The area hit hardest by personnel losses this offseason in East Carolina’s football program has clearly been on defense.
The Pirates saw 10 prominent defenders complete their eligibility at the end of the 2024 season and 10 others exited via the transfer portal. The latter figure includes seven from the ECU secondary and three potential starters for 2025.
Overall, the Pirates will be missing eight defenders who started at least 11 games last season as well as NFL cornerback prospect SHAVON REVEL JR. Revel was a second-team All-American Athletic Conference pick in 2023 and headed toward even bigger honors as a senior when he was injured in the third game. Although he didn’t play a down after that, Revel is still considered a potential first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
The losses added up to a challenging recruiting cycle for East Carolina’s coaching staff, which succeeded even during the upheaval of a mid-season change of head coaches. More additions or subtractions from the final 2025 roster could come when the Pirates complete spring practice.
But new personnel won’t be the only changes coming to ECU’s defense this spring. The Pirates have hired Josh Aldridge from Auburn to be their new defensive coordinator. Aldridge, who served as edge and linebackers coach during two years with the Tigers, could make changes to the multiple 4-2-5 alignment ECU has used in recent seasons, which could alter the position projections we have below.
Until then, as we look ahead to spring practice and how the recruiting Class of 2025 might fit into the program, here’s our annual position-by-position grades for the defensive signees. We’ll also project the best organizational profile we can and look ahead to the recruiting needs as the coaching staff pursues the recruiting Class of 2026. These projections are based on the final depth chart from last season and other information gathered by press time but may be altered by position changes during spring practice, or further defections or additions.
DEFENSIVE END C+
WHAT THEY NEEDED: One major loss was anticipated at season’s end. But with another top co-starter also on track to leave after the 2025 season, the Pirates needed to add two more defensive end prospects to their wish list.
WHO SIGNED: The Pirates went to the prestigious IMG Academy in Florida to find DYLON WORTHEN (6-2, 235). Worthen, from Bradenton, FL, racked up impressive offers from the likes of Michigan and Tennessee, and took unofficial visits to those schools. But Worthen received a scholarship offer last April from ECU, which just so happens to be the school where IMG’s defensive line coach ERNIE LOGAN starred. Worthen took an official visit to ECU on June 20 and committed four days later.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF: Worthen is a sideline-to-sideline player capable of making plays all over the field. He already has the strength and quickness to complete at the FBS level, and he’ll get the chance during spring practice to prove himself ready.
BIG ONE THAT GOT AWAY: Three-star AMARI WILSON (6-2, 235), from Moultrie, GA, awarded the first school to offer him a scholarship — East Carolina — with a verbal commitment last June 15. Wilson entertained almost 20 scholarship offers before selecting the Pirates. But about a month after MIKE HOUSTON stepped down as ECU’s head coach, Wilson backed off his pledge (Nov. 19) and wound up staying in his home state to play for Georgia Southern.
WHO’S BACK: J.D. LAMPLEY (6-3, 260) returns for his senior campaign as an all-star candidate. Lampley shared defensive end duties with CHAD STEPHENS last season, his third straight playing a prominent role on the front line. The Rockingham, NC, product made 27 tackles, five tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks while splitting time with Stephens. With 34 career games played, Lampley is the most experienced lineman returning and will again be one of the defensive leaders.
Only one other defensive end with game experience returns. Redshirt senior JASIYAH ROBINSON (6-3, 252) has 23 games under his belt at ECU, with his most extensive time occurring last season. Robinson, from Groveport, Ohio, played in all 13 games as a backup, contributing 11 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks. Injury issues have plagued Robinson during his career, but a healthy 2025 would help solidify the end position for the Pirates.
Junior KIEREN DAVIS (6-2, 250), redshirt freshman JACOBY MARTIN (6-2, 252) and redshirt freshman TORIN BRAZELL (6-2, 275) are other roster players who’ll compete at end during the spring. Davis, son of former NFL defensive lineman Charles Grant, is an athletic big man ready to make an impact for the Pirates after serving as the fourth end on the depth chart most of last season. Brazell is a pass-rushing specialist, while Martin is a preferred walk-on from Lampley’s alma mater and state 4-A power Richmond County High in Rockingham, NC. Martin was a three-time All-Sandhills 4-A Conference pick with the Raiders.
Redshirt freshman AJANI FARMER (6-3, 252), a local product from Greenville Rose High, will also compete for time at end. Farmer recorded 60 tackles, 16 tackles for loss and six sacks as a senior at Rose.
WHO’S GONE: CHAD STEPHENS was a rare five-year letterman for the Pirates. He played in at least seven games in each of those five seasons and started 25 straight over his final two years. Stephens finished his ECU career having played in 56 games (34 starts) with 154 tackles, 29 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks.
NEEDS FOR 2026: Lampley and Robinson will likely complete their eligibility following the 2025 season, so at the very least the Pirates should be looking to sign two end prospects. Three would be nicer and help beef up the depth.
Standouts for two of the state’s best programs have already been targeted by ECU. ANTOINE JOHNSON (6-2, 261), who helped West Charlotte to the state 4-A crown, was offered by the Pirates on Jan. 31, 2025. Johnson had 78 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and 13 sacks for the state champs to earn all-conference honors. He’s also landed offers from Liberty, Miami Ohio and Troy.
