberty and Miami Ohio.
PROJECTED ORGANIZATIONAL DEPTH CHART FOR SPRING
NOSE TACKLE
D’Anta Johnson, Dinwiddie, VA (6-2, 294) Senior
C.J. Mims, Vanceboro, NC (6-2, 305) Sophomore
Javon Williams, Largo, FL (6-2, 291) Freshman
Logan Wright, Greensboro, NC (5-9, 307) Redshirt Freshman
DEFENSIVE TACKLE
Elijah Morris, Fayetteville, NC (6-2, 272) Junior, or
Suirad Ward, Richmond, VA (6-2, 272) Senior
Jaden McKenzie, Wake Forest, NC (6-2, 286) Senior
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER (Weakside) B
WHAT THEY NEEDED: The top two performers at the defensive end or outside linebacker completed their eligibility in 2023, so signing at least two players to replace that duo was the target number.
WHO SIGNED: A performance by SAMUEL RIDDY JR. at ECU’s summer camp in 2023 resulted in a scholarship offer and subsequent commitment by the 6-foot-5, 269-pounder in August over Navy and several FCS schools. Riddy, from North Charleston, SC, made 59 tackles as a senior with 15 tackles for loss, two sacks and 17 quarterback hurries.
SHAIKH THOMPSON (6-4, 235), from Hilton Head Island, SC, was one of the top defenders in the Palmetto State as a senior. Thompson made 71 tackles, 29 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks in a performance that earned him a spot on South Carolina’s roster for the annual Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas all-star game. He picked the Pirates over offers from Appalachian State, Coastal Carolina, Arkansas State, Elon, Florida Atlantic, Georgia Southern, James Madison, Liberty, Miami Ohio, Middle Tennessee State, Old Dominion, Rutgers, Temple, Toledo, The Citadel, Troy, USF and West Virginia.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF: ECU will receive immediate benefits from its outside backer signings because Riddy and Thompson are already enrolled and will participate in spring practice. Both are extremely athletic prospects with size, who have the potential to develop into something special. The graduation losses at outside linebacker leave the door open for one or both to see playing time as true freshmen.
Thompson may have the best chance to see action next fall. He’s been timed at 4.75 seconds in the 40-yard dash and may be a little more physical that Riddy at this early stage.
BIG ONE THAT GOT AWAY: TIYYAN ROBINSON (6-5, 220) tendered his verbal commitment to East Carolina in mid-August. Robinson, who played at Hillside High in Durham, NC, was a three-star prospect with offers from Austin Peay, Bowling Green, Charlotte, Eastern Michigan, Florida A&M, Georgia State, Miami of Ohio, N.C. Central, Ohio, Temple and USF. But in early November, Robinson decided to back off his pledge to the Pirates and by December had chosen Middle Tennessee State as his college destination.
WHO’S BACK: Only one player with college experience is back at the outside linebacker spot. Junior SAMUEL DANKAH (6-6, 214) is the heir apparent to graduated JEREMY LEWIS after working in 19 games the last two seasons as a backup. Dankah displayed his potential last season when he made 15 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss in 12 games. He’s a taller version of Lewis and the Pirates have high hopes he can develop into a similar disruptive force.
Redshirt freshman DEMORIS JENKINS (6-4, 251) was a highly regarded member of the 2023 recruiting class but didn’t see any action as a rookie. Walk-on JACKSON BARKER (6-2, 235), a sophomore, has returned to defense after playing in 11 games last season on special teams and as a backup tight end. Barker began his ECU career on the defensive line.
WHO’S GONE: JEREMY LEWIS was a force on offense and defense during his five-year run with the Pirates. He started out playing tight end and even made a start there before shifting to outside linebacker in 2021. Over the next three seasons he established himself as one of the AAC’s best defenders, racking up 150 tackles, 23.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks.
After transferring in from Nevada for the 2022 season, JACK POWERS proved himself a valuable asset to the ECU defense sharing time with Lewis. Playing in 21 games during that span, Powers racked up 49 tackles, four tackles for loss and a sack.
Both Lewis and Powers exhausted their college eligibility after the 2023 season.
NEEDS FOR 2025: The transfer portal is a more likely source of help at outside linebacker for the 2025 recruiting class. The Pirates have a lot of young talent, but could use a dose of experience. Look for ECU to sign at least two outside linebackers, with at least one coming from the portal.
