East Carolina wide receivers coach Dyrell Roberts has been a busy man this spring.
Roberts has literally scoured the East Coast to find new blood for the Pirates’ future wide receiver corps. The results have already earned ECU a verbal commitment from Connor Hodge, a three-star receiver prospect from Louisville, Kentucky, who also just happens to the younger brother of 2024 quarterback signee Cole Hodge.
But according to published reports or comments by high school prospects, Roberts and the Pirates have issued more than 40 other scholarship offers to receivers during this early stage of the Class of 2025 recruiting cycle.
Because the number of offers is so large, we’re going to offer brief bios on the receivers who seem most interested in East Carolina. Because schools can’t comment on scholarship offers, these projections are based on those public reports or comments by the prospects themselves.
JAEDON ALFORD, Rolesville HS, Rolesville, NC (6-0, 190) – Alford posted the third-highest receiving yardage figure in the state last season with 1,815 yards on 92 receptions. He also scored 21 times to earn first-team all-state honors from HighSchoolOT.com. Appalachian State, Austin Peay, Buffalo, Charlotte, Coastal Carolina, Connecticut, Elon, James Madison, Liberty, Marshall, Old Dominion, Temple, Troy and Wake Forest make up Alford’s current offer list. ECU joined that group on Jan. 12, 2024. Alford made recent campus visits to Wake Forest for Junior Day (Jan. 21), Liberty (March 28) and James Madison for spring practice (March 21).
GABE DANIELS, Greater Atlanta Christian School, Norcross, GA (6-1, 180) – A speedster who has been timed at 10.57 over 100 meters, Daniels snared 31 passes for 700 yards and five touchdowns last season. He picked up All-Region 6-5A honors for his efforts. ECU came in late with a Feb. 28, 2024, offer to join Alabama State, Appalachian State, Arkansas State, Coastal Carolina, Georgia State, Georgia Tech, Jackson State, Kansas, Memphis, Navy, N.C. State, Alabama-Birmingham, South Florida, Western Kentucky and Western Michigan in pursuit of Daniels.
ALVIN “TREY” JONES III, Oscar Smith HS, Chesapeake, VA (6-0, 175) – This speedster was the state 200-meter champion as a sophomore (21.37) and runner-up in the 100-meter dash (10.5). He used that speed to his advantage on the football field where he earned second-team all-region 6A honors as an all-purpose athlete while helping Oscar Smith to a state title. Appalachian State, Buffalo, Duke, Indiana, James Madison, Old Dominion, Penn State and Virginia Tech have offered Jones. ECU stepped in with an offer back in April 2023 and Jones took an unofficial trip to Greenville January 31, 2024. He’s also taken unofficial visits for Junior Day events at Penn State and West Virginia this year.
ANDREW LESLIE, Cedar Grove HS, Ellenwood, GA (6-2, 185) – After helping Cedar Grove to a second straight 3A championship, Leslie earned a scholarship offer from ECU on Jan. 31, 2024. The Pirates join Appalachian State, Arkansas State, Clark Atlanta, Coastal Carolina, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia State, Georgetown, Liberty, Memphis, Toledo, UAB and USF in pursuit of Leslie.
ELIJAH MELTON, Pinecrest HS, Southern Pines, NC (6-5, 200) – A basketball and football standout for the Patriots, Melton was offered a football scholarship by East Carolina during an unofficial visit to campus in October 2023. Melton earned All-Sandhills 3-A/4-A Conference honors as a junior on the gridiron after making 50 catches for 703 yards and three touchdowns. He also averaged 10.9 points and 9.8 rebounds in basketball as a junior. Charlotte, Coastal Carolina and Liberty have also offered Melton.
C.J. NEELY, Dudley HS, Greensboro, NC (6-1, 192) – The versatile Neely earned All-Mid-State 3-A Conference honors in basketball and football as a junior. He was an all-league guard in basketball after averaging 11.9 points. On the gridiron, he matched those honors by setting a school record with 1,164 receiving yards on 55 catches. Neely caught 15 of those for touchdowns. Alabama A&M, Bethune-Cookman, Charlotte, Gardner-Webb, Georgia State, James Madison, Liberty and Temple are among the schools who have offered Neely, along with ECU (Jan. 26, 2024).
NASIR NEWKIRK, Dudley HS, Greensboro, NC (6-2, 190) – “Nas” is rated a 3-star prospect by 247Sports.com. He caught 51 passes for 1,123 yards and 16 touchdowns as a junior playing opposite teammate and ECU recruit C.J. Neely. Alabama A&M, Appalachian State, Bethune-Cookman, Charlotte, Coastal Carolina, Duke, Georgia, Georgia State, James Madison, Liberty, Maryland, Notre Dame, Old Dominion, USF, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Wisconsin have all offered Newkirk. ECU was one of the first to offer, though, back in June 2023.
