Signing talent at tight end looms as one of the priorities for East Carolina as it pursues the football recruiting Class of 2025.
The Pirates are expected to lose three prominent members of their tight end contingent following the 2024 season as Shane Calhoun, Tyler Savage and transfer Casey Kelly are scheduled to complete their college eligibility. As a result, ECU has been actively recruiting at least 11 high school tight ends presently, including three intriguing in-state players.
Here’s a brief look at those 11 prospects who have been offered scholarships by ECU, according to public reports or comments by the prospects themselves.
HENRY ANTHONY, Cannon School, Concord, NC (6-5, 235) – Anthony, who doubles as a defensive end, spent the month of March making unofficial visits to just about every Ivy League school. All those schools have offered along with Appalachian State, Charlotte, Coastal Carolina, Delaware, Georgia Southern, James Madison, Liberty, Marshall and Towson. ECU also extended an offer Jan. 31, 2024. Anthony was a first-team All-N.C. Independent Schools Western Conference pick as a junior after making 28 catches for 364 yards and three touchdowns.
HAYDEN BRADLEY, Buford HS, Buford, GA (6-5, 220) – This three-star prospect has already accumulated more than 30 scholarship offers, including ones from Penn State, Michigan, Oregon and Texas A&M. He’s already taken unofficial visits this spring to Michigan (April 6), Texas A&M (March 27), Mississippi (March 24) and Florida (March 9). Ole Miss and Miami are scheduled to receive official visits in June. ECU joined the list of offering schools on Jan. 20, 2024. Bradley is expected to announce a final decision on April 27.
EVAN GOBER, Brookwood HS, Snellville, GA (6-4, 230) – A second-team all-region selection whose biggest contribution came on defense as a junior, Gober made 52 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks. He also caught seven passes for 37 yards and a touchdown on offense in just five games. ECU was the first FBS program to offer Gober a scholarship on May 5, 2023. He followed that up with an unofficial visit to campus Oct. 22. Since then, Appalachian State, Austin Peay, Central Michigan, Delaware, Eastern Michigan, Georgia State, Liberty and Wofford have also offered.
NAJAI HINES, South Garner HS, Garner, NC (6-9, 230) – Yes, Hines is a basketball player, too, who averaged 14 points and 12 rebounds as a junior. But it’s on the football field that Hines has already built significant recruiting interest after making 23 catches for 313 yards and four touchdowns last season. ECU was among the first schools to offer Hines back on Oct. 25, 2023. Others also in the hunt are Appalachian State, Charlotte, Coastal Carolina, Elon, Houston, Temple, Troy, South Carolina and West Virginia.
BRANDON KUBAY, St. Thomas More HS, Clearwater, FL (6-4, 225) – The Canadian native is moving to St. Thomas More for his senior year after playing last season at Clearwater Academy International. He caught 30 passes for 347 yards and two touchdowns in nine games as a junior. Bucknell, Buffalo, Florida Atlantic, Jacksonville State, Penn, Toledo and South Florida have offered along with ECU (March 30, 2024). Kubay has made unofficial visits to USF (March 7) and Florida Atlantic (March 19) so far this spring.
CORBIN LAISURE, Sullivan East HS, Bluff City, TN (6-5, 225) – Laisure was named region co-athlete of the year after a junior season in which he made 64 catches for 774 yards and 10 touchdowns, while also leading the state with 110 tackles. ECU offered a scholarship on Feb. 8, 2024, joining Arizona State, Arkansas State, Austin Peay, Colorado, Colorado State, Delaware, Louisville, Mercer, Middle Tennessee State, Miami of Ohio, Mississippi State, Mississippi, Nevada-Las Vegas, San Diego State, Syracuse, Vanderbilt, Western Kentucky and Western Michigan.
KALEB MORROW, Apex HS, Apex, NC (6-6, 240) – Morrow was a first-team All-Southeast Wake 4-A Conference pick as a junior after making 30 catches for 382 yards and 15 touchdowns. East Carolina received Morrow’s most recent unofficial visit on April 6 and he was also in Greenville on Jan. 28 for a Junior Day event. The Pirates, who offered a scholarship on Feb. 14, 2024, will get an official visit from Morrow in June. He’s also taken unofficial visits this year to Duke (Feb. 3), Virginia Tech (Jan. 29) and Appalachian State (March 4).
CROSS NIMMO, Lake Catholic HS, Mentor, OH (6-6, 230) – All conference, all district and second-team All-Ohio as a junior, Nimmo has been rated a three-star prospect by both 247Sports.com and On3.com. He caught 30 passes for 801 yards and 15 touchdowns as a junior, which has earned him more than a dozen scholarship offers. ECU got in the game with Nimmo on Jan. 16, 2024, with an offer. He’s already taken unofficial visits this spring to Illinois, Minnesota and Toledo, and has stated publicly plans to travel to Louisville and Rutgers in April.
LANDON OKLA, Ponte Vedra HS, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL (6-2, 230) – Okla picked up all-area and all-district honors as a junior when he caught 20 passes for 305 yards and eight touchdowns. He also claimed a district championship in weightlifting this spring. ECU offered Okla on Jan. 20, 2024, and had him on campus for an unofficial visit March 30. He’s also taken unofficial visits to Duke (March 23) and Florida Atlantic (March 16). Georgia Southern, Maryland and Pitt have also offered.
MIKE TYLER, Hammond School, Columbia, SC (6-4, 225) – An All-Midlands selection as a junior, Tyler caught 33 passes for 543 yards and seven touchdowns in helping Hammond to a state title. ECU offered Tyler last September, the second school to do so following Coastal Carolina. Since then Appalachian State, Boston College, Duke, FAU, Georgia Southern, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Mississippi, N.C. State, North Carolina, South Carolina, USF, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest and West Virginia have joined the list. Tyler attended N.C. State’s spring game on April 6, and made unofficial visits to Duke (March 25) and Virginia Tech (April 2). He’s also stated he expects to make unofficial trips to Cincinnati, Central Florida, UNC and South Carolina this spring.
TAMEZ YOUNG, Robinson HS, Tampa, FL (6-4, 205) – ECU offered Young back in November, jumping in line with Florida, Florida A&M, FAU, Georgia Southern, Indiana, Kansas, Louisville, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Texas A&M, Toledo, USF and West Virginia. He grabbed 32 passes for 458 yards and scored six touchdowns as a junior. Young has 47 career receptions for 661 yards and seven TDs in 20 games.
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