CHRISTOPHER BISPHAM (6-2, 260) hails from ECU’s backyard in Havelock. Bispham was the area defensive MVP last season after making 106 tackles, 39 tackles for loss and 14 sacks. He made an unofficial visit to Wake Forest in early February but has no offer from the Deacons yet. James Madison, Liberty and Old Dominion have offered in addition to ECU (Jan. 31, 2025).
PROJECTED ORGANIZATIONAL DEPTH CHART FOR SPRING
J.D. Lampley (6-3, 260) Senior, Rockingham, NC
Jasiyah Robinson (6-3, 252) RSenior, Goveport, Ohio
Kieren Davis (6-2, 250) Junior, Roswell, GA
Torin Brazell (6-2, 275) RFresh., Starke, FL
Dylon Worthen (6-2, 235) Freshman, Bradenton, FL
Jacoby Martin (6-2, 252) RFresh., Rockingham, NC
Ajani Farmer (6-3, 252) RFresh., Greenville, NC
DEFENSIVE TACKLE/NOSE TACKLE A
WHAT THEY NEEDED: Between the portal and exhaustion of eligibility, the Pirates lost both starters, their backups and another key reserve from the 2024 lineup. Signing multiple players capable of stepping in right away, and others to build depth for the future, were major needs in this recruiting cycle. At least five new additions were required.
WHO SIGNED: The Pirates picked up two tackle prospects during the December early signing period. JOSIAH DWYER (6-4, 255) spent his senior season at Marlboro County High in Bennettsville, SC, but the Pirates offered him as a junior playing at Clinton, NC. He eventually chose ECU over Coastal Carolina on June 22, 2024. Dwyer made 21 tackles, six tackles for loss and two sacks as a senior at Marlboro County. DOMINICK MOODY (6-2, 260) comes from North Cobb High in Kennesaw, GA, where he made 46 tackles, six tackles for loss and six sacks over 11 games last season. “Dom” narrowed his list of schools down to ECU and Georgia Southern before the Pirates won out on June 16.
The portal produced three tackle additions in RION ROSEBOROUGH (6-2, 300), JUSTIN BENTON (6-1, 290) and XAVIER MCIVER (6-2, 302).
McIver, from Cheraw, SC, is a familiar name to ECU fans. He began his career with the Pirates as part of the recruiting Class of 2020 and spent four seasons in Greenville. McIver played in 31 games during that span, including three starts in 2021. He entered the transfer portal after the 2023 season and landed at UT-Martin, where he worked as a backup in 11 games. When the season ended, McIver again entered the transfer portal and decided to return to ECU for his final college season.
Rosenborough is a Greenville native, who starred at John Paul II Catholic as a running back. He twice topped the 2,000-yard barrier rushing before signing with FCS Towson University and becoming a full-time defensive lineman. At Towson, Rosenborough played in 14 games over two seasons, making nine tackles and one tackle for loss. Entering the transfer portal on Dec. 9, he quickly found a new home with the Pirates on Dec. 20.
Benton comes to ECU after spending two seasons at the University of Houston. Rated the No. 61 defensive line prospect as a senior at Newton High in Covington, GA, by 247Sports.com, he played in five games over two seasons with the Cougars. He entered the transfer portal in early December and announced his intentions to transfer to ECU on Dec. 19. Benton is believed to have four years of eligibility remaining.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF: Dwyer is an underrated stud, who is physically strong and agile. Because the Pirates need immediate help on the interior line, Dwyer will get a chance during spring practice to prove himself capable of taking snaps next fall.
Moody is super quick for an interior lineman but won’t enroll until later in the year, so he’ll have some catching up to do when fall camp starts.
Roseborough and McIver add big, powerful bodies to the defensive front. McIver, because of his experience, should be in the hunt for a starting job this spring.
Benton is also a potential starter for the Pirates. Quick off the line and a strong pass rusher, he’s capable of playing nose or tackle.
BIG ONE THAT GOT AWAY: Three-star tackle JOSIAH VICTOR (6-1, 300) from Loganville, GA, made ECU one of his official visits on June 20, 2024. But just days later he wound up making a verbal commitment to Boston College. Victor backed off that pledge on Nov. 10 to commit and sign with N.C. State. CHRISTOPHER CLIMES (6-2, 270), another three-star tackle from Elizabeth, PA, also took an official visit to ECU last June, but signed with Buffalo in December.
WHO’S BACK: Only two tackles with game experience return for East Carolina in senior ZION WILSON (6-3, 318) and junior PRESTON CARR (6-3, 300). A walk-on from Belhaven, NC, Wilson has played in 24 games over the last two seasons with the majority of that work coming on special teams. Hence his lack of a single career tackle. But his size and experience could put him in line to become a prominent interior player next fall. Carr is also a walk-on who made two tackles in two games last season.
Redshirt freshman JAVON WILLIAMS (6-2, 308), from Largo, FL, is a Class of 2024 signee who lived in the backfield as a prep star at Pinellas Park High. In a 32-game prep career, he made 205 tackles, 83 tackles for loss and 23 sacks. The Pirates could use some of that kind of production from Williams this spring.