East Carolina has offered several highly ranked prep outside linebackers already in the class of 2025. One of the most recent was extended Jan. 23 to 6-5, 220-pound EVAN WARD, a two-way standout at McIntosh High in Peachtree City, GA. ECU was the first to offer Ward, who has been timed at 10.9 seconds in the 100-meter dash and has a 77-inch wingspan. Despite playing in just four games as a junior due to transfer issues, Ward still earned all-region honorable mention. Cincinnati is Ward’s only other offer at this early stage of the recruiting cycle.
A Jan. 23 offer from ECU also went out to ZION COOLEY (6-4, 215) from Carrollton, GA. Cooley, who also has offers from Georgia State and Alabama-Birmingham, plays both tight end and linebacker at Carrollton.
PROJECTED ORGANIZATIONAL DEPTH CHART FOR SPRING
Samuel Dankah, Lorton, VA (6-6, 214) Junior
DeMoris Jenkins, Huntersville, NC (6-4, 251) Redshirt Freshman
Jackson Barker, Fuquay-Varina, NC (6-2, 235) Sophomore
Shaikh Thompson, Hilton Head Island, SC (6-4, 234) Freshman
Samuel Riddy Jr., North Charleston, SC (6-5, 269) Freshman
INSIDE LINEBACKER B
WHAT THEY NEEDED: Graduation and the transfer portal took a toll on the depth at inside linebacker, which looked like a fairly stable group when the 2024 recruiting cycle began. Three inside backers, including a starter, hit the portal and a fourth player with starting experience graduated. Signing two or three would begin to help fill those voids.
WHO SIGNED: The biggest addition to the inside linebacker corps arrives via the transfer portal in DAMEON WILSON (6-1, 222). Wilson, a junior from Grover, NC, spent the last three seasons at Missouri. He played in 21 games with three starts for the Tigers, making 18 tackles.
Coming out of Kings Mountain High School, Wilson was rated as the nation’s 10th-best inside linebacker prospect by ESPN.com. He had interest from Connecticut, Boston College, Virginia, Wake Forest and Wisconsin before settling on East Carolina as his transfer destination.
A wild card at inside linebacker may be mid-year walk-on SHANE PERRY (6-0, 251). Perry was a two-time all-conference performer at NCAA Division II Barton College. He played in 37 games over four seasons with the Bulldogs, collecting 316 tackles, 31.5 tackles for loss and six sacks. Perry will have one year of eligibility left at ECU.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF: Wilson is a seasoned veteran who is a physical tackler and capable of making plays in the backfield. Depending on how quickly he picks up ECU’s defensive scheme, Wilson could be in contention for one of the starting inside backer jobs by the end of spring practice.
Perry will also participate in spring practice with the Pirates. But he’ll spent most of that adjusting to the speed of the FBS level. Still, he’s a tackle machine who could find himself in a valuable reserve role or on special teams come next fall.
BIG ONE THAT GOT AWAY: MONTAY WEEDON (6-1, 215), from St. John’s High in Washington, DC, was an early target for ECU. The Pirates offered the three-star prospect in April 2023. But two months later he took an official visit to Cincinnati and wound up committing to the Bearcats.
WHO’S BACK: Four players who saw game action in 2023 highlight the returnees at inside linebacker.
Senior MIKE EDWARDS III (6-1, 220) started the first eight games at inside linebacker before moving outside for the final three. He was ECU’s No. 2 tackler with 61 hits and was third in tackles for loss with eight. The Pirates could opt to use Edwards again at an outside position because of his versatility. But either way, he should have a starting role on defense.
Sophomore ZAKYE BAKER (5-11, 226), sophomore JULIEN DAVIS (6-2, 224) and redshirt freshman D.J. JOHNSON (6-0, 215) all gained experience in 2023. Baker is a favorite to land a starting role in 2024 after making 20 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss in nine game in a reserve role last season. Davis (one tackle in four games) and Johnson (two games, no tackles) should compete for backup jobs.
A fifth potential inside linebacker returnee is redshirt freshman GREG TURNER (6-3, 202). Turner was originally recruited as a safety in the Class of 2023.
