Thumbnail Sketches by Al Myatt

Click on LINKED NAMES for full-length feature profiles by Sammy Batten

Number of signees or commitments to date: 10

Most recent update: 08.02.20 > Added thumbnail sketches on Hueytown (AL) HS OG RICHARD PEARCE & Orange Park (FL) Oakleaf HS QB WALTER SIMMONS III

JALEN CLYATT (6-4, 197) S, Sherwood High School, Sandy Spring, MD … Clyatt is the first reported East Carolina commitment for the Class of 2021, casting his lot with the Pirates on April 30. …  ECU recruiting coordinator Fontel Mines and safeties coach Tripp Weaver were involved in securing the initial declaration from Clyatt over offers that included Albany, Kent State, Liberty, Marshall, Maryland, Pittsburgh, Rutgers and West Virginia. … The Pirates made an offer to Clyatt on Feb. 24. … Clyatt played wide receiver on offense for Sherwood, helping the Warriors to a 9-4 record in 2019 under coach Tom Crowell. … Sherwood was 7-1 in region play last season. … A 3-star prospect, Clyatt is rated the No. 36 player in Maryland among rising seniors. (Image source: 247sports.com)

CANAAN CLARK (6-6, 310) OT, Forsyth Central High School, Cumming, GA … Clark committed to East Carolina on July 11 after receiving an offer from the Pirates on January 20. … Tennessee Tech also made an offer to Clark. … Georgia State showed interest. … ECU offensive line coach Steve Shankweiler was cited for bringing Clark aboard the Pirate ship. … Clark helped Forsyth Central rush for 175 yards per game during his junior season when the Bulldogs were 5-5 under coach Frank Hepler. … MaxPreps lists Ken Griffis as Forsyth Central coach for 2020. (Image source: 247sports.com)

JACOB COLEMAN (6-4, 215) TE, Matoaca High School, Chesterfield, VA … Coleman committed to East Carolina on July 3 after receiving offers from Boston College, Buffalo, Coastal Carolina, James Madison, Kent State, Liberty, Massachusetts, Norfolk State, Ohio, Old Dominion, Rutgers, Temple and Towson. … Coleman had 35 catches for 391 yards with four touchdowns as a junior. … Matoaca was 5-5 under coach Jay Parker in 2019. … Special teams coordinator/defensive end/outside linebackers coach Byron Thweatt was the primary recruiter for the Pirates with tight ends/inside receivers coach/recruiting coordinator Fontel Mines working in a secondary role. … His older brother, Jonathan Coleman II, a redshirt freshman, is a defensive back for the Pirates. …  ECU made an offer to the younger Coleman in March. … A 3-star prospect, Jacob Coleman is the fifth commitment in the 2021 class. (Image source: 247sports.com)

TOLER KEIGLEY (6-1, 180) WR, Mobile Christian School, Mobile, AL … Keigley committed to East Carolina on July 8 after receiving offers from Chattanooga, Coastal Carolina, Furman, Georgia Southern, North Alabama, Samford, Southeastern Louisiana and Western Carolina. … Outside receivers coach Drew Dudzik was the primary recruiter for Keigley with tight ends/inside receivers coach and recruiting coordinator Fontel Mines working in a secondary capacity. … Mobile Christian was 9-5 in 2019 and 5-1 in region play under coach Ronnie Cottrell. … Keigley had 33 catches for 765 yards with 11 touchdowns as a junior. … The Pirates made an offer to Keigley on June 12. (Image source: 247sports.com)

TROY LEWIS (6-3, 195) WR, Matoaca High School, Chesterfield, VA … Lewis made his pledge to East Carolina on July 6, three days after Matoaca teammate Jacob Coleman joined the incoming Pirate class. … Lewis had 35 catches for 672 yards with five touchdowns in 2019 as the Warriors went 5-5 under coach Jay Parker. …  Lewis had offers from Air Force, Bryant, Bucknell, Campbell, Charlotte, Coastal Carolina, Dartmouth, Delaware, Elon, Fordham, Georgetown, Harvard, Kent State, Liberty, Massachusetts, Navy, Norfolk State, Pennsylvania, Old Dominion, Princeton, Rice, Richmond., Towson, Villanova, VMI, Western Michigan, William & Mary and Yale. … Special teams coordinator/defensive ends/outside linebackers coach Byron Thweatt was the primary recruiter for the Pirates with tight ends/inside receivers coach and recruiting coordinator Fontel Mines serving in a secondary role. … ECU made an offer to Lewis on April 28. (Image source: 247sports.com)