Walk-on LOGAN WRIGHT (5-9, 317), a redshirt sophomore from Greensboro, NC, is another tackle returnee.
WHO’S GONE: “Everyone” isn’t accurate, but it sure feels like it. Five players who took the majority of the snaps at tackle in 2024, including a trio with 82 career starts between them, are departed.
Tackle ELIJAH MORRIS and nose D’ANTE JOHNSON held the starting jobs at their positions for three straight seasons. Morris, who came to ECU as a walk-on, played in 54 games, making 119 tackles, 20 tackles for loss and four sacks. Johnson was a second-team All-AAC pick as a junior and completed his career with 94 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks in 46 games.
SUIRAD WARE made 16 starts during his time at ECU and spent last season spelling Morris at tackle. He closed out his run as a Pirate with 72 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss and a sack.
Johnson’s back up at nose tackle, JADEN MCKENZIE, and reserve defensive tackle C.J. MIMS were also big contributors. McKenzie, in his only season at ECU after transferring from Ohio State, played in all 13 games and made 17 tackles. Mims, a highly regarded recruit from the Class of 2022, was part of the defensive tackle rotation last season as a sophomore with 23 tackles, four tackles for loss and a sack. But even though a potential starting job seemed ahead of him in 2025, Mims entered the transfer portal and wound up signing with North Carolina.
NEEDS FOR 2026: The tackle positions still need beefing up after the massive losses from the 2024 squad. Two seniors are expected to complete their eligibility after 2025, making a significant number of additions during this recruiting cycle necessary. Getting at least three for the two positions would be a good start to rebuilding the tackle spots.
A pair of in-state tackle prospects on East Carolina’s radar are 6-5, 305-pound BEN BOULWARE from Oak Grove High in Winston-Salem and 6-4, 325-pound DONOVAN JOHNSON from Pine Forest High in Fayetteville. Boulware made 58 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and three sacks as a junior and received an offer from ECU on Feb. 2. Johnson, who had 55 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and two sacks last season, has received offers from Appalachian State, Campbell, Duke, Georgia State, Hampton, Liberty, Wake Forest and West Virginia.
PROJECTED ORGANIZATIONAL DEPTH CHART FOR SPRING
DEFENSIVE TACKLE
Xavier McIver (6-1, 302) Senior, Cheraw, SC
Zion Wilson (6-3, 318) Senior, Belhaven, NC
Javon Williams (6-2, 308) RFresh., Largo, FL
Josiah Dwyer (6-4, 255) Freshman, Bennettsville, SC
Preston Carr (6-3, 300) Junior, Timberlake, NC
Dominick Moody (6-2, 260) Freshman, Kennesaw, GA
NOSE TACKLE
Justin Benton (6-1, 290) RFresh., Covington, GA
Rion Roseborough (6-2, 300) Sophomore, Greenville, NC
Logan Wright (5-9, 317) RSoph., Greensboro, NC
RUSH END B
WHAT THEY NEEDED: The Pirates suffered minimal losses at the rush position but will potentially lose three prominent players there after the 2025 campaign. To get ahead of filling those voids, signing at least two was required in the 2025 class.
WHO SIGNED: KENDRICK DUJOUR (6-5, 225) started his college career at FCS N.C. Central in 2022. He was redshirted as a true freshman, then emerged as a force as a redshirt freshman, making 20 tackles that included eight tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. Dujour, from Jonesboro, GA, transferred to FCS Sam Houston State for the 2024 season where he collected 24 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. He entered the transfer portal for a second time on Dec. 5, 2024, and took recruiting visits to Georgia State and UTEP, but chose ECU on Jan. 5 after taking an official visit to Greenville. Dujour has two years of eligibility remaining.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF: Dujour is another tall, long-armed, athletic player who excels at getting into the backfield. He most certainly could be an asset to the Pirates in 2025. But because of the experienced depth already at the rush position, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Pirates redshirted Dujour to have him challenge for the starting job in 2026. Either way, he’s an impressive addition to the ECU roster.
BIG ONE THAT GOT AWAY: ZION COOLEY was a three-star prospect from Carrollton, GA, who spent a large part of his prep career playing tight end. But when he gave a verbal commitment to East Carolina soon after making an official visit to Greenville last June, he was slated to make the transition to rush end. Quick and agile, Cooley’s potential was considered unlimited. But after MIKE HOUSTON was dismissed as ECU’s head coach in October, Cooley backed off his pledge and signed with East Tennessee State on Feb. 5.
WHO’S BACK: The returning starter is an all-star candidate, and his backup isn’t so bad either.
In his first season with the Pirates after transferring from Louisville, RYHEEM CRAIG (6-3, 240) ranked fifth in team tackles (53), tied for third in tackles for loss (6.5) and was fourth in sacks (2.0). Craig, from Taylorsville, NC, should be one of the top defenders in the AAC and a disruptive force on defense for ECU in 2025.
Senior SAMUEL DANKAH (6-6, 230) complemented Craig in the rush end rotation a year ago. Playing in all 13 games, Dankah produced 34 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. The Lorton, VA, native came to ECU as a raw talent but has developed into a player with NFL potential. Dankah is versatile enough to move to an outside linebacker spot, where he started the Army game last season.