WHO’S GONE: TEYLOR JACKSON started all 12 games at one inside linebacker position in 2023. Jackson ranked fifth in team tackles with 52 while also contributing 4.5 tackles for loss and a sack. A four-year letterwinner who appeared in 41 career games with the Pirates, Jackson entered the transfer portal in early December and wound up signing with Liberty for his final college season.
B.J. DAVIS, who started four times and played in all 12 games last season, completed his eligibility after transferring to ECU from S.C. State. Davis was a valuable contributor, making 59 tackles and 6.5 tackles for loss.
TYQUAN KING, who made one tackle in three games last season, has moved on to Temple, while 2023 signee JAMARI YOUNG will play for FCS Gardner-Webb next fall.
NEEDS FOR 2025: Edwards is the only scholarship inside linebacker scheduled to complete his eligibility after the 2024 season. But signing at least two players at those positions should still be the goal.
Although he’s listed by some recruiting services as an outside linebacker, DEANGELO BOWDEN, from St. John’s High in Washington, DC, certainly has the look of a future inside player. The 6-2, 225-pounder received an offer from East Carolina on Jan. 24 to go along with others from Akron, Arkansas and Toledo.
PROJECTED ORGANIZATIONAL DEPTH CHART FOR SPRING
INSIDE LINEBACKER
Zakye Barker, Norcross, GA (5-11, 226) Sophomore
Dameon Wilson, Grover, NC (6-1, 222) Junior
Julien Davis, McDonough, GA (6-2, 224) Sophomore
Shane Perry, Holly Springs, NC (6-0, 251) Senior
INSIDE LINEBACKER
Mike Edwards III, Trussville, GA (6-1, 220) Senior
D.J. Johnson, Hampton, GA (6-0, 215) Redshirt Freshman
Greg Turner, Ellenwood, GA (6-3, 202) Redshirt Freshman
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER (Strongside) C+
WHAT THEY NEEDED: The outside linebackers at ECU are often interchangeable, but the Pirates appeared to be paper thin at the SAM spot entering the 2024 recruiting cycle. Signing at least two to ensure the proper depth was the objective.
WHO SIGNED: Georgia linebackers seem to dominate the ECU roster these days. The Pirates picked up another Peach State standout in KEVON MERRELL (6-1, 200) from Crisp County High in Cordele. Merrell spent four seasons on the Crisp County varsity as a running back-linebacker. As a senior he rushed for 341 yards and scored eight touchdowns on offense, while making 60 tackles four tackles for loss and an interception on defense. The Pirates fought off Liberty and Tulane to sign Merrell.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF: Merrell’s speed should become an immediate asset for ECU, whether it’s on defense or special teams. He’s been timed at 10.66 seconds in the 100-meter dash, which allows him to do many things on the football field. Merrell is solid in pass coverage and big enough to handle larger receivers or tight ends. His quickness also makes him a potential playmaker rushing the passer.
BIG ONE THAT GOT AWAY: Three-star prospect CHAR’QUEZ LEE offered his verbal commitment to East Carolina soon after an official visit in June. But the Miami Palmetto High product had a change of heart in early October and backed off of that pledge. He eventually opted to remain in his home state to play for Florida Atlantic.
WHO’S BACK: As mentioned above, MIKE EDWARDS III started the final three games last season at the strongside spot after playing the first nine on the inside. Also back after starting two games and playing in all 12 is grad student KINGSTON MCKINSTRY (6-0, 197). McKinstry, who made 20 tackles, could challenge for the starting job this spring if Edwards goes back to the inside.
Sophomre NO’TAVIEN GREEN (6-1, 205) is another candidate on the strongside. Green is a preferred walk-on from in-state power New Bern High School, where he made 95 tackles, seven tackles for loss and five sacks during the Bears run to the state 4-A title as a senior.
WHO’S GONE: In a surprising move, RARA DILLWORTH entered the transfer portal after just one season at ECU. Dillworth, a former four-star prospect, joined the Pirates in 2023 after two seasons at North Carolina. He started the first seven games at the strongside position before missing the final five with an injury. Dillworth made 21 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss before the injury. He’s moved West to play for NCAA Division II Winston-Salem State next fall.
NEEDS FOR 2025: The only two players with experience at the SAM spot will be departing after the 2024 season, so this is a major need for the Pirates. Barring current roster members moving to SAM, ECU needs to sign at least two and maybe three prospects.
