Thumbnail Sketches by Al Myatt
Click on LINKED NAMES for full-length feature profiles by Sammy Batten
Number of signees or commitments to date: 14
MOST RECENT UPDATE: 12.05.22 > Edited thumbnail sketch on Irmo (SC) via Old Dominion via Independence (KS) CC S TYRIK McDANIEL to indicate that he withdrew his commitment to ECU
Note: Thumbnail sketches displayed in red font are for previously committed players whose recruiting statuses have changed.
TY ADAMS (5-11, 175) CB, Swainsboro (GA) High School … Adams received offers from Central Arkansas, Charleston Southern, Charlotte, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Georgia Tech, Jacksonville State, James Madison, Kent State, Liberty, Mercer and Middle Tennessee State. … Adams ran 40 yards in less than 4.4 seconds at a camp at Mercer in June. … Adams committed to East Carolina on June 19 after a visit on June 16. … ECU made an offer on June 15. … Adams ran 235 times for 1,778 yards and 23 touchdowns last season. … Adams had 28 solo tackles, 11 assists and two interceptions as the Tigers went 11-3 overall and 5-0 in 2-A Section 2 under Coach Scott Roberts. (Image source: 247sports.com) >>> Adams withdrew his commitment to ECU and reopened his recruitment.
ZION AGNEW (5-11, 165) WR, Ridge View High School, Columbia, SC … Agnew had 65 catches for 1,030 yards and 12 touchdowns as a junior in 2021. … He received offers from Charlotte, James Madison and North Carolina A&T before committing to East Carolina on June 25. … Outside receivers coach Re’quan Boyette was the primary recruiter with recruiting coordinator and running backs coach Chris Foster working in a secondary capacity. … Agnew visited ECU on June 23. … He has run 40 yards in 4.4 seconds. … Rated a 3-star recruit. … Had six carries for 52 yards and a score as Ridge View went 6-5 in 2021 with a 2-2 mark in 5-A Region 4 play. … The Blazers are coached by Derek Howard. (Image source: 247sports.com)
NATE BRANCH (5-10, 172) WR, Lower Richland High School, Hopkins, SC … Branch had offers from Coastal Carolina, Eastern Kentucky, Gardner-Webb, James Madison, Kentucky, Liberty, Marshall, Massachusetts, Middle Tennessee State, North Carolina, Tennessee-Martin, and Virginia Tech before committing to East Carolina on Sept. 18. … ECU running backs coach Chris Foster was the primary recruiter with passing game coordinator Latrell Scott in a secondary role. … The Pirates offered Branch on June 14. … Branch has 15 catches for 286 yards with two touchdowns this season for the Diamond Hornets in a 1-4 start. (Image source: 247sports.com)
JULIEN DAVIS (6-2,220) LB, Union Grove High School, McDonough, GA … Davis received offers from Charlotte, Connecticut, Georgia State, Indiana, Memphis, Tennessee, South Florida and Western Kentucky. … He made a commitment to East Carolina on June 25 after a visit on June 23. … Defensive coordinator Blake Harrell spearheaded the recruiting effort with recruiting coordinator and running backs coach Chris Foster in a support role. … Davis also played basketball for the Wolverines, averaging 4.4 points and 3.6 rebounds as a junior. … Union Grove was 6-5 overall and 4-3 in 5-A Region 4 in 2021. … The Pirates offered Davis on June 8. … Davis also has played running back for Coach Casey Smith. (Image source: 247sports.com)
KIERAN DAVIS (6-2, 240) DE, Blessed Trinity High School, Roswell, GA … Davis had 40 solo tackles, 37 assists, 19 tackles for loss and nine sacks as a junior. He also caused six fumbles and had three fumble recoveries for a 9-5 Titans team that went 3-2 in 5-A Region 7. … Programs making offers to Davis included Air Force, Alabama State, Charlotte, Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Mercer, Miami of Ohio, Navy and Tulane. … Davis committed to East Carolina on June 28 after a visit on June 23. … ECU defensive coordinator Blake Harrell and defensive ends coach Tim Daoust were an effective 1-2 combination in bringing Davis aboard the Pirate ship. … Thomas Hall is head coach at Blessed Trinity. (Image source: 247sports.com)
AYDEN DUNCANSON (6-2, 185) DB, Whitefield Academy, Mableton, GA … Duncanson committed to East Carolina on Aug.1 after receiving offers from Appalachian State, Alabama State, Buffalo, Charlotte, Georgia Southern, Kent State, Navy, Toledo, Vanderbilt, West Virginia and Yale. … Cornerbacks coach Steve Ellis was the primary recruiter with defensive coordinator Blake Harrell serving in a secondary role. … ECU made an offer to Duncanson on Jan. 22 and he made a campus visit on June 23. … Duncanson had 16 solo tackles, seven assists and three interceptions in eight games for Whitefield, helping the Wolfpack to a 6-5 record in 2021. … As a high school junior on offense, he had 37 catches for 615 yards with three touchdowns, along with seven carries for 93 yards and one score. He completed 2 of 5 passes for 17 yards with one TD and one pick. … Duncanson is projected as a safety for the Pirates but has the versatility to play anywhere in the secondary. (Image source: 247sports.com) >>> Duncanson withdrew his commitment to ECU and reopened his recruitment.