Highly regarded redshirt freshman SHAIKH THOMPSON (6-4, 255), from Hilton Head, SC, will battle for playing time behind Craig and Dankah, as will redshirt freshman MILES PARKER (6-4, 242). Thompson, because of his speed and agility, could also contribute at a weakside linebacker position.
WHO’S GONE: The only significant loss at the rush end position is sophomore DEMORIS JENKINS. Jenkins was a member of ECU’s 2023 recruiting class out of North Mecklenburg High in Huntersville, NC, where he was both a basketball and football star. The Pirates believed he had great potential on the gridiron, but he was never able to get on the field in two seasons at ECU. So, on Dec. 3 he entered the transfer portal and on Dec. 14 committed to FCS Austin Peay.
NEEDS FOR 2026: Craig and Dankah are on track to complete their eligibility after the 2025 season, leaving only two scholarship rush ends on the roster. Replacing that pair should be the objective in the ’26 cycle.
The Pirates jumped on board in pursuit of teammates at North Gwinnett High in Suwanee, GA, in January. CONNOR COXWELL (6-5, 235) and ZACHARY LEWIS (6-5, 260) combined for 29 tackles for loss and seven sacks last season. Lewis received his offer from ECU on Jan. 22, pushing his total to 16. Coxwell received his ECU offer two days later.
JULIAN WALKER (6-6, 230), from state power Dutch Fork in Irmo, SC, received his second overall offer from East Carolina on Jan. 16. Walker, who had 50 tackles and 10 tackles for loss last season, has since seen his offer list grow to 10, including Missouri, N.C. State and Virginia Tech.
PROJECTED ORGANIZATIONAL DEPTH CHART FOR SPRING
Ryheem Craig (6-3, 240) Senior, Taylorsville, NC
Samuel Dankah (6-6, 230) Senior, Lorton, VA
Kendrick Dujour (6-5, 225) Junior, Jonesboro, GA
Shaikh Thompson (6-4, 255) RFresh., Hilton Head, SC
Miles Parker (6-4, 242) RFresh., Jacksonville, NC
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER C+
WHAT THEY NEEDED: The Pirates have the ability to move players around the linebacker positions, but they clearly needed to sign two or three here for depth purposes alone.
WHO SIGNED: ECU tapped into the deep talent pool in Charlotte, NC, to land KENDRIC DAVIS (6-2, 200) from Palisades High. Davis was a two-time All-South Meck 4-A Conference pick and the first FBS signee in football from Palisades, which opened in 2022. He was chosen to represent North Carolina in the prestigious Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas in December before enrolling at ECU in January. Davis picked the Pirates over offers from Appalachian State, Charlotte, Duke, James Madison, Liberty and Temple.
JORDAN DAVID MILES (6-1, 200) hails from Huntsville, AL, and Grissom High School. A three-sport athlete at Grissom, Miles excelled on the football field where he made 96 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and two sacks as a senior. He committed to ECU on June 28 over offers from Arkansas State, Air Force, Army, Central Michigan, Georgia State, Memphis, Toledo and UAB.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF: Davis is athletic, possesses a high football IQ and plays with great energy. He’s also a sure tackler. The combination of those skills, and the fact he’ll participate in spring practice, could accelerate his chance to play a role for the outside linebacker corps next fall.
Miles is that guy who never left the field in high school and excelled at different positions. That versatility will serve him and the Pirates well when he checks in for preseason practice next August.
BIG ONE THAT GOT AWAY: MACKLIN SANDERS was one of the most productive linebackers in the state of Georgia last season. Playing for Ola High in McDonough, GA, Sanders racked up 164 tackles, 20 tackles for loss and had three interceptions. Those kinds of stats are why East Carolina offered Sanders a scholarship on March 23, 2024. Sanders followed up with an official visit to Greenville on June 20 and made a verbal commitment to the Pirates on June 22. But whether it was due to the coaching change, or other factors, Sanders opted out of his pledge to the Pirates on Nov. 30 and wound up signing with Jacksonville State of Conference USA on Dec. 4.
WHO’S BACK: As mentioned above Dankah and Thompson could be guys who wound up at the outside linebacker or hybrid positions. A lot depends on the setup the new defensive coordinator implements this spring. But beyond that pair, the pickings are slim.
Sophomore KEVON MERRELL (6-1, 191) made a strong impression during his rookie season, earning playing time in 13 games. Merrell made 13 tackles, including one tackle for loss.
Junior walk-on JACKSON BARKER (6-2, 229), from Fuquay-Varina, NC, has been a mainstay for two seasons on special teams. Barker has appeared in 24 games during that time and recorded 16 career tackles in three overall seasons at ECU. He could see his role expand significantly in 2025.
Another walk-on, sophomore LUKE HOLMES (6-4, 228), made a single tackle in six games last year.
WHO’S GONE: MIKE EDWARDS II enjoyed a strong 2024 season manning the outside linebacker position. Edwards was the team’s third-leading tackler (75), ranked second in tackles for loss (9) and tied for second in pass breakups (4). It was the final year of eligibility for Edwards, who played in 37 games during his three-year ECU career with 24 starts.
