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Recruiting report card: Defense
Impact players plug
holes; Pirates still shopping
By
Sammy Batten
©2015 Bonesville.net
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Recruiting Class of 2015 Thumbnail Sketches...
Players at every position on East
Carolina's defensive unit completed their eligibility at the end of the
2014 season, including six starters. The result was a wide-ranging list
of needs to cover those losses in the recruiting Class of 2015.
Despite a small number of
scholarships available, the Pirates managed to address their needs by
signing players at six different positions. Three of the eight are
players who signed with ECU's Class of 2014, but didn't enroll until
last month.
“We knew what we wanted and were
selective at every position,'' ECU coach Ruffin McNeill said. “We lost
our defensive MVP in Brandon Williams and linebacker, so we needed
replacements there. We wanted to fill our corner spots and add depth up
front. So we did all that.''
McNeill may not be done adding to his
defensive class. He stated on signing day that the Pirates had “one or
two'' other prospects who might be sign in the next two to three weeks,
and it's our belief those will be defensive players likely from the
junior college ranks.
But even without those additions, the
Pirates have put together a solid defensive class that features several
players capable of making an impact fall. Here's a closer,
position-by-position look at the defensive class, how we graded them and
a look ahead to what ECU's needs will be for the Class of 2016.
Please note that all class
designations indicate the player's status for the 2015 season.
DEFENSIVE END → C+
WHAT THEY NEEDED: Because many of
ECU's front-line defenders are capable of playing both end and nose
tackle in the 3-4 alignment, there didn't originally seem to be a need
because no one at end was scheduled to graduate after 2014. But an end
starter and a key backup listed on the depth chart for the Birmingham
Bowl did depart, although just one of those was a scholarship player. So
signing one became the number.
WHO SIGNED: Re-signed is a better
description of
Kyron Speller
from Virginia Beach. Speller was actually part of ECU's recruiting Class
of 2014 after three years as a two-way starter at Kempsville High
School. Playing fullback on offense and end on defense as a senior in
2013, Speller made 65 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and six sacks to
earn All-Beach District honors from The Virginian Pilot newspaper. Army,
Navy and James Madison had offered Speller out of high school.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF: The 6-foot-1,
235-pound Speller is a hybrid linebacker-end who gives the Pirates lots
of options on defense. He has the speed to play on the edge and rush the
passer from outside linebacker or end, and the strength to handle the
physical play at inside linebacker. ECU will start him out at end during
spring practice, but don't be surprised if he shows up at a different
spot when preseason camp starts next August.
BIG ONE THAT GOT AWAY: When the
Pirates landed a verbal commitment from 6-4, 240-pound
Emmanuel
Olenga from Charlotte's Olympic High in December it was
regarded as a considerable coup. Though a raw football talent, Olenga is
a long, lean, athletic player with the potential to develop into an NFL
prospect. But just a month after making his pledge to ECU, Olenga backed
off and decided to play for N.C. State. It was one of the most
disappointing losses of the recruiting cycle for the Pirates.
WHO'S BACK: The biggest defensive
“recruit'' for ECU is player scheduled to make a major comeback in 2015.
Terrell Stanley started 12 of 13 games at end for the Pirates in 2013,
ranking second on the team in tackles for loss (10) and sacks (7).
Stanley would have been an all-star candidate in 2014, but had his
entire season wiped out after being seriously injured in a preseason car
accident. The good news is Stanley is on the mend, has been working with
the team in off-season conditioning and is expected to be cleared for
limited contact during spring practice. The senior should be ready for
action next fall and ready to re-claim his starting job. In Stanley's
absence, players like senior Johnathon White and Fred Presley stepped up
to help fill the void. White made seven starts and Presley five, and
together they combined for 12.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 quarterback
sacks. Presley, a former walk-on, earned a scholarship last August and
led the Pirates with six sacks. Both return along with sophomore Demage
Bailey, who saw action in three games last season. Trying to crack the
end rotation in spring practice will be sophomore Randall Anderson and
red-shirt freshman Shaun James.
