Depending on which
national recruiting service you consider more reliable, East Carolina’s
football recruiting Class of 2006 was:
A) The best among
Conference USA teams; or,
B) A middle-of-the
road class among the league's programs.
We tend to favor the
computerized Scout.com rankings that astutely placed the Pirates’
27-player class first among C-USA teams and No. 64 nationally. Although
the latter figure may not be impressive on the surface, it also marks a
major step forward from last year.
Left with less than three
months to execute a solid recruiting plan after taking the ECU job in
early December 2004, Coach Skip Holtz still signed managed to sign 23
players in 2005. But that group was ranked 84th by Scout.com.
Given a full year to
recruit, Holtz and his staff were able to meet immediate needs, fulfill
promises to recruit Eastern North Carolina, and begin building the depth
required to survive the 12-game regular seasons that every team will
play in 2006.
Holtz was especially
successful at plugging holes along the offensive line and at linebacker
with junior college transfers, three of whom are enrolled at ECU already
and will participate in spring practice.
The recruiting campaign
also concluded on an attention-grabbing note when the state’s top
running back, Norman Whitley from Richmond Senior High in Rockingham,
decided on national signing day to become a Pirate. It’s not coincidence
that the Whitley deal was sealed by ECU’s all-time leading rusher and
running backs coach Junior Smith.
No doubt Smith saw a bit
of himself in Whitley, an undersized, but strong, swift, hard-working
back.
Here’s our
position-by-position graded analysis of the offensive players in the ECU
class, a look at returning players and a guess at what the Pirates may
be looking for at each spot in the recruiting class of 2007.
QUARTERBACK (B)
WHO SIGNED: None.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF:
OK, the Pirates did sign two high school quarterbacks in Dan Wideman
from Greenville, SC, and Dwayne Harris of Stone Mountain, GA. Both
are swift, strong athletes whose skills are better suited for wide
receiver or defensive back. But either one could also fit nicely as
a dual-threat quarterback, if the Pirates ever need it, which is why
the grade here is B. Fortunately, it probably won’t be necessary
because ECU has signed two quarterbacks in each of the last two
classes and all four are still in the program.
WHO’S BACK: Senior
James Pinkney will be back to handle the starting duties, while
red-shirt freshman Rob Kass is expected to battle sophomore Davon
Drew for the backup job. Sophomore Patrick Pinkney is said to be
progressing after a second shoulder surgery in two years and could
also figure into the competition, along with red-shirt freshman
Brett Clay.
NEEDS FOR 2007: Find
one so good he’ll step in and challenge for the starting duties
immediately, or sign a raw talent who is willing to red-shirt and
can help you down the road. Either way, the Pirates will need to
sign at least one quarterback after really not focusing on the
position this year.
RUNNING BACK (A)
WHO SIGNED: Kevin
Gidrey (6-2, 250) from Virginia Beach, VA; Norman Whitley (5-9, 180)
from Hamlet, NC.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF:
First of all, ECU doesn’t even have a true fullback on its roster
now that Jermarcus Veal has graduated, unless you count senior Kort
Shankweiler, who has filled in there and everywhere else on the
field the past two seasons. So the hefty Gidrey should be a welcome
addition for the Pirate tailbacks, who will now have an adequate
escort into the defensive front.
Signing Whitley wasn’t
only a publicity coup for the Pirates. The guy can really play. Ask
anyone who was at the Shrine Bowl All-Star game, where Whitley ran
for more than 130 yards, scored twice and came away with MVP honors
against the best seniors from South Carolina. He’s a back with
excellent vision, speed, great cutback skills, surprising power and
a burning desire to be the best. We believe all those, especially
the latter, will make Whitley one of ECU’s best backs ever before he
graduates.
WHO’S BACK: The 2005
season ended with rising junior Chris Johnson as the starter at
tailback and senior Brandon Fractious in the No. 2 position. But
shifty senior Robert Tillman — if he returns from his suspension for
this semester — and sophomore Dominique Lindsay, who made a
surprisingly strong contribution with 210 yards rushing as a true
freshman, will get plenty of snaps as well.
NEEDS FOR 2007: Even
if Lindsay and Whitley are ECU’s tailback-tandem-of-the-future, the
rest of the tailback corps, except Johnson, are out of Greenville in
another season. Bringing in two tailbacks, maybe one of them a pure
power back, and another fullback should be in the plans for 2007.
WIDE RECEIVER (B+)
WHO SIGNED: Javon
Brumsey (6-4, 190) from Elizabeth City, NC, Melvin Patterson (6-3,
205) of Alachua, FL, and DeMorio Waymon (6-3, 185) from Tallahassee,
FL.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF:
Only time will tell, but we believe the Pirates pulled off a pair of
major recruiting coups in netting Brumsey and Patterson.
Brumsey is first and
foremost the kind of big target every quarterback seems to spot when
he’s in trouble or near the end zone. But he’s also deceptively fast
(4.43 40 time) and has exceptional hands. Don’t be surprised if he
makes it on the field next fall.
Patterson was rated by
Rivals.com as the nation’s 41st-best wide receiver prospect, but he
would have been much higher if not for a knee injury that wiped out
most of his senior season. Still, schools such as Iowa, West
Virginia and N.C. State pursued Patterson to the finish. Give him a
red-shirt to make sure he’s completely healthy, then watch Patterson
become a quick contributor at ECU.