KAMERON DURANT (6-3, 295) OL, Cane Bay High School, Summerville, SC … Durant received offers from Elon, North Carolina A&T and Presbyterian before committing to East Carolina on June 21. … Pirates offensive line coach Steve Shankweiler was the primary recruiter for Durant with defensive tackles coach and area recruiter Roy Tesh serving in a secondary capacity. … The Pirates made an offer on June 9 after Durant performed well at a prospect camp at ECU. … Cane Bay was 9-3 overall and 3-1 in 5-A Region 7 in 2021. … The Cobras are coached by Russell Zehr. … Durant is the fourth commitment in ECU’s 2023 class and the first on the offensive side of the ball. (Image source: 247sports.com)
ANTONIO FERGUSON (6-4, 235) TE, Apopka High School, Apopka, FL … Ferguson received offers from Alabama A&M, Alabama State, Appalachian State, Coastal Carolina, Florida International, Florida A&M, Florida Atlantic, Georgia State, South Florida, Tennessee Martin and Tulane. … Cornerbacks coach Steve Ellis was the primary recruiter for Ellis, who received an offer from East Carolina on June 7. … He made a campus visit on June 23 and committed to the Pirates on July 2. … A 3-star prospect, Ferguson is rated No. 57 nationally among tight ends in the Class of 2023 and is No. 160 among all rising seniors in Florida. … Ferguson had three receptions for 29 yards as a junior during a season in which Apopka was 12-3 overall. … The Blue Darters were 3-0 in 8-A District 3 in 2021. (Image source: 247sports.com)
DEMORIS JENKINS (6-5, 200) DE, North Mecklenburg High School, Huntersville … Jenkins averaged four solo tackles per game as North Mecklenburg was 6-4 overall and 4-2 in league play under Coach Damon McKee in 2021. … Jenkins received offers from Appalachian State, Georgia State, Liberty, Middle Tennessee State and Ohio before committing to East Carolina on June 28. … Jenkins played for a 27-5 team in basketball that reached the NCHSAA 4-A semifinals in the 2021-22 season before losing to eventual champion Weddington, 72-69. … Defensive ends coach Tim Daoust and safeties Tripp Weaver were involved in securing the commitment from Jenkins, who visited on June 23. (Image source: 247sports.com)
RAHEIM JETER
(6-3, 200), QB, Spartanburg (SC) High School … … Jeter initially committed to West Virginia but reopened his recruiting and pledged to East Carolina on Oct. 22. … A 3-star prospect, Jeter is rated the No. 16 prospect in South Carolina and the No. 48 quarterback nationally. … He received offers from Auburn, Charlotte, Georgia, Kentucky, Memphis, Rutgers, Temple and Virginia Tech. … Jeter passed for 2,979 yards and 27 touchdowns as a junior. … Jeter helped the Vikings to an 8-5 record in 2022. … Jeter visited ECU on Oct. 14. … Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Donnie Kirkpatrick and running backs coach/recruiting coordinator Chris Foster were instrumental in bringing Jeter aboard the Pirate ship. (Image source: 247sports.com by Stephen Igoe)
DWIGHT JOHNSON JR. (6-0, 210) LB, Dutchtown High School, Hampton, GA … Johnson received offers from Alabama A&M, Army, Austin Peay, Buffalo, Charlotte, Georgia Tech, Kansas, Kansas State, Kent State, Liberty, Miami of Ohio, South Florida, Vanderbilt and Western Carolina. … He committed to East Carolina on June 28 after making an official visit to ECU on June 23. … The Pirates made an offer to Johnson on May 18. … Defensive coordinator Blake Harrell has been the primary recruiter for the middle linebacker. … Dutchtown was 7-4 overall in 2021 with a 6-1 record in 5-A Region 4. … The Bulldogs are coached by Clifford Fedd. … Johnson is known familiarly as “D.J.” (Image source: 247sports.com)
MALIK LEVERETT (6-3, 200) WR, Greenbrier High School, Evans, GA … Leverett had 77 catches in 10 games for 1,326 yards and eight touchdowns as a junior with 18 carries for 136 yards and six scores. … The Greenbrier Wolfpack, coached by Tony Kramer, was 4-6 overall and 3-4 in 5-A Region 8 in 2021. … Leverett received offers from Akron, Charlotte, Coastal Carolina, Colorado, Georgia Southern, Indiana, Kansas State, Maryland, Miami of Ohio, Middle Tennessee State, Minnesota, Troy and Wake Forest. … ECU wide receivers coach Re’quan Boyette was the primary recruiter as the 3-star prospect made his commitment on June 26 after a visit on June 23. (Image source: 247sports.com)
TYRIK McDANIEL (6-1, 184) S, Independence (KS) Community College … McDaniel played on the high school level at Dutch Fork in Irmo, SC, where he was the No. 31 prospect in the state before signing with Old Dominion. … McDaniel saw action in 13 games for the Monarchs as a freshman with 10 tackles, including eight on special teams. … McDaniel entered the transfer portal in December, 2021. … He was a second team all-conference selection at Independence although he only played in five games due to a hand injury. … McDaniel had 41 tackles, four pass breakups and five tackles for loss before going out. … Charlotte, Indiana, New Mexico State, Norfolk State and Western Carolina also made offers. … East Carolina offered McDaniel on Nov. 14 and he committed on Nov. 24. … He is expected to have three years of eligibility for the Pirates. … Visited ECU the weekend of the Houston game in 2022. (Image source: 247sports.com)
TAYE SEYMORE (6-1, 200) LB, South Atlanta High School, Atlanta … Seymore had 73 solo tackles and 77 assists for Lithia Springs (GA), where he played