RICHARD PEARCE (6-3, 285) OG, Hueytown (AL) High School … Pearce was recruited by East Carolina offensive line coach Steve Shankweiler and received an offer from the Pirates on July 11 and committed on July 30 after receiving offers from Alabama State, Middle Tennessee State, Murray State, Southeast Missouri State and Tennessee Martin. … Hueytown was 11-2 under coach Greg Patterson in 2019. … The Golden Gophers wear Purple and Gold. … Hueytown reached the third round of the 6-A playoffs in 2019. … Pearce played some defense for Hueytown but projects as an offensive guard or tackle for ECU. … He is the second offensive line commitment for the 2021 class. (Image source: 247sports.com)

JAVONTE SHERMAN (6-1, 170) WR, Valdosta (GA) High School …  Sherman committed to East Carolina on June 4 after receiving offers from Akron, Alabama Birmingham, Appalachian State, Central Florida, Cincinnati, Coastal Carolina, Florida Atlantic, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Kent State, Liberty, Memphis, Middle Tennessee State, Ohio, South Alabama, South Florida, Tennessee, Troy, Wake Forest, Washington State and Western Kentucky. … Sherman received an offer from the Pirates on April 17. … Defensive coordinator Blake Harrell was the primary recruiter and outside receivers coach Drew Dudzik served in a secondary role. … Sherman had 53 catches for 1,156 yards as a junior for a 10-3 Wildcats team coached by Alan Rodemaker. … Rush Propst will coach Valdosta in 2020. … Sherman is the third commitment for the 2021 incoming ECU class and is rated a 3-star prospect. (Image source: 247sports.com)

WALTER SIMMONS III (6-2, 180) QB, Oakleaf High School, Orange Park, FL … A run-throw quarterback, Simmons was recruited by tight ends/inside receivers/recruiting coordinator Fontel Mines (primary) and offensive coordinator Donnie Kirkpatrick. … He received offers from Alabama A&M, Alabama Birmingham, Bethune-Cookman, Central Florida, Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Georgia Tech, Illinois, LSU, Marshall, Memphis, Old Dominion, South Florida, Southern Miss, Valdosta State, Virginia, Virginia Tech and West Virginia before committing to East Carolina on August 1. … Oakleaf, coached by Frank Garis, was 7-3 in 2019. … A 3-star prospect, Simmons is rated No. 30 among dual-threat quarterbacks nationally. … He is the primary quarterback target for ECU’s 2021 class. (Image source: 247sports.com)

CRUZ TEMPLE (5-11, 205) S, Abbeville (SC) High School … Temple gave East Carolina a verbal commitment on June 10 after receiving offers from Air Force, Army, Coastal Carolina, Gardner-Webb, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Navy and The Citadel. Showing interest were Florida State and West Virginia. … Temple helped the Panthers, coached by Jamie Nickles to a 13-1 record as a junior, showing ability as a pass defender and run stopper. … Running backs coach De’Rail Sims and safeties coach Tripp Weaver were instrumental in bringing Temple aboard the Pirate ship. (Image source: Rivals.com)

JAMES WRIGHT (6-1, 195) DB, Lakewood High School, Sumter, SC … Wright committed to East Carolina after receiving 21 college scholarship offers that included Akron, Army, Campbell, Charlotte, Dartmouth, Furman, Gardner-Webb, Georgetown, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, James Madison, Liberty, Mercer, Miami of Ohio, North Carolina A&T, Richmond, Temple, Tennessee-Martin, Western Kentucky and William & Mary. … Wright committed to the Pirates on May 24. … ECU defensive tackles coach Roy Tesh was the primary recruiter for the 3-star prospect with safeties coach Tripp Weaver serving in a support role. … Wright had 35 tackles and 19 solo stops for a 4-7 Lakewood edition in 2019. He had three interceptions and two pass deflections as a junior. … The Gators are coached by Larry Cornelius. … Wright’s offensive numbers included 26 carries for 136 yards with four touchdowns. He had four catches for 15 yards. … Wright projects as a safety for the Pirates. … ECU made an offer to Wright on March 19. (Image source: 247sports.com)

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