Early wakeup call starts first 2025 practice

GREENVILLE – Blake Harrell oversaw his first official fall practice since assuming the role as East Carolina’s head football in the middle of the 2024 season. Harrell kicked off the 2025 campaign Monday with the Pirates’ practice on Hight Field at the Cliff Moore Practice Complex.

To avoid high temperatures, Harrell had the squad start the drills in shorts and helmets at 5:45 a.m., focusing on scheme installation.

“I thought moving practice up an hour early and getting out of the heat a little bit was best for our football team and our players,” Harrell said. “I am never going to be stubborn about taking care of our football team and our players. Last year, we lost a couple guys in camp for a couple weeks, and I just want to make sure we have quality practices where guys can fly around and practice football the right way, and I thought we did that this morning.

He emphasized the objective of players earning roles through discipline and execution during the 31-day camp, with daily practices through Saturday.

“Our focus is that everything is earned,” Harrell said. “You earn the right to be a part of this program. You earn the right to be a Pirate, whether it’s playing time, traveling on the bus, a starting position whatever it may be – that’s what we are going to be about …”

Harrell was pleased with some aspects of the 110-minute session but zeroed in on a need for more urgency.

“I thought our transition time was good,” Harrell said. “As a head coach, that is kind of what I am looking at now. Are we wasting time, are we doing a great job of teaching and coaching or are we wasting time. We were moving around from drill to drill, station to station and period to period really fast. I thought our guys knew exactly where to go and execution wise within the schemes. We did a pretty decent job but need to have better urgency getting lined up and urgency about the next play. …”

Of the 122-man roster, ECU returns five position starters, five special teamers, 44 lettermen, and welcomes 23 new players. The Pirates will progress to shells Wednesday and full gear Saturday, concluding camp August 20 before their season opener at NC State on August 28.

AI CONTRIBUTED TO THIS ARTICLE.

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