TRACKING THE STARS OF THE FUTURE
 

Football Recruiting Report
Thursday, June 11, 2015

By Sammy Batten


Chase's turn for the better pays off

JUSTIN CHASE

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By Sammy Batten
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Justin Chase was once trouble off the football field, but these days he's become a problem on it for opposing defenses.

Chase, from Chesapeake, VA, is a rising senior at Great Bridge High School. He was a second-team All-PenSouth Conference selection on the offensive line during only his second year or competitive football in 2014, but that was all East Carolina needed to see to offer the 6-foot-6, 280-pounder a scholarship. Chase accepted June 6 while on campus for an unofficial visit.

The verbal commitment is the fifth for ECU's recruiting class of 2016 and the second straight from an offensive lineman.

Chase chose the Pirates over an offer list that included Appalachian State, Charlotte, Coastal Carolina, Delaware, James Madison, N.C. State, Old Dominion, Temple and Towson.

Head coach Ruffin McNeill personally extended a scholarship offer to Chase when he was on campus last April. So when Chase decided to make his pledge to the Pirates, he wanted to do so in person.

“I wanted to be face-to-face with Coach McNeill and (offfensive line) Coach (Brad) Davis,'' Chase said. “I have so much respect for both of them that I wanted to tell them in person.

“I just really see myself fitting into that (football) program. They have high hopes for me and my potential. They believe in me. Plus, they have a great sports management program down there I want to major in, and the facilities are awesome.''

Playing college football, however, wasn't on Chase's mind a few short years ago.

He spent most of his middle school years struggling with behavioral problems and never played a down of football. When Chase did play any sports, it was with AAU basketball teams during the summer.

“I got into trouble throughout middle school,'' Chase said. “It's wasn't drugs or any of that stuff. It was just my behavior, which affected my grades.

“But then in the 9th and 10th grades I started getting my act together. I thought about going to college and finding a way that my parents wouldn't have to pay for it. I started playing football and turning my grades around. That's why I feel so blessed that East Carolina offered me.''

Chase played right tackle initially for the Great Bridge junior varsity as a 10th grader before being promoted to the varsity for the last two games of the 2013 season to play right guard. He hit a major growth spurt between his sophomore and junior years, growing from 6-1, 220 pounds to close to his current size. The physical change helped him become a varsity starter at left tackle for the 2014 season.

The Pirates were able to take advantage of a pre-existing relationship between Chase and Davis.

Davis was the first college coach to offer Chase a scholarship while he was still working as co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at James Madison. The former Oklahoma offensive lineman was hired by McNeill as ECU's running game coordinator and offensive line coach in mid-February and he immediately extended a scholarship offer from his new school to Chase.

“He (Davis) said I was his first scholarship offer to an offensive lineman, and I felt real blessed about that,'' Chase said. “I came down to visit during a Junior Day in April and thought I'd just be part of the crowd and nothing special.

“But they took me to a seat right next to Coach McNeill. Coach McNeill and Coach Davis didn't sugarcoat anything. They talked to me like a man and told me what I needed to do to play at the next level. They cared about me, and not just about football, but about grades and me physically. They love their players, but they'll be hard on their players at the same time.''

ECU has recruited Chase as an offensive lineman who could wind up playing any of the three positions.

“Coach Davis said they were recruiting me as an offensive guard or offensive tackle, but he said I could also play center,'' Chase said. “They like my footwork and my speed, which is why they think I could play any of the spots.''

Chase plays in a Great Bridge program that's produced several college offensive linemen in recent years, including Tony Williams of Old Dominion and Garrett Watts of Air Force. He joins Cortez Herrin from Saluda, SC, as offensive linemen in the ECU recruiting class of 2016.

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06/11/2015 03:51 AM