Waymon is another
receiver with playmaking abilities who isn’t far from being ready to
contribute.
WHO’S BACK: Hopefully,
a healed Aundrae Allison is back, healthy and ready to repeat the
incredible success he enjoyed in his first season at ECU. Allison, a
senior, could use a little more help this time around from senior
Bobby Good, who ended 2005 as the other receiver starter, and top
backups Phillip Henry and Steven Rogers. Both are juniors.
Senior Kevin Roach,
junior Juwon Crowell and sophomore Jerek Hewett are other
letterwinners returning to the receiving corps, while red-shirt
freshmen Kyle Johnson and Alex Taylor will look to establish
themselves this spring.
One other element of a
returning sort deals with Jamar Bryant. Bryant transferred from
Georgia last year, sat out the season and should be ready to suit up
in spring practice. That’s significant because Bryant was one of
North Carolina’s top prep receiver prospects two years ago as a
senior at Richmond Senior High in Rockingham. If he’s as good as
advertised, Bryant may be just what ECU needs to take some of the
pressure off Allison.
NEEDS FOR 2007: With
seven sophomores and freshmen making up part of its receiving corps
next fall, ECU may not see a pressing need to sign any pass catchers
in ’07. But in an offensive scheme that requires plenty of
good-hands people, it never hurts to bring in one or two newcomers
every year.
TIGHT END (F)
WHO SIGNED: Nobody.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF:
It didn’t. Barring a position change we’re not aware of yet, none of
the players in this class are tight ends. Javon Brumsey could grow
into the position, but that won’t happen anytime soon.
And that’s what the
Pirates needed, somebody who can play soon at a position where their
depth is non-existent and talent is limited.
WHO’S BACK: Senior Jay
Sonnhalter finished last season at No. 2 on the depth chart and
appeared in 11 games.
NEEDS FOR 2007: The
Pirates will be desperately seeking tight ends and could easily make
room to sign three in the class.
OFFENSIVE TACKLE (C+)
WHO SIGNED: Cory
Dowless (6-5, 300) from Franklinton, NC, and D.J. Scott (6-6, 305)
of Green Cove Springs, FL.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF:
Dowless and Scott have just the kind of size you like to have
protecting the quarterback’s flanks. They also move pretty well for
big guys. Both were good pickups, but ECU didn’t totally fulfill its
needs here. The Pirates are dangerously thin all along the offensive
front and return just three tackles with game experience. So Dowless
or Scott, or both of them could be forced into action as true
freshmen if the injury bug strikes.
There is a possibility
that transfer Willie Barton, who is already enrolled at ECU, could
wind up at one of the tackle spots. But Barton was a JUCO
All-American at guard, so we have him penciled in there at this
point.
WHO’S BACK: Starting
left guard Eric Graham will be a senior and the backup at both
tackles, senior Lance Neisz, is also back. Converted tight end Josh
Coffman, a senior, and senior Thomas Wingenbach are the only other
roster players who have seen game action at tackle. But Wingenbach
ended last season as the No. 2 left guard.
Red-shirt freshmen
Stephen Heis and Paul Walsh will get their chance in the spring.
NEEDS FOR 2007: The
Pirates are going to need talent and numbers at tackle in 2007.
Signing as many as three tackles wouldn’t be overdoing it.
OFFENSIVE GUARD (B)
WHO SIGNED: Sean Allen
(6-3, 290) from Wilson, NC, Willie Barton (6-5, 350) Palmetto, FL.,
Doug Polochak (6-4, 270) of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, and Andrew Farr
(6-4, 280) from Pell City, AL.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF:
Willie Barton was a two-time JUCO All-American at guard for Georgia
Military Academy. Barton should immediately be the leading candidate
to move into the right guard job vacated by graduated Chris Sellers.
Likewise, Andrew Farr,
who spent the fall at Hargrave Military Academy, has the size and
experience to make an early contribution. Farr is already enrolled
and will participate in spring practice, which may put him ahead of
Barton when preseason drills begin.
Allen is a compact,
powerful blocker who could be ready next fall, if needed. Polochak
still has some growing to do, but has big-time potential.
WHO’S BACK: Junior
Matt Butler will return to his starting job at left guard. Senior
Thomas Wingenbach was Butler’s backup at the end of the season.
Beyond that there’s only red-shirt freshmen Terence Campbell and
Jonathan Battle.
Help could also come
from a group of gray shirts/Prop 48 cases now enrolled in school.
Those include a pair of Fayetteville, NC, products in Doug Palmer
and J.T. McCoy, Ohio’s Bryan Gibson, and Florida’s Larry Lease.
NEEDS FOR 2007: Two or
more are a necessity, and more if the gray shirts/Prop 48s don’t
come through.
CENTER (F)
WHO SIGNED: Nobody.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF:
It didn’t in this area.
WHO’S BACK: Both the
first- and second-team center from the end of last season have
graduated and red-shirt freshman Zack Davis is transferring, leaving
senior Drew Sutton to handle the snapping.
NEEDS FOR 2007: One of
the major needs will be to sign one or two centers.
In the next column,
we’ll take a similar look at ECU’s defensive signees and what the
future looks like at those positions.