WHO'S GONE: Chrishon Rose started
most of his senior season at end for the Pirates after working at the
nose tackle spot due to injuries as a junior. Walk-on Terry Biles
provided backup at both end spots, appearing in 13 games and starting
four.
NEED FOR 2016: Stanley and White
complete their eligibility after the 2015 season, and Presley is done a
year later, meaning all the currently proven players at end will be gone
in two seasons. Those losses would dictate ECU spend at least one or two
scholarships in the upcoming class on ends. One to watch could be 6-3,
220-pound Jimmie Taylor from the powerhouse Southwest Onslow High
program in Jacksonville. The Pirates have already offered Taylor and
figure to make him a priority target.
NOSE TACKLE → C+
WHAT THEY NEEDED: Signing one was the
objective from the outset and the Pirates filled that need very quickly.
WHO SIGNED:
Justin Brown
from Ayden-Grifton High just outside of Greenville was the first player
to make a verbal commitment to the Class of 2015. The Pirates were the
first to offer the 6-3, 310-pounder and he accepted immediately. Brown
made 63 solo tackles, 17 tackles for loss and six sacks as a senior.
Brown may not be the last signee at tackle. McNeill indicated on signing
day the Pirates may be adding one or two more players to the class and
one of those could be junior college tackle Darius Commissiong.
Commissiong is a former Georgia Tech player who spent last season at
Iowa Western Community College. The 6-2, 290-pounder had ECU as one of
his favorites in January, but had to meet requirements for a junior
college degree before being eligible to transfer. So don't be surprised
to see his name added to the signing class as we get closer to May and
graduation day.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF: Brown is a
Terry Williams clone, whose wide frame takes up a lot of space in the
middle of the defensive front. But like Williams, Brown is more than
just a big body. He's strong, is quick off the ball and knows how to use
his hands to ward off blockers, a tactic he perfected through a
successful prep career as a wrestler. The Pirates would probably prefer
to red-shirt Brown next fall, but don't be surprised if he winds up
landing a backup role. If ECU can also add Darius Commissiong to the
class, the position grade will improve to a B+. Commissiong already has
major college experience having spent a season at Georgia Tech before
being dismissed from that program.
BIG ONE THAT GOT AWAY: ECU really
snared its primary nose tackle in Brown early, so there wasn't really a
big one to lose.
WHO'S BACK: Junior K'Hadree Hooker
played in every game except for South Florida last year and was the
starter at nose tackle for the Birmingham Bowl against Florida due to
the absence of Terry Williams, who was declared ineligible in late
December. Another junior, Demitri McGill, played in 10 games and made a
start in a league game against Connecticut. A third nose tackle who saw
playing time in 2015 was sophomore Mike Myers (4 games).
WHO'S GONE: Terry Williams was a big
man at 6-1, 353 pounds who made major contributions to ECU's defense
when he was healthy and eligible. Williams was a first-team All-American
Athletic Conference pick last season after making 34 tackles and 7.5
tackles for loss. But he didn't get a chance to finish his career after
being ruled ineligible in December for the Pirates' Birmingham Bowl game
against Florida.
NEED FOR 2016: If ECU is able to
bring Commisiong aboard, the need to sign a nose tackle in the Class of
2016 diminishes significantly. But the Pirates have already targeted two
potential tackle recruits in 6-3, 290-pound Jalen Rice from
Williamston's Riverside High School and 6-0, 301-pound Darius Anderson
from Missouri City, TX.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER → C+
WHAT THEY NEEDED: The Pirates went
heavy on outside linebackers in the 2014 class, so even though two
players at those positions completed their eligibility last season the
need was minimal. Still, bringing in one was what we projected after
signing day in 2014.