Redshirt freshman GREG TURNER III, from Ellenwood, GA, was a contributor in 11 games on special teams. Turner, who made one tackle in 11 games, hit the transfer portal on Dec. 8, but is still looking for a place to play in 2025.
NEEDS FOR 2026: Depending on any position changes that may add current roster players to the outside linebacker position, this could be a big need in the 2026 class. Look for the Pirates to seek prospects from the prep ranks and portal to fill immediate and future needs at this position. The number to sign could be as high as three or four.
A recent outside linebacker target for ECU is DE’ANDRE ARNOLD (6-1, 193) from Madison County High in Madison, FL. Arnold picked up an ECU offer on Jan. 22 on the heels of a junior season in which he helped Madison County to a state championship. Arnold contributed 77 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and three sacks to the championship cause. Florida International was his only other offer as of Feb. 3.
PROJECTED ORGANIZATIONAL DEPTH CHART FOR SPRING
Kevon Merrell (6-1, 191) Sophomore, Cordele, GA
Jackson Barker (6-2, 229) Junior, Fuquay-Varina, NC
Luke Holmes (6-4, 228) Sophomore, Williamsburg, VA
Kendric Davis (6-2, 200) Freshman, Charlotte, NC
Jordan David Miles (6-1, 200) Freshman, Huntsville, AL
INSIDE LINEBACKER D
WHAT THEY NEEDED: The Pirates went into the 2024 season believing they were well stocked for the immediate future at inside linebacker. But unexpected off-season moves left them needing to acquire at least two newcomers to ensure depth at that position.
WHO SIGNED: Unless some of the newcomers change positions, the Pirates failed to sign anyone projected as an inside linebacker to date.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF: Help could and probably will come from the transfer portal after the spring window opens in April. Any additions after that 10-day period when undergraduate players who haven’t already can enter the portal, will be valuable for the Pirates and improve the current grade for newcomers at this position.
BIG ONE THAT GOT AWAY: East Carolina made a late play for 6-2, 230-pound MONTRELL CHAPMAN from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. The Pirates cast an offer to the No. 5-ranked linebacker in the junior college ranks on Dec. 17. But the interest may have come too late as Chapman didn’t take the bait and signed with Mississippi State on Dec. 26.
WHO’S BACK: Even though an All-AAC starter has exited, the Pirates still have talented, experienced players returning to assume the middle linebacker spot.
Leading that group is senior DAMEON WILSON (6-1, 220). The Missouri transfer played in 13 games and made three starts during his first season as a Pirate. Wilson made 28 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss while subbing for starter ZAKYE BARKER. He got the starting nod in the Military Bowl win against N.C. State and responded with five tackles and a pass breakup.
Junior JULIEN DAVIS (6-2, 224) and redshirt sophomore D.J. JOHNSON (6-0, 221) also got in on the action in 2024 by playing in all 13 games. Johnson made 28 tackles and half a sack, while Davis had 11 tackles and one sack.
A pair of walk-on redshirt freshmen — JAYDEN OLDEN (6-1, 213) and TATE SMITH (6-1, 208) — provide depth in the middle and potential help for special teams. Both came to ECU after impressive senior years in high school. Olden was a four-year varsity player at Monroe (NC) High where he accumulated 280 career tackles. As a senior, he was named Union County Defensive Player of the Year after making 183 tackles and 13 tackles for loss. Smith was a Greater Metro 4-A Conference first-team pick as a senior at Lake Norman (NC) High when he made 119 tackles, 32 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks.
WHO’S GONE: In just his sophomore season, ZAKYE BARKER earned second-team All-AAC honors for his 86-tackle, 12-tackle-for-loss, two-sack performance. Barker, who many schools passed on coming out of high school in Norcross, GA, because of his 5-foot-11 height, was being counted on to lead ECU’s defense in 2025. But on Dec. 9, as the Pirates were preparing for the Military Bowl, Barker announced he was entering the transfer portal. SMU managed to reel Barker in from the portal on Dec. 18.
NEEDS FOR 2026: Wilson should be winding up his college career at the end of next season, which makes signing at least one appropriate. But if ECU doesn’t sign anyone out of the transfer portal this spring, getting two or more in the Class of 2026 will be necessary.
Two-way athlete JORDAN “SLASH” AVINGER (6-3, 225), from Orangeburg-Wilkinson High in South Carolina, became a big ECU target on Jan. 27, 2025. The Pirates made Avinger an offer on that date following a junior season in which he rushed for 672 yards on offense and made 54 tackles and an interception on defense.
PROJECTED ORGANIZATIONAL DEPTH CHART FOR SPRING
Dameon Wilson (6-1, 220) Senior, Kings Mountain, NC
D.J. Johnson (6-0, 220) RSoph., Hampton, GA
Julien Davis (6-2, 224) Junior, McDonough, GA
Jayden Olden (6-1, 213) RFresh., Monroe, NC
Tate Smith (6-1, 208) RFresh., Mooresville, NC
SAFETY B
WHAT THEY NEEDED: The Pirates took some big hits at safety as well as nickel back, which we’re including in this section. The original need was two or three, but that changed when the portal opened. Three to four became the objective then.