An offer went out on Jan. 31 to 6-0, 215-pound NIGEL NELSON from Pensacola Catholic High in Florida. Nelson was named the Panhandle Player of the Year by the Pensacola News Journal after a junior year in which he rushed for 1,370 yards on offense and collected 54 tackles and had five interceptions on defense. Normally a linebacker, Nelson moved to safety as a junior to assist a young secondary. He has offers from Akron, Arkansas State, Army, Florida Atlantic, Liberty, Miami of Ohio, Southern Miss, Toledo and Troy as well.
PROJECTED ORGANIZATIONAL DEPTH CHART FOR SPRING
Kingston McKinstry, Gove City, OH (6-0, 197) Graduate
Kevon Merrell, Cordele, GA (6-1, 186) Freshman
No’Tavien Green, New Bern, NC (6-1, 205) Sophomore
SAFETY/NICKEL B+
WHAT THEY NEEDED: The depth with which ECU started 2023 at safety and nickel was drained by graduation and especially the transfer portal after the season. Four players with a combined 108 career games for the Pirates have departed, including an All-AAC performer and another who made 13 career starts.
Those losses pushed the needle for more safeties higher to three or four for the 2024 cycle.
WHO SIGNED: Three promising prep safeties were signed by ECU in the Class of 2024.
Already enrolled and set to compete in spring practice is O’MARION LEWIS (6-2, 190) from Tarboro, NC. Lewis helped Tarboro reached the state 1-A championship game three straight years as a quarterback-safety. As a defender, Lewis made 51 tackles and six interceptions.
DEMARIUS HINES (5-11, 180), from Atlanta, GA, played for state power Westlake. He was an All-Region 2-7A pick as a senior when he made 50 tackles, five tackles for loss and an interception. Hines chose ECU over a lengthy list of offers that included Akron, Appalachian State, Army, Buffalo, Coastal Carolina, Connecticut, Eastern Michigan, Georgia State, Kent State, Massachusetts, Memphis, Middle Tennessee State, Old Dominion, Toledo, Tulane and UAB.
The Pirates reeled in 6-foot, 180-pound JA’MARLEY RIDDLE very early during the recruiting cycle. Riddle, who played for Camden County High in Kingsland, GA, received his scholarship offer from ECU on May 12, 2023, and a committed on his birthday, August 17. He was a triple threat for Camden County where as a senior he was named Co-Athlete of the Year in Georgia’s Region 1-7A. Riddle racked up 1,072 yards total yards and 13 touchdowns on offense, had 37 tackles and three picks on defense and 549 yards on returns.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF: This trio of young safeties will add athleticism and versatility to the ECU secondary. Hines is the bell ringer in the bunch, Lewis plays with great instinct, intelligence and timing, and Riddle is the big-play maker. Any one, or all three, could find their way on the field early on special teams. But they will have time to develop as secondary performers due to the depth the Pirates have at the safety spots.
BIG ONE THAT GOT AWAY: Three-star safety C.J. HEARD, from Woodward Academy in Atlanta, had been committed to Florida State since July 2023 when he suddenly re-opened his recruitment in November. East Carolina jumped in with an offer, which led to an official visit on Jan. 26. He followed that with a trip to Florida Atlantic on Feb. 3 that led to him signing with the Owls.
WHO’S BACK: Three players who earned at least two starts in 2023 headline the list of returning safeties.
Senior JORDAN HUFF (6-1, 204) started the last three games at the boundary safety last season and played in all 12. He registered 27 tackles in his first significant action for the Pirates since transferring in from the junior college ranks. In addition to playing safety, Huff can be utilized at nickel when ECU goes with five defensive backs on passing downs.
North Carolina transfer DONTAVIUS NASH (6-2, 180) made three starts late in the year at the boundary spot, and like Huff, appeared in all 12 games. Nash piled up 34 tackles, assisted on a tackle for loss and returned his lone interception of the year 36 yards for a touchdown against Texas-San Antonio. He’ll be a junior next fall.
Grad student OMAR ROGERS (6-1, 205) also made two starts at boundary safety, but was limited to just six games overall. He made the most of his playing time with seven tackles and two tackles for loss.