WHO SIGNED: ECU discovered
C.J. Maybin
while recruiting his former teammate at Cardinal Gibbons High in Pompano
Beach, FL, Erik Lenzen, a freshman offensive lineman. The 6-4,
195-pounder played mostly safety in the prep ranks and earned a
reputation for making big plays. As a senior he returned two
interceptions for touchdowns to earn first-team All-Broward County
honors. The Pirates beat out Bethune-Cookman, Florida International,
Georgia State, Ohio, Rutgers, Syracuse, Temple and Western Michigan for
Maybin's services.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF: Maybin's
length, speed and instincts are skills that should help him make the
transition to outside linebacker with ease. He'll likely require a
red-shirt year to gain the size and strength required for the physical
style at the major-college level, but two years down the road he could
be a beast.
BIG ONE THAT GOT AWAY:
Danny Thomas
from Godby High in Tallahassee, FL, was rated among the nation's top 35
outside linebacker prospects by Rivals.com. The Pirates seemed to have
pulled off an early recruiting coup by securing Thomas' verbal
commitment on May 23, 2014. But on August 4, Thomas pulled a switcheroo,
backing off his pledge to ECU to stay closer to home and play for
American Athletic Conference rival South Florida.
WHO'S BACK: Headlining an experienced
group of outside linebackers in 2015 will be all-star candidate and
senior Montese Overton. Overton was one of the defense's top playmakers
in 2014, ranking third in total tackles with 68, but also producing 11.5
tackles for loss and three sacks. Four others are also back who saw
significant action in backup roles last year in junior Dayon Pratt (33
tackles, 2 tackles for loss in 12 games), sophomore walk-on Joe Allely
(21 tackles, 13 games), sophomore Pat Green (8 tackles, 13 games) and
senior Jeton Beavers (2 tackles, 12 games). Pratt would be the projected
starter opposite Overton at this point, but Allely came on strong at the
end of last season and could challenge for the job as well. Junior Reece
Speight saw limited action in two games last year, while sophomore Kirk
Donaldson, out all last season with a knee injury, will be vying for his
initial playing time with the Pirates this spring. Talented red-shirt
freshmen Yiannis Bowden, Massaddiq Walton and Markel Winters could also
make an impact at the outside positions.
WHO'S GONE: Maurice Falls appeared in
38 games for the Pirates over the last three seasons and started all 13
games in 2014. Falls finished with 36 tackles and five tackles for loss
as a senior. Reserve Jake Geary, whose career was hindered by injuries,
also departs after playing in 13 games last season.
NEED FOR 2016: Signing three outside
linebackers in the 2014 class and adding Maybin means the Pirates should
be well stocked there for the immediate future. They may try add one
player there in the 2016 class, but unless something special jumps out
at them that should be about it.
INSIDE LINEBACKER → B
WHAT THEY NEEDED: Two or three was
the objective at inside linebacker to ensure the program's depth at
those positions.
WHO SIGNED:
Tony Baird,
a 6-3, 210-pounder from Virginia Beach originally committed to the
Pirates in 2014. But Baird agreed to come in a year later and did so
last month by enrolling for the spring semester. He produced an
incredible senior year at Ocean Lakes High School in 2013 when he made
132 tackles, 23 tackles for loss and 12 sacks. He chose ECU over an
offer from Navy. Late in the process of recruiting the Class of 2016,
the Pirates latched on to
Darius Wright,
a 6-foot, 220-pounder from Irmo, SC, who played most recently at
Hutchinson Community College. Wright was the last player to make a
verbal commitment in January after completing a two-year career at
Hutchinson in which he made 132 tackles, three sacks and three
interceptions. He chose ECU over offers from Appalachian State, Arkansas
State and Nebraska.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF: Wright's
experience and physical style make him an immediate candidate for
playing time next fall, and conceivably a challenger for the starting
job left vacant by Brandon Williams. Since Baird sat out last season,
he, too, could be ready to see action on special teams, although he
could probably use a few extra pounds before getting significant playing
time on defense.
