Durante Speer has spent most of his life on the football field and around football players. Speer's grandfather, Eddie Sheats, played defensive line for Kansas in the early 1970s and was selected by the Washington Redskins in the 1973 NFL Draft. His father, Terrence, was a cornerback at Alabama A&M and cousin DeMario Minter is a former NFL cornerback. But even though … [Read more...]

Zion Cooley wasn't very familiar with East Carolina football when the Pirates extended a scholarship offer on January 23, 2024. "I really didn't know anything other than their team color is purple,'' said Cooley, who would receive an accelerated course on ECU football over the next four-and-a-half months. The knowledge he gained convinced the 6-foot-4, 225-pound edge rusher … [Read more...]

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...]