Senior DEVON KING (6-0, 186), junior MELVIN JACOBS (6-1, 193), sophomore JAVION CLARK and sophomore JOSH BENTON (6-2, 195) are other safety returnees who played in 2023. King has been a special teams star for ECU and has appeared in 30 career games with 33 tackles. Jacobs saw action in five games (2 tackles) and Clark three last season, while Benton had a single tackle in his only appearance.
Sophomore KAMAURRI MCKINLEY (6-2, 181) didn’t play in 2023, but was a big-time performer at Lakeland (FL) High as a senior in 2022 when he helped the team to a state title.
WHO’S GONE: All-AAC first-team selection JULIUS WOOD started 24 of the last 25 games at ECU the field safety spot. Wood capped his career by leading the Pirates in tackles (87) while also contributing 3.5 tackles for loss and two interceptions.
TEAGAN WILK was a consistent performer in ECU’s secondary for almost four straight years before an injury cut short his 2023 campaign after four games. Wilk played in 35 games and made 13 starts over a four-year period. He racked up 99 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and two interceptions. Wilk had one year of eligibility left, but opted to spend that playing for Houston after entering the transfer portal.
Grad transfer JONATHON JONES, who made six tackles in 12 games, and sophomore TY MOSS are also missing from the safety contingent. Jones completed his eligibility and Moss entered the transfer portal. Moss, who played in 25 games in three years with the Pirates, has moved on to FCS Tennessee Tech.
NEEDS FOR 2025: Significant portions of the safety room will be departing after the 2024 season. Huff, King and Rogers will finish their eligibility, and Nash and Jacobs are only two years from exiting. ECU should be looking to sign at least three or more safeties to replenish the position adequately.
According to 247Sports.com, ECU has already extended offers to 16 high school safety prospects. One of the more prominent ones has deep ties to the Pirates. JADON BLAIR (6-4, 190) from Mount Tabor High in Winston-Salem, NC, is the son of former ECU and NFL defensive lineman JA’WARREN BLAIR (1998-2002). The younger Blair received an offer from his dad’s alma mater last June. He’s already taken official visits to Penn State (June 21), Michgian (June 14), Notre Dame (June 7) and South Carolina (May 31). Could ECU get Blair’s fifth and final official visit? Stay tuned.
PROJECTED ORGANIZATIONAL DEPTH CHART FOR SPRING
FIELD SAFETY
Omar Rogers, Burlington, NJ (6-1, 205) Graduate
Javion Clark, Macon, GA (6-2, 183) Sophomore
Josh Benton, Jacksonville, NC (6-2, 195) Sophomore
DeMarius Hines, Atlanta, GA (5-11, 180) Freshman
O’Marion Lewis, Tarboro, NC (6-1, 185) Freshman
BOUNDARY SAFETY
Jordan Huff, Madison, GA (6-1, 204) Senior
Dontavius Nash, Gastonia, NC (6-2, 180) Junior
Kamaurri McKinley, Lakeland, FL (6-2, 181) Sophomore
Ja’Marley Riddle, Kingsland, GA (6-0, 180) Freshman
CORNERBACK B+
WHAT THEY NEEDED: For depth purposes alone, the Pirates needed to sign at least two corners in the 2024 class.
WHO SIGNED: A pair of major college veterans and a Florida track star have been added to the cornerback positions.
ERIC FLETCHER (6-1, 188) spent most of his prep career at Dunbar High in Fort Myers, FL, playing wide receiver. But his sprinter speed — 10.68 seconds over 100 meters and 22.08 over 200 — and athleticism (40-feet, 5-inch triple jump) are skills that should translate well to the cornerback position at ECU. Fletcher picked ECU in late June over offers from Indiana, Liberty, Marshall, Middle Tennessee State, Purdue, Temple, Toledo, UAB and USF.
The Pirates picked up West Virginia transfer ANDREW WILSON-LAMP (6-3, 172) in early January via the portal. Wilson-Lamp, from Massillon, Ohio, spent two seasons with the Mountaineers during which he played in 22 games and made three starts. He collected 14 tackles and had two pass breakups during that time.
In mid-January, GAVIN GIBSON (6-0, 177), from Hickory, NC, announced he’d be joining the ECU program after two seasons at Maryland. Gibson, who can also play safety, was a solid contributor in the Terrapins’ secondary. He appeared in 20 games over two years, making 32 tackles, four tackles for loss and a sack.