WHO SIGNED: Georgia products BERNARD LACKEY (6-2, 175) and DURANTE SPEER (6-2, 180) came aboard during the early signing period in December.
Lackey is an ECU legacy player. He’s the son of former Pirate cornerback Bernard Lackey Sr., who played in the 1990s. The younger Lackey was an All-County player at Newton High in Covington, GA, as a senior. “Nando” trimmed his list of college options to Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia State, Kentucky, Michigan State, Mississippi, N.C. Central, Pittsburgh and West Virginia last April. But after ECU offered a scholarship on May 8, the Pirates got Lackey to campus for an official visit and he committed June 22.
Speer, from Columbia High in Decatur, GA, was offered by ECU last February after an impressive junior season in which he had 44 tackles, a sack and an interception in 12 games. He took unofficial visits to ECU, Coastal Carolina and Georgia State in April before an official to Greenville on June 6. Two days later he joined the recruiting Class of 2025. Speer had 60 tackles, a tackle for loss and an interception in 12 games as a senior.
The Pirates welcomed TEAGAN WILK (5-11, 190) back to the program on Dec. 18 after a year’s absence. Wilk was a valuable member of the secondary and special teams during four seasons at ECU (2020-2023) before trying his luck in the transfer portal. He landed at Houston for the 2024 season and played in three games there before an injury sidelined him for the remainder of the schedule. Wilk contacted the ECU coaching staff in early December about returning to Greenville for his final college season and they accepted.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF: Lackey is a player with the speed of a corner and toughness of a linebacker, which makes him a candidate to play safety or nickel. Speer is a safety who hits like a linebacker but is also a solid pass defender. His early enrollment and spring practice experience may even give him a leg up on playing time next fall, be it in the secondary or on special teams.
Wilk played both nickel and safety during his previous stint at ECU and adds a wealth of experience to the current roster at those positions. He’s also a player who brings a lot of energy and grit to the defense, if he can stay healthy.
BIG ONE THAT GOT AWAY: Hopes were that four-star JADON BLAIR, from Mount Tabor High in Winston-Salem, NC, would give some serious consideration to East Carolina. After all, Blair’s father, Ja’Warren, played defensive line for the Pirates from 1998-2002. The Pirates got in early with an offer to the younger Blair on June 2, 2023. But with a list of national Top 10 programs calling, ECU never seemed to be a contender for his services. Blair wound up signing with Notre Dame in Dec. 2024.
WHO’S BACK: Sophomore JA’MARLEY RIDDLE (6-0, 182) made quite an impression while seeing his first action with the Pirates in 2024. Riddle replaced DEVON KING at one safety position for the final six games and played in 13 overall. He finished fourth in team tackles (64), had 3.5 tackles for loss and tied for the team lead in interceptions (3) in a breakout performance.
Three other returnees who saw action last season include junior KAMAURRI MCKINLEY (6-2, 186), junior JOSH BENTON (6-2, 194) and sophomore DEMARIUS HINES (5-11, 186). Hines made six tackles in 12 games, while Benton played in nine games and McKinley seven. Redshirt sophomore JAVION CLARK (6-2, 190) did not play last season, but appeared in three games on special teams in 2023.
Promising redshirt freshman O’MARION LEWIS (6-2, 194), a former prep quarterback, should also be ready to establish himself in the secondary rotation after a full year playing safety.
WHO’S GONE: Five players who made at least one start at safety or nickel last season have departed.
OMAR ROGERS was the most prominent of those. Rogers earned third-team All-AAC honors playing as a graduate student last season. He led the Pirates in tackles (104), had 5.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and an interception. Rogers started 12 of 13 games at the strong safety spot.
Maryland transfer GAVIN GIBSON started at nickel in 11 of 13 games in his only season at ECU. Gibson produced 52 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and three interceptions, one of which he returned 30 yards for a touchdown in the season opener against Norfolk State. He had one year of eligibility left, but decided to play that at North Carolina where he landed after entering the transfer portal.
DEVON KING (13 games), JORDAN HUFF (12) and KINGSTON MCKINSTRY (12) all played prominent roles at safety during parts of last season. King started the first seven games at the field safety and finished with 47 tackles. Huff had 20 tackles and McKinstry 12. All three have exhausted their eligibility.
Sophomore NO’TAVIEN GREEN has also departed after playing in three games. Green hit the transfer portal and has yet to find a new home.
NEEDS FOR 2026: Based on projected graduation losses, the Pirates won’t need much help here. But they will no doubt pursue one or two safeties to balance the class and prepare for potential portal losses.
ZEKE MARSHALL is a rare physical talent at safety who stands 6-foot-5 and weighs in at 200 pounds. He’s been a three-year starter at Westside High in Anderson, SC, where he’s already collected 16 career interceptions. ECU offered Marshall a scholarship on Jan. 24, 2025, joining Appalachian State, Charlotte, Kentucky, Troy, Virginia Tech and West Virginia.
