East Carolina will lose some significant talent at the defensive line positions following the 2024 season, which has made securing talent there a focus of the 2025 recruiting class.
Major contributors D’Anta Johnson and Suirad Ware, along with Ohio State transfer Jaden McKenzie, are scheduled to complete their eligibility with the Pirates next fall. Those pending departures are a big reason ECU has stepped out to make more than 20 scholarship offers to high school defensive linemen in the ’25 class.
Here’s a brief look at some of those defensive line prospects already offered by ECU. These offers are based on public reports or comments by the prospects themselves because the school cannot comment on scholarship offers.
CALEB BELL, Milton HS, Alpharetta, GA (6-3, 270) – A prep teammate of another ECU target, Caleb Ellis, Bell is a three-star prospect who was All-Region 6A first-team as a junior. He amassed 75 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks in 13 games. Bell has racked up some miles this spring by taking unofficial visits to N.C. State (March 1), Georgia Tech (March 30), Florida (April 6) and Arkansas (April 13). The Wolfpack got an early lead by extending the first offer to Bell. But ECU made its bid with an offer on Dec. 5, 2023.
SAMUEL COHEN, Huguenot HS, Richmond, VA (6-3, 295) – Awarded three-star status by 247Sports.com, Cohen was a first-team All-Region 4B pick as a junior and earned second-team All-Metro honors from the Richmond Times-Dispatch. He received those honors after making 44 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and six sacks last season. Charlotte, Cincinnati, Duke, Howard, James Madison, Liberty, Louisville, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Old Dominion, N.C. State, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia Tech and Wisconsin have reportedly offered Cohen. So have the Pirates, who became one of his first FBS offers on May 3, 2023.
JOSIAH DWYER, Clinton HS, Clinton, NC (6-4, 245) – A two-way lineman who began his prep career at Jack Britt High in Fayetteville, Dwyer helped Clinton to a 15-1 record and state championship appearance as a junior. He played on both the offensive and defensive line for the Dark Horses, making 24 tackles, eight tackles for loss and five sacks on defense. Dwyer received an offer from East Carolina while on campus during spring practice March 30. He’s also earned offers from Charleston Southern, Coastal Carolina (official visit June 14-16), Elon, Furman, Gardner-Webb, Old Dominion, St. Andrews, Troy and Wofford.
CALEB ELLIS, Milton HS, Alpharetta, GA (6-3, 265) – Ellis made 39 tackles, four tackles for loss and a sack for the state 7A champions as a junior. The effort earned him second-team All-Region 6-6A honors. It was his first season at Milton after transferring there from Greater Atlanta Christian School. East Carolina offered Ellis on Jan. 24, 2024, and he took an unofficial visit to campus on March 22. Ellis has also made unofficial visits this spring to Georgia Tech on April 13 (no offer) and Kent State (March 17).
CHRISTIAN EVANS, Stone Bridge HS, Ashburn, VA (6-3, 280) – “Cheez” was a first-team all-district and all-region pick as an offensive and defensive lineman as a junior. On defense, he racked up 47 tackles, four tackles for loss and three sacks. Evans only recently received an offer from ECU on March 6 to join a lengthy list of schools in pursuit. He’s already scheduled official visits to North Carolina (May 31-June 2), Virginia (June 7-9), Boston College (June 14-16) and Oklahoma (June 21-23).
CHARLES HOUSE, North Mecklenburg HS, Huntersville, NC (6-3, 288) – House is one of those guys every in-state school is pursuing, but he seems destined to leave the confines of North Carolina to start his college career. He announced a top six of Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Miami and Tennessee on February 6. House has scheduled official visits with Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee over the next two months.
CHASE LINTON, North Atlanta HS, Atlanta, GA (6-4, 220) – This two-time All-Region 4-6A pick received an offer from East Carolina on Dec. 5, 2023. ECU is one of 10 schools with offers on the table along with Appalachian State, Austin Peay, Alabama A&M, Ball State, Bowling Green, Buffalo, Georgia State, Massachusetts, Memphis, Mercer, Rutgers and Wofford. Linton has scheduled his first official visit to Rutgers on May 31.
CALEB SMITH, Parker HS, Birmingham, AL (6-5, 265) – This three-star prospect has already set up official visits in June to Georgia Tech, Oklahoma State and Purdue. He’s also expected to add Washington to that list. Smith made just 17 tackles in nine games as a junior, but it hasn’t stopped more than 20 FBS schools from extending scholarship offers. ECU is among those after making a late play on May 9, 2024.
MAKHI WILLIAMS-LEE, Lakeside HS, Atlanta, GA (6-2, 275) – The team and defensive MVP as well as first-team All-Dekalb County as a junior. Williams-Lee made 77 tackles with 22 tackles for loss and 10 sacks in 10 games last season. He received one of his most recent offers from ECU on May 10, but has since picked up others from Alabama A&M, Kansas, Memphis, Mississippi State and N.C. State. Williams-Lee has scheduled his first official visit to N.C. State for June 7-9. He has taken unofficial visits this spring to Coastal Carolina, Georgia State and Troy, all of whom have offered.
AMARI WILSON, Colquitt County HS, Moultrie, GA (6-3, 230) – Moultrie has been one of the most productive defensive linemen in Georgia for the last two seasons. He’s a two-time All-Region 6-7A pick, including last season when he made 70 tackles, 21 tackles for loss and three sacks. ECU was among the first schools to recognize Wilson’s talent with a scholarship offer back on May 10, 2023. He’s also received offers from Appalachian State, Arkansas State, Charlotte, Connecticut, Florida A&M, Georgia Southern, Indiana, Jacksonville State, James Madison, Liberty, N.C. State, Pittsburgh, Alabama-Birmingham and South Florida.
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