Gibson and Wilson-Lamp each have two years of eligibility remaining at ECU.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF: The additions of Gibson and Wilson-Lamp bring two game-ready and versatile players to the ECU secondary. Gibson is an excellent pass defender who can play either corner or nickel. He’ll reunite at ECU with his former teammate at Hough High in Charlotte, Isaiah Brown-Murray. Wilson-Lamp is a guy who can cover ground quickly, whether defending the pass or coming up to make a play against the run. He’s capable of playing both corner and safety.
Fletcher is a dynamic young athlete who’ll need time to develop his cornerback skills due to the limited time he spent playing there in high school. But his speed makes him a very promising prospect for the future.
BIG ONE THAT GOT AWAY: ELIJAH MCDOWELL, a three-star corner from South Gwinnett High in Snellville, GA, was one of ECU’s first committed players to the Class of 2024 when he gave his pledge on June 26. But right before Thanksgiving, McDowell announced via Twitter that he was backing off the commitment, and almost immediately offered another pledge to Georgia Southern. He signed with the Eagles in December.
WHO’S BACK: The two main starters from 2023 along with three others who saw playing time make up a deep cornerback group for ECU.
Senior SHAVON REVEL (6-3, 185) and sophomore ISAIAH BROWN-MURRAY (5-9, 187) are one of the AAC’s best returning cornerback tandems. Revel earned second-team All-AAC honors last season after making 55 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, a sack and an interception in his first full season as a starter. Brown-Murray started nine of 12 games a year ago, making 22 tackles.
Backing up that combo are junior TYMIR BROWN (6-0, 179), sophomore DAYLYN DISTON (6-1, 178) and RICO WATKINS (6-0, 183). Brown played in six games and made six tackles in his first season with the Pirates after transferring from North Carolina. Diston played in four games and Watkins two in their rookie seasons.
Also returning at cornerback are sophomores TIMOTHY PATTERSON (5-11, 173) and ADAM COLE (6-0, 182).
WHO’S GONE: ANTIONE JACKSON made a real impact at cornerback as a true freshman, playing in 10 games and actually starting three. There was great optimism around ECU he might be the program’s next great corner after making 19 tackles and an interception. But on the day after Christmas, Jackson announced on Twitter that he was entering the transfer portal. He has now returned to his home state of Florida to play for USF.
RANCE CONNER lasted just one season at ECU after transferring in from Louisville. Conner played in four games with the Pirates before entering the portal for a second time. As of Feb. 22, he had yet to announce a new playing destination. Likewise, walk-on DRU DOTTER entered the transfer portal after four seasons with the Pirates.
NEEDS FOR 2025: Revel is the only senior among the cornerbacks, but Brown, Gibson and Wilson-Lamp are juniors. So, four corners will likely be departing the program in the next two years. To get a head start on replacing those players, ECU should be looking to sign at least two corners in the class of 2024.
Two Florida cornerback prospects who were both offered by ECU in February are TAVIUS HORNE (5-11, 160) from St. Thomas Aquinas High in Fort Lauderdale and DANTE CORE (6-0, 170) from Fort Walton Beach.
Horne is a speedy (10.71 in 100 meters) athlete who has already drawn other scholarship offers from Colorado, Indiana, James Madison, Louisville, Syracuse, Temple, UAB, Western Michigan and West Virginia. Core also has an extensive offers list that features Appalachian State, Arkansas State, Charlotte, Iowa State, Liberty, Minnesota, Mississippi State, Mississippi, Rutgers, Tennessee, Toledo, Troy, Tulane and USF.
PROJECTED ORGANIZATIONAL DEPTH CHART FOR SPRING
FIELD CORNER
Isaiah Brown-Murray, Charlotte, NC (5-9, 187) Sophomore
Tymir Brown, Jacksonville, NC (6-0, 179) Junior
Gavin Gibson, Hickory, NC (6-0, 177) Junior
Daylyn Diston, Lake Butler, FL (6-1, 178) Sophomore
Timothy Patterson, Greensboro, NC (5-11, 173) Sophomore
BOUNDARY CORNER
Shavon Revel, Winston-Salem, NC (6-3, 185) Senior
Andrew Wilson-Lamp, Massillon, OH (6-3, 172) Junior
Rico Watkins, Monticello, FL (6-0, 183) Redshirt Freshman
Adam Cole, Asheboro, NC (6-0, 182) Sophomore
Eric Fletcher, Fort Myers, FL (6-1, 188) Freshman
SPECIALISTS B
WHAT THEY NEEDED: Although they lost several specialists to the transfer portal, ECU has plenty of quality players returning so there was no major need in these areas.