BIG ONE THAT GOT AWAY:
Abu Kai-Kai
was a powerful 6-2, 245-pounder from Nokesville, VA, who made an early
decision to play for ECU last April over an offer from Old Dominion. It
appeared the Pirates may have gotten a true “sleeper'' in Kai-Kai, who
was a late bloomer at Kettle Run High School. But somewhere between his
commitment and signing day the two sides parted and Kai-Kai wound up
joining the program at NCAA Division II Fairmont State.
WHO'S BACK: Second-team All-American
Athletic Conference pick Zeek Bigger, who led the Pirates with 140
tackles last season, will headline the defensive unit as a senior next
fall. Sophomore Joe Carter (9 tackles in 12 games), sophomore Ray
Tillman (9 tackles, 8 games) and walk-on junior Cameron White (7
tackles, 7 games) will rejoin Bigger after serving in backup roles last
season. Junior Drayvon Fairley and walk-on sophomore Jordan Williams
were other inside linebackers who saw playing time last season mainly on
special teams. The status of junior Devaris Brunson is uncertain for
spring practice. Brunson's promising career took a big hit in the second
game of the 2014 season against South Carolina when he suffered a severe
knee injury in the fourth period. If Brunson can return to form, he
could emerge as a leading contender for the starting job opposite
Bigger.
WHO'S GONE: Former walk-on Brandon
Williams enjoyed a stellar senior season by making a team-leading 124
tackles along with 13.5 tackles for loss. The performance earned
Williams second-team All-American Athletic Conference honors.
NEED FOR 2015: Bigger will be the
only inside linebacker completing his eligibility after the 2015 season,
but that is a huge loss. With Brunson, Fairley and White in line to
leave after 2016, the Pirates will be looking pretty thin if they don't
go ahead and grab at least two in the next recruiting class. Watch ECU
make a serious run at Laurinburg's Jonathan Smith, a 6-1, 220-pounder
who has already received offers from Duke, Georgia Southern, Georgia
Tech, North Carolina, N.C. State, Old Dominion and West Virginia.
SAFETY → B-
WHAT THEY NEEDED: Two seemed like an
adequate class right after signing day in 2014 because only two
scholarship safeties were scheduled to leave the program over the next
two seasons.
WHO SIGNED:
Corey Seargent,
a 6-foot, 180-pounder from Rock Hill, SC, is the third player originally
from the Class of 2014 who held off his enrollment until this spring.
Seargent was a star defender as a prep senior in 2013 as Northwestern
High rolled to a 15-0 finish and state championship. He produced 148
tackles and four interceptions to earn The Charlotte Observer's Region
Defensive Player of the Year honors.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF: The Pirates
landed a player in Seargent whose motor always runs at full speed,
exhibits great toughness and loves to hit people. Expect him to see
action as a true freshman on special teams because of those traits and
it shouldn't be too far down the road before he's getting snaps at
strong safety.
BIG ONE THAT GOT AWAY: One of the top
in-state safety prospects was Jarius Morehead from Eastern Guilford High
School. Morehead, a three-star recruit according to Rivals.com, listed
East Carolina and N.C. State as his top two teams in May 2014, but two
months later he pulled the trigger on a verbal commitment to the
Wolfpack and remained true to that pledge through signing day.
WHO'S BACK: The starting free safety
in every game except the Birmingham Bowl is returning in senior
Domonique Lennon. Lennon made 12 starts and finished fourth on the team
with 65 tackles during the regular season, but was ruled ineligible for
the postseason. He is on the spring roster recently released by ECU and
should be an all-star candidate next fall. Junior Terrell Richardson
moved up to Lennon's free safety spot for the bowl game for his second
start in 12 games last season. Richardson made 20 tackles on the year.
Walk-on sophomore Bobby Fulp, who cracked the depth chart last season
and appeared in 12 games, sophomore Travon Simmons (9 games, 1 start),
sophomore Cody Purdie (4 games) and sophomore Xavier Smith (2 games) are
others back with game experience. Promising red-shirt freshmen Blake
Norwood and Drew Turnage will also be in the mix at safety.
