The recruiting Class of 2026 will play a big role as East Carolina conducts a makeover of the American Conference's top defensive unit. The Pirates led the American in scoring defense (20.1 points), rushing defense (120.2 yards per game), fumbles recovered (14) and was second in total defense (351.0) and sacks (34) in 2025. But as the sun set on a 9-4 campaign, the program's … [Read more...]

"Starting Over'' might be an adequate theme for East Carolina's offense as it begins preparations for the 2026 campaign. New job opportunities, transfer portal departures, graduations and early declarations for the NFL Draft at the end of the 2025 season left gaping holes in an offense that was one of the best in the American Conference and played a major role in ECU's 9-4 … [Read more...]

Thumbnails of ECU's transfer portal additions as of Jan. 6. ... Jan. 7 updates in italics; Jan. 8 updates in red italics; Jan. 9 updates in purple italics; Jan. 13 updates in blue italics; Jan. 15 updates in green italics; Jan. 21 updates in orange italics; Jan. 22 update in turquoise italics. MICHAEL ALLEN (5-11, 206) Running Back, Greenville, NC Allen returns home to … [Read more...]

Changes at several American Conference programs had major implications during college football's early signing period for a second straight year. Five American teams saw head coaches take other jobs or be dismissed during the 2025 season, prompting significant defections from some classes during the early period from Dec. 3-5. The change was so drastic at North Texas that … [Read more...]

Blake Harrell's initial additions to his first complete recruiting class since being named East Carolina's head coach features a heavy influence from the Deep South, the core of which committed early to the Pirates. Eighteen high school and junior college prospects joined the Pirates' recruiting Class of 2026 during college football's early signing period. Football Bowl … [Read more...]