WHO SIGNED: The Pirates didn’t use any scholarships on specialists in the 2024 class, but they are bringing in several recruited walk-ons. They include punter-kicker ETHAN STUMPF (6-2, 190) from Park Ridge, IL, placekicker BRITT GLOVER from Jacksonville, NC, placekicker EVERETT SCOTT from Matthews, NC, and long snapper COLE WALKER from Savannah, GA.
Stumpf is rated the No. 10 punter in the Class of 2024 by Chris Sailer Kicking but can also be used on kickoffs and field goal tries. Glover averaged 40.1 yards per punt, converted 51 of 52 PATs and made eight of nine field goals as a senior. Scott is a two-time all-league pick, who converted seven of 10 field goal tries and 69 of 71 PATs as a senior. Walker is ranked the No. 32 long snapper in the 2024 class by Rubio Long Snapping.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF: The Pirates added some quality depth to the kicking game, especially with Glover and Stumpf, who can handle multiple duties, if needed.
BIG ONE THAT GOT AWAY: GRANT CHADWICK, from Tullahoma, TN, was rated the No. 11 punter in the nation by Koh’s Pro Camps. Chadwick took an official visit to ECU in October after a June offer. But he wound up committing to Memphis in December.
WHO’S BACK: Three of the four main specialists are scheduled to return for ECU, including punter LUKE LARSEN (6-2, 241), placekicker ANDREW CONRAD (5-10, 158) and long snapper ALEX HARPER (6-1, 224).
Larsen, a senior, enters his third year as the starter and owns a 40.8 career average. He’s dropped 38 punts inside the 20-yard line during his career. Conrad is one of the AAC’s top placement kickers. The junior converted 18 of 25 field-goal tries in 2023 with a long of 51 yards. Harper, now a graduate student, has handled the snapping duties for the last two years.
Also returning is sophomore deep snapper TRIPP SMITH (6-1, 228).
WHO’S GONE: Four specialists entered the transfer portal after the 2023 season. The most significant of those was kicker LAITH MARJAN, who handled kickoff duties as a redshirt sophomore. Marjan averaged 59.2 yards per kickoff with 20 touchbacks. He has taken his talents to South Alabama.
NEEDS FOR 2025: Larsen’s exit after the 2024 season leaves a void at punter that one of the walk-on newcomers could eventually fill. The same is true for Harper at the long snapper spot. But looking for a top-rated punter might not be a bad idea for the Pirates.
PROJECTED ORGANIZATIONAL DEPTH CHART FOR SPRING
PUNTER
Luke Larsen, Keilor Park, Australia (6-2, 241) Graduate
Ethan Stumpf, Park Ridge, IL (6-2, 190) Freshman
PLACEKICKER
Andrew Conrad, Kernersville, NC (5-10, 158) Junior
Britt Glover, Jacksonville, NC (6-0, 175) Freshman
Everett Scott, Matthews, NC (5-10, 165) Freshman
LONG SNAPPER
Alex Harper, Rosewood, NC (6-1, 224) Graduate
Tripp Smith, Simpsonville, SC (6-1, 228) Sophomore
Cole Walker, Savannah, GA (6-3, 230) Freshman
OVERALL DEFENSIVE GRADE B+
The Pirates achieved a great blend with a defensive class of players who can make an immediate impact while also signing athletic high school prospects for the future. All five of the transfer portal additions bring major conference experience to an already talented defense. But the real fun will be watching young guys such as Javon Williams, Kevin Merrill, Shaikh Thompson and others develop.
OVERALL RECRUITING CLASS GRADE B+
Rivals.com and 247Sports.com both rated ECU’s recruiting class sixth among AAC programs. But that doesn’t factor in the portal additions made by the Pirates. Combine those with the junior college and high school signees, and this class would be, at least, among the top three in the AAC. It’s a better-than-solid class that could play a significant role in helping ECU bounce back after a frustrating and disappointing 2023 season.
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