East Carolina absorbed some significant losses via graduation and the transfer portal at the linebacker positions following the 2023 season, including starter Teylor Jackson and former four-star prospect RaRa Dillworth.
The Pirates are also scheduled to see projected 2024 starters Mike Edwards and Kingston McKinstry complete their eligibility next fall. Those combined departures have resulted in ECU extending scholarship offers to recruiting Class of 2025 linebackers up and down the East Coast and beyond. Approximately 20 offers are currently out to linebackers, according to published reports.
Here’s a brief look at some of those linebacker 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.
DEANGELO BOWDEN, St. John’s HS, Washington, DC (6-2, 225) – Back-to-back 18-sack seasons have turned Bowden into a coveted college prospect. He’s received offers from Akron, Appalachian State, Arkansas, Buffalo, Connecticut, Delaware, Elon, James Madison, Kent State, Liberty, Marshall, Memphis, Ohio, Pittsburgh, Temple, Toledo and South Florida. East Carolina’s offer was extended on January 24. Bowden worked out for the Pitt coaches in late May.
DENIM COOK, Bishop Hartley HS, Columbus, OH (6-4, 223) – This two-time all-state performer made 116 tackles, 22 tackles for loss and 15 sacks as a junior. He has earned three-star status from 247Sports.com. ECU became his 23rd Division I offer on May 16, but the Pirates didn’t make the top six he announced on April 5th that featured Indiana, Louisville, Pittsburgh, Purdue, Toledo and Virginia. Cook is expected to announce his college choice on July 1.
JAMARI FARMER, Mooresville HS, Mooresville, NC (6-1, 210) – One of North Carolina’s top in-state prospects, Farmer has collected 258 career tackles, 49 tackles for loss and 13 sacks in 26 varsity games at Mooresville. His 130 tackles and 26 tackles for loss earned him Greater Metro 4-A Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors last season as well as Iredell County Player of the Year from the Statesville Record & Landmark. ECU offered Farmer on May 13, joining Bryant, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Coastal Carolina, Delaware, Elon, Georgia Southern, Howard, Indiana, N.C. A&T and Old Dominion. Farmer made his first official visit June 6-8 to Delaware and has a second scheduled June 13-16 at Cincinnati.
MICHAEL HASTIE, Douglas County HS, Douglasville, GA (6-3, 230) – Hastie is a two-way star for Douglas County, who made 122 tackles on defense and rushed for 550 yards on offense as a junior. His versatility earned him Region 5-6A Ironman of the Year honors. ECU came forward with a scholarship offer for Hastie more than a year ago on Jan. 26, 2023. The Pirates are part of a large offer list that also includes Appalachian State, Arkansas State, Boston College, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Coastal Carolina, Connecticut, Duke, Florida State, Georgia State, Indiana, Kansas, Liberty, Louisville, Marshall, Minnesota, North Carolina, Pittsburgh, Southern Methodist, Texas A&M, Alabama-Birmingham, Central Florida, Nevada-Las Vegas, Wake Forest, West Virginia, Western Kentucky and Wright State.
BRENNAN JOHNSON, Highland Springs HS, Highland Springs, VA (6-0, 190) – Johnson was the Class 6 Virginia Defensive Player of the Year as a junior when he made 120 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and four sacks. His impressive resume has earned scholarship offers from Alcorn State, Appalachian State, Delaware, Duke, Hampton, Holy Cross, Indiana, James Madison, Liberty, Maryland, Michigan State, Pittsburgh, South Carolina, Temple, Virginia and William & Mary in addition to ECU (July 18, 2023). Johnson made his first official visit to Maryland (May 31-June 1), but has no others scheduled to date.
CHARLES MANGA, Monroe Area HS, Monroe, GA (6-3, 200) – Manga is an outside backer who made 66 tackles and two tackles for loss for Monroe Area last season. He earned second-team All-Region 8AAA for his efforts. East Carolina jumped into the competition for Manga with an offer on May 6. The Pirates joined Central Michigan, Cincinnati, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Liberty, Middle Tennessee State, Vanderbilt, Western Kentucky and Western Michigan with offers on the table for Manga.
CALEB MATELAU, Palmetto HS, Palmetto, FL (6-2, 215) – Matelau has parlayed a highly decorated junior season into almost a dozen FBS scholarship offers. After making 96 tackles, six tackles for loss and a sack, he was named all-area by the Herald-Tribune and was selected his team’s defensive MVP. Matelau was offered by ECU on May 10 and has set an official visit for Greenville for June 13-15. He’s also taken an official to Louisville (May 31) and has another scheduled June 21-23 to USF. Arkansas State, Buffalo, Florida Atlantic, Georgia Southern, Indiana, Pittsburgh and Wake Forest are others that have offered.
JULIUS PURYEAR, Jensen Beach HS, Jensen Beach, FL (6-2, 220) – An all-area pick as a sophomore and junior, Puryear produced 103 tackles, 11 sacks and three interceptions last season. ECU is one of a few major schools that have offered him to date, extending a scholarship on Feb. 1. Puryear attended a Junior Day event at USF (no offer) in January and took an unofficial visit to Texas-El Paso in February but has yet to announce any official recruiting trips. He also has offers from Appalachian State, Air Force, Bryant, Bucknell, Cornell, Delaware, Eastern Michigan, Florida Atlantic, Fordham, Lehigh, N.C. A&T, Richmond and Toledo.
MACKLIN SANDERS, Ola HS, McDonough, GA (6-2, 210) – A star shortstop in baseball for Ola, “Mac” earned first-team All-Region 2-5A honors as a junior in football after making 37 tackles, three tackles for loss and an interception in eight games. The Pirates moved in on Sanders with an offer while he attended a Junior Day function in Greenville on March 23. He has since scheduled an official visit to ECU for June 20-22. Dartmouth, Navy, Troy and Wofford have also offered Sanders.
CHASE TAYLOR, Stockbridge HS, Stockbridge, GA (6-3, 201) – A three-star prospect and Georgia Athletic Coaches Association all-state pick, Taylor received an offer from East Carolina on Jan. 17. Taylor has taken one unofficial visit this spring to Michigan, which has also offered along with Cincinnati, Clemson, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi State, North Carolina, N.C. State, South Carolina, Southern Cal, Vanderbilt, Virginia and West Virginia.
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