PROJECTED ORGANIZATIONAL DEPTH CHART FOR SPRING
NICKEL
Teagan Wilk (5-11, 190) Senior, Berwick, PA
DeMarius Hines (5-11, 190) Sophomore, Atlanta, GA
FIELD SAFETY
Ja’Marley Riddle (6-0, 182) Sophomore, Kingsland, GA
Kamaurri McKinley (6-2, 186) Junior, Lakeland, FL
Josh Benton (6-2, 194) Junior, Jacksonville, NC
BOUNDARY SAFETY
Javion Clark (6-2, 190) RSoph., Macon, GA
O’Marion Lewis (6-2, 190) RFresh., Tarboro, NC
Durate Speer (6-2, 180) Freshman, Decatur, GA
Bernard Lackey (6-2, 175) Freshman, Covington, GA
CORNERBACK A+
WHAT THEY NEEDED: No other position at East Carolina was impacted as severely by transfer portal defections than cornerback. Three players with starting experience and eligibility remaining opted to find new schools and two of those did so after helping the Pirates win the Military Bowl against N.C. State. That altered an original need of two or three cornerbacks to four or five during the 2026 recruiting cycle.
WHO SIGNED: The Pirates didn’t play around when it came to re-stocking the cornerback positions. They have signed six corner prospects, four of whom are already on campus and scheduled to participate in spring practice.
DERRION HORSLEY (6-2, 185) was a surprise addition during the early signing period in December. Horsley, from East Coweta High in Sharpsburg, GA, had been verbally committed to Mississippi State since mid-June. But without explanation Horsley backed off that pledge on Nov. 20 and re-opened his recruitment. The Pirates swooped in and signed him on Dec. 4. He’s the lone true freshman corner who’ll be competing during spring practice.
Ballhawk ANGELO ROSS (6-1, 170) and track star TAVIUS HORNE (5-11, 160) were also signed by ECU during the early period. Ross was an all-around athlete at Mount Saint Joseph High in Baltimore, MD, where he played receiver, cornerback and was a kick returner. As a senior, he intercepted four passes for 124 return yards and finished with a school-record 11 career picks. Akron, Buffalo, Fordham, Holy Cross, Miami of Ohio were among the schools also pursuing Ross. Horne played for national power St. Thomas Aquinas High in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Schools such as Colorado, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Stanford and West Virginia made offers to Horne, who was a Junior Olympic All-American pick in track in 2021.
The transfer portal resulted in three vital additions to ECU’s cornerback room. Sophomore KEY CROWELL (5-11, 165) comes from NCAA Division II Indianapolis, sophomore JONATHAN AKINS (5-11, 177) arrives from Maryland and junior JORDY LOWERY (5-11, 190) is from FCS Western Carolina.
Crowell, from Lebanon, TN, was a first-team all-conference player last season at Indianapolis (51 tackles, 5 interceptions). He was also recruited by Bowling Green, Memphis, Troy and Western Michigan before committing to ECU on Jan. 6.
Lowry was a second-team FCS All-American at WCU in 2024 after making 48 tackles and six interceptions. A native of Bartow, FL, he also held offers from Connecticut, Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Georgia Southern, Liberty, Old Dominion, South Florida, Tulane and Western Kentucky.
After two seasons (8 games played) at Maryland, Akins hit the transfer portal on Dec. 10. He immediately drew interest from the likes of Kennesaw State, Georgia Southern, Temple and UTEP. But the former three-star prospect from Madison, FL, made ECU his pick on Jan. 9.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF: First and foremost, the Pirates added experience and depth at cornerback with the current signees. But they also picked up a variety of skill sets, all which should bode well for next season and the future.
Akins, Crowell and Lowery will certainly be in the mix this spring to establish themselves as starters or part of the cornerback rotation. Crowell is a jack-of-all-trades player who could also contribute on special teams. Lowery is a throw-back player – tough, relentless and always around the ball. Akins brings the speed (10.48 seconds in the 100-meter dash) and two years of FBS experience.
For the rookies, Ross is a big-play guy whether in the secondary or on returns. Horsley is a big, long corner with excellent closing speed, who has also excelled in the return game. Horne has raw speed (10.71 in the 100) but may need a year to develop size before he’s ready for the regular cornerback rotation. But Horne does come from one of the best high school programs in the country, so he’s already comfortable with a high level of talent and competition.
BIG ONE THAT GOT AWAY: The Pirates received an official visit from three-star MONTINO WILLIAMS JR. on June 20. Williams, from Matoaca High in Chesterfield, VA, also made officials to Old Dominion (June 18) and Virginia (June 13) during that time frame. In the end, Williams opted to stay in his home state to play for Virginia, committing on June 23 and signing with the Cavaliers on Dec. 4.
WHO’S BACK: Four cornerbacks who saw action in the secondary or on special teams are scheduled back this spring. Headlining that quartet is senior TYMIR BROWN (6-0, 180), who has competed in 15 games over the last two seasons for ECU after transferring from North Carolina. Brown made five tackles while playing in nine games as a reserve corner in 2024. He should be one of the players competing for a starting job this spring.
Sophomore KEYSHAWN JACKSON (6-3, 175), redshirt sophomore AYDEN DUNCANSON (6-0, 191) and redshirt freshman ERIC FLETCHER (6-1, 175) earned most of their playing time last season on special teams. Jackson made one tackle in 11 games, Duncanson one tackle in six games and Fletcher had one tackle in three appearances.