DILLON NEWTON-SHORT, Matoaca HS, Chesterfield, VA (6-1, 195) – Newton-Short set a school record with 23 receiving touchdowns as a junior to go along with 65 catches for 1,095 yards. He was a first-team All-Metro pick at receiver and all-region as an all-purpose player. ECU’s offer has been on the table with Newton-Short since last June. He also has offers from Appalachian State, Duke, James Madison, Liberty, Marshall, Maryland, Massachusetts, Old Dominion, Pittsburgh and Temple.
ALEXANDER SANCHEZ, Grayson HS, Loganville, GA (6-2, 185) – Sanchez is a baseball and football standout at Grayson. He caught 42 passes for 611 yards and six touchdowns in football as a junior to earn second-team All-Region 4-7A honors. Appalachian State, Boston College, Central Michigan, Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, Louisville, Marshall, Tulane, UAB, Central Florida, Western Kentucky and Western Michigan have offered along with ECU (Jan. 30, 2024).
MIKEY SCOTT, Dallastown Area HS, Dallastown, PA (5-9, 155) – Nicknamed “Joystick” because of his big-play abilities, Scott was selected 6A all-state by the Pennsylvania Football Writers after racking up 1,200 yards and 12 touchdowns receiving as a junior. He’s a speed merchant who has been timed at 10.5 over 100 meters and 4.4 in the 40-yard dash. ECU joined a growing list of schools that have offered Scott on Jan. 29, 2024. Others include Arkon, Boston College, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Coastal Carolina, Connecticut, Howard, Kent State, Liberty, Maryland, Massachusetts, Old Dominion, Pittsburgh, Temple, Toledo and West Virginia. Scott is expected to name a top seven soon. He already has an official visit scheduled for Kent State in June.
MIKKEL SKINNER, Riverside HS, Greer, SC (6-3, 210) – Skinner was named all-area by the Greer Citizen and All-Region 2-4A after a junior season in which he caught 44 passes for 651 yards, rushed for 588 yards and accounted for 15 touchdowns. The Pirates (Nov. 30, 2023) joined a large pool of schools that have offered Skinner, including Ohio State. Since January, he’s taken unofficial trips to Cincinnati, Florida and South Carolina, although that trio has yet to offer.
JAIVON SOLOMON, Jones County HS, Gray, GA (6-2, 175) – The Pirates sent out one of their most recent offers to Solomon (Jan. 31, 2024), who snared 40 passes for 671 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior. Arkansas State, Coastal Carolina, Florida Atlantic, Georgia State, Georgia Southern, Memphis, Pittsburgh and USF are his other offers.
AHMED SOUARE, Loganville HS, Loganville, GA (6-3, 190) – First-team all-county in basketball and football as a junior, Souare has drawn scholarship offers from Appalachian State, Coastal Carolina, Georgia State, Indiana, James Madison and Western Kentucky. ECU extended its offer on Jan. 30, 2024. Souare caught 65 passes for 1,310 yards and 16 touchdowns last season to pick up co-player of the year honors from the Walton Tribune. He recently took unofficial visits to Georgia Tech and Coastal Carolina.
EMMANUEL TAYLOR, Green Run HS, Virginia Beach, VA (6-1, 190) – A two-way star for Green Run, Taylor was offered by ECU last April and took an unofficial visit to campus on Jan. 28, 2024. He’s scheduled an official visit to Pittsburgh (June 20-22) and Old Dominion (March 16), but we expect him to fit the Pirates in eventually for an official. Charlotte, Coastal Carolina, Duke, Houston Christian, Liberty, Marshall, Old Dominion, Pittsburgh, Temple, Virginia Tech and West Virginia make up his offer list at present.
JONATHAN WILLIAMS, Havelock HS, Havelock, NC (6-0, 164) – The latest in a long line of Havelock stars who have been heavily recruited by ECU, Williams was named the New Bern Sun Journal’s Area Offensive Player of the Year as a junior playing quarterback. He passed for 1,000 yards, rushed for 1,333 and accounted for 17 touchdowns. In addition to ECU, he’s received scholarship offers from Appalachian State, Bethune-Cookman, Boston College, Coastal Carolina, Charlotte, Connecticut, Elon, James Madison, Old Dominion and West Virginia. Williams was offered by the Pirates on Jan. 13, 2023, and has scheduled an official visit to Greenville for June 6.
BRYCE YATES, Matoaca HS, Chesterfield, VA (6-0, 170) – East Carolina was the second school to offer Yates back in June 2023. He also has offers from Appalachian State, Buffalo, Charlotte, Duke (official visit scheduled June 14-18), James Madison, Marshall, Maryland, Massachusetts, Old Dominion, Pittsburgh and Temple. Yates was a first-team All-Metro and all-state pick as a receiver last season after making 79 catches for 1,193 yards and 18 touchdowns. He also earned second-team all-state honors as a defensive back after collecting six interceptions.
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