Because of the physical demands, the recruitment of offensive linemen has become more focused on the transfer portal these days. But that hasn’t slowed East Carolina’s pursuit of blocking talent from the high school level, especially at the vital offensive tackle positions.
As the hunt for the recruiting Class of 2025 unfolds, the Pirates have already extended a reported 12 scholarship offers to prep tackle prospects. Three of those are now verbally committed to other schools, leaving many talented tackles still available for ECU, which should be looking to sign two or three at those positions.
Here’s a brief look at those nine tackle prospects who haven’t committed to other schools but have been offered scholarships by ECU. These offers are based on public reports or comments by the prospects themselves because the school cannot comment on scholarship offers.
DAMOLA AJIDAHUN, Duluth HS, Duluth, GA (6-6, 300) – The Gwinnett County TD Club named Ajidahun to its all-county club last season. The three-star blocker has taken unofficial visits to Duke (Nov. 2023) and Cincinnati (March 7) so far. He holds offers from those programs as well as Appalachian State, Charlotte, Coastal Carolina, Florida, Florida Atlantic, Georgia, Georgia State, Georgia Southern, Georgia Tech, Miami of Ohio and Tennessee. Troy, Tulane, South Florida, Vanderbilt, Virginia and Wake Forest have also offered. ECU jumped in with an offer on Feb. 1, 2024.
BRYAN AUGUSTE, Monarch HS, Pompano Beach, FL (6-4, 295) – Auguste enjoyed a dominant junior season in which he produced 83 pancake blocks for Monarch. A three-star prospect according to 247Sports.com, he was offered by ECU on Jan. 31, 2024. Akron, Bethune-Cookman, Boston College, Coastal Carolina, Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Liberty, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Tulane, Wagner and West Virginia make up his current offer list. Auguste has official visits scheduled for June to Boston College and Kentucky.
SAM BROWDER, Christ School, Arden, NC (6-5, 285) – A first-team all-state independent school selection as a junior in his first season at Christ School, Browder began his career at Dobyns-Bennett High in Kingsport, TN. East Carolina offered a scholarship on Feb. 6, 2024, and Browder took an unofficial visit to campus on March 24. He’s also entertaining offers from Army, Appalachian State, Elon, Gardner-Webb and Wake Forest. Browder has also taken unofficial trips to Appalachian State (March 5) and Wake Forest (April 1) this spring.
ANTONI OGUMORO, Elgin HS, Elgin, OK (6-4, 315) – East Carolina was able to watch Ogumoro develop close to its own backyard at White Oak High in Jacksonville, NC. Ogumoro was a first-team All-Coastal 3-A Conference pick there as a junior before moving to Oklahoma last November due to his father’s job as a U.S. Marine. ECU’s offer went out last Oct. 6. But by March 2024, Ogumoro announced a top eight list that featured Houston, Missouri, N.C. State, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Penn State and Tennessee.
SHEDRICK SARRATT JR., Gaffney HS, Gaffney, SC (6-5, 305) – A three-star prospect, according to 247Sports.com, and starter since his freshman season, Sarratt has racked up more than 20 scholarship offers to date. The Pirates were among the earliest to offer on Oct. 3, 2023. Appalachian State, Central Michigan, Cincinnati, Coastal Carolina, Florida, Florida State, Georgia Southern, Georgia Tech, Marshall, N.C. State, Old Dominion, South Carolina, Tennessee, USF and Western Kentucky have also offered. The Gamecocks appear to have the upper hand at this stage, and Sarratt will make an official visit to Columbia on June 21-23.
JACK SHEEHAN, Cardinal Gibbons HS, Raleigh, NC (6-6, 310) – Sheehan is an ECU legacy athlete. His father, Michael, was an offensive lineman for the Pirates in the 1990s under coach Steve Logan. The younger Sheehan was an All-Cap 6 4-A Conference pick as a junior. He received an offer from Dad’s alma mater on June 4, 2023, while attending ECU’s football camp. Sheehan also has offers from Bethune-Cookman, Coastal Carolina, Elon, Marshall, Miami of Ohio, Old Dominion and Troy.
ANDY SILVERTHORN, Toronto HS, Toronto, OH (6-5, 280) – Surgery cut short Silverthorn’s junior campaign in late September, but he still managed to earn Ohio Valley and all-district honors. A two-way starter for Toronto High, he has collected 84 career tackles and seven tackles for loss as a defensive end. But schools such as Akron, Eastern Kentucky, Massachusetts, Oklahoma State, Youngstown State and West Virginia are interested in his potential on the offensive line. ECU is also in the hunt after offering last November and receiving an unofficial visit from Silverthorn on March 28, 2024.
TA’KHYIAN WHITSET, Antioch HS, Antioch, TN (6-5, 270) – Whitset is a two-sport standout for Antioch, who earned all-star honors in basketball and football as a junior. He was an all-district selection in basketball after averaging 14 points and nine rebounds last season. Whitset was also a first-team all-large class pick in football by @615Preps. He picked up an offer from ECU on Feb. 16, 2024, to go along with ones from Indiana, Liberty, Miami of Ohio, Purdue and Western Kentucky.
LADERION WILLIAMS, Douglas County HS, Douglasville, Ga. (6-4, 311) – Williams was a two-way standout at Douglas County, where he earned All-Region 5-6A honorable mention as a junior. He produced 35 tackles and six tackles for loss as a defensive tackle, while paving the way for an offense that averaged 245.7 yards per game rushing. ECU got in the game early with Williams, offering on Jan. 26, 2023. But his focus, of late, seems to be with ACC or SEC programs. He’s taken unofficial visits to Auburn (March 29) and Arkansas (April 14), and has travel plans to Florida and Florida State later in the spring.
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