Walk-on corners competing this spring will be redshirt sophomore TIMOTHY PATTERSON (5-11, 175), sophomore ADAM COLE (6-0, 181), redshirt freshman DERICK BRAZIL (6-0, 175), redshirt freshman JURNEE LATTIMORE (5-10, 171) and redshirt freshman ALEX MOYE (6-2, 182).
WHO’S GONE: The portal took a toll on ECU’s cornerback positions. Three players who started games in 2024 and a promising young corner all left for other programs, and none of the four were seniors.
The Pirates’ best cornerback when the season began was senior SHAVON REVEL JR., who was coming off a junior campaign in which he earned second-team All-AAC. Revel was a strong candidate for national honors in 2024 but was injured in the third game and never able to return. Despite the injury, Revel is projected as a first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft in April.
With Revel on the sidelines, ECU turned to junior DONTAVIUS NASH to man his corner spot. Nash played well, making 24 tackles, a tackle for loss and a memory making interception that sealed the Pirates’ Military Bowl victory against N.C. State. Less than 48 hours after that big pick in the bowl game, Nash announced he was entering the transfer portal. Although he’s reportedly drawn interest from schools such as Appalachian State, James Madison, Kentucky, Louisville, Marshall, Northwestern and Purdue, Nash has yet to sign with another program.
The starter opposite Revel and Nash in 12 of 13 games was sophomore ISAIAH BROWN-MURRAY. Brown-Murry wound up being ECU’s top corner, making 41 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and an interception for the season. It marked Brown-Murray’s second straight year as a starter, and he was headed for all-star status in 2025 with the Pirates. But about a week after the end of the regular season, Brown-Murray entered the transfer portal. He quickly found a new team, committing to Virginia Tech on Dec. 21.
In Brown-Murray’s absence for the Military Bowl, junior ANDREW WILSON-LAMP stepped into a starting role. Wilson-Lamp had made three previous starts at the opposite corner and played in all 13 games last season. He finished the year with 23 tackles and an interception. It was Wilson-Lamp’s first season with the Pirates after transferring from West Virginia, but it would turn out to be his only year in Greenville. Wilson-Lamp entered the transfer portal on Jan. 2. He has yet to sign with another school but has taken a visit to Wisconsin and has announced an offer from New Mexico State on his X feed.
Sophomore DAYLYN DISTON also entered the transfer portal on Dec. 3 after seeing no game action in two seasons with the Pirates. Diston announced on Dec. 22 he’ll be playing next season at Florida A&M.
NEEDS FOR 2026: The Pirates did a nice job filling immediate needs at corner through the transfer portal and may add more help before preseason practice begins next August. But there is still a major need here, so signing two or three corners in the Class of 2026 is a minimal number.
Snellville, GA, product DAMYON PEARSON (5-10, 160) held offers from more than 15 FBS schools by late January. But Pearson trimmed those to five on Feb. 6 — East Carolina, Coastal Carolina, Florida International, Liberty and Western Kentucky.
In-state corner BRAYLON PEEBLES (5-10, 175) received his offer from ECU on Jan. 31, 2025. Peebles, from Cardinal Gibbons High in Raleigh, NC, also has offers from Campbell, Charlotte, Coastal Carolina, Duke, Indiana, James Madison, Liberty, Louisville, Massachusetts, Miami Ohio, SMU, Troy and Virginia Tech.
PROJECTED ORGANIZATIONAL DEPTH CHART FOR SPRING
CORNERBACK
Tymir Brown (6-0, 180) Senior, Jacksonville, NC
Jonathan Akins (5-11, 177) Sophomore, Madison, FL
Key Crowell (5-11, 165) Sophomore, Lebanon, TN
Timothy Patterson (5-11, 175) RSoph., Greensboro, NC
Adam Cole (6-0, 181) Sophomore, Asheboro, NC
Jurnee Lattimore (5-10, 171) RFresh., Dallas, NC
CORNERBACK
Jordy Lowery (5-11, 190) Junior, Boca Raton, FL
Keyshawn Jackson (6-3, 175) Sophomore, Charlotte, NC
Ayden Duncanson (6-0, 191) RSoph., Atlanta, GA
Eric Fletcher (6-1, 175) RFresh., Fort Myers, FL
Derick Brazil (6-0, 175) RFresh., Kannapolis, NC
Alex Moye (6-2, 182) RFresh., Farmville, NC
DEFENSIVE GRADE B+
The coaching staff did an excellent job plugging holes after a lot of postseason departures via the transfer portal, especially in the secondary. They could have used some more help at inside linebacker, but overall, this is an above average defensive class that will need to come through big time for the Pirates in 2025 if they are to repeat or exceed last season’s success.
OVERALL CLASS GRADE B+
The national recruiting services don’t give ECU as much credit as we do regarding the Class of 2025. The Pirates are ranked fourth in the AAC by both 247Sports.com and On3.com without counting the transfer portal additions. Rivals.com has ECU third in the AAC. Combined with the offensive group, which we analyzed two weeks ago, if you look at this defensive class in terms of needs, talent, and the combined additions of the normal signing class and transfer portal, this group ticks almost all the boxes.
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