Johnny Williams was playing Pop Warner football when Caleb King first laid eyes on him. King had already coached Williams' older brother, Josh, at Havelock (NC) High School. Josh Williams was a two-way standout for the Rams' 2018 squad, rushing for 826 yards and making 123 tackles for a 13-1 team that reached the state 3-A finals. But one look at Johnny Williams and King … [Read more...]

East Carolina absorbed some significant losses via graduation and the transfer portal at the linebacker positions following the 2023 season, including starter Teylor Jackson and former four-star prospect RaRa Dillworth. The Pirates are also scheduled to see projected 2024 starters Mike Edwards and Kingston McKinstry complete their eligibility next fall. Those combined … [Read more...]

East Carolina will lose some significant talent at the defensive line positions following the 2024 season, which has made securing talent there a focus of the 2025 recruiting class. Major contributors D'Anta Johnson and Suirad Ware, along with Ohio State transfer Jaden McKenzie, are scheduled to complete their eligibility with the Pirates next fall. Those pending departures … [Read more...]

The "Edge'' or rush end position has become one of the most valued in college football these days. In recent years, players such as Nate Harvey, Kendall Futrell and Chad Stephens have produced impressive sack results for East Carolina playing the hybrid linebacker-defensive end spot. The Pirates will have Stephens back for one more season next fall, and signed prep rushing … [Read more...]

Between graduation and transfer portal losses, East Carolina's interior offensive line group took some significant hits during the offseason. But the Pirates are off to a fast start replenishing that unit, having already received verbal commitments from prep lineman Jonathan Stokes, from Randleman, NC, and Karson Jones, a transfer from the University of Houston. ECU … [Read more...]