WHO'S GONE: Lamar Ivey was a
four-year letterwinner who earned a starting job as a senior. Ivey
started the first 11 games at strong safety, but a wrist injury limited
his activity in the final two contests. He finished with 59 tackles and
two interceptions on the year. Walk-on Christian Simmons played in four
games early and was on the depth chart for the bowl game, but didn't
play.
NEED FOR 2016: Only Lennon completes
his eligibility after the 2015 season and Richardson is the only junior
safety in the program, so finding at least one recruit to add next
February is the goal.
CORNERBACK → C+
WHAT THEY NEEDED: Four scholarship
corners will be departing the ECU program over the next two seasons, so
replacing at least half of those was the objective for 2015.
WHO SIGNED: The Pirates added a pair
of two-way high school standouts in
Colby Gore
from Little River, SC, and
Nhyre Quinerly
of Portsmouth, VA. The 5-11, 170-pound Gore piled up 1,499 all-purpose
yards as a wide receiver as a senior and made 79 tackles and four
interceptions at safety on defense for North Myrtle Beach High School.
He chose the Pirates over offers from Charlotte, Coastal Carolina and
Marshall. Quinerly (5-11, 180) helped Lake Taylor High to the state
title and earned first-team Class 4A All-State honors on both sides of
the ball.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF: Both Gore and
Quinerly are versatile athletes who could play corner or safety for the
Pirates. But both seem initially best suited for corner where the
current depth will allow them to be brought along slowly before being
rushed into action. Once they become accustomed to ECU's defensive
scheme, however, both have the potential to become solid playmakers in
the secondary.
BIG ONE THAT GOT AWAY: ECU came on
strong with Northwest Missouri Community College cornerback Treston
Decoud in the later stages of recruiting, after he backed off an
original commitment to Utah State. The Pirates didn't extend an offer
until early January and Decoud took it seriously enough to make his
final official visit to Greenville on January 30. But after trips to
ECU, Toledo and Oregon State, he signed with the Beavers.
WHO'S BACK: Four players who
experienced plenty of action at cornerback in 2014 are scheduled to be
back. The quartet is headed by an all-star candidate in senior Josh
Hawkins, who appeared in 13 games and made 11 starts. Hawkins produced
44 tackles and a team-best five interceptions. Senior Rocco Scarfone (13
games) and junior DeShaun Amos (13 games) each made one start a year
ago, and junior DaShawn Benton saw action in 11 games. Sophomore Travis
Phillips (one game) is also back.
WHO'S GONE: A two-year corner
starter, Detric Allen capped his career with a strong senior season in
which he made 60 tackles.
NEED FOR 2012: Hawkins and Scarfone
are gone after next season and Amos and Benton follow after 2016. The
focus at corner should be on securing at least two very good ones. The
Pirates already have their eyes on two Floridians in 5-10, 173-pound
Malek Young from Coconut Creek and Roger Cray, a 5-9, 165-pounder from
Lake City.
OVERALL DEFENSIVE GRADE → C+
Although not quite as impressive as
the prospects ECU
signed
on the offensive side, the defensive class is a solid group with
some immediate impact players like Darius Wright and helps enhance the
program depth at every position.
OVERALL CLASS GRADE → B
Coach Ruffin McNeill noted the
Pirates were after quality not quantity in this class, and that's
exactly what they produced. The
offensive recruits are clearly the stars, but under-rated
guys like Justin Brown, Corey Seargeant, Kyron Speller and Darius Wright
have the potential to be big contributors very early on defense or
special teams. If ECU had held onto to some of the recruits who defected
from the class, like Danny Thomas and Emmanuel Olenga, the defensive and
overall grades would have been even higher. But B makes it one of the
better signing groups in the American Athletic Conference in our opinion.
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02/16/2015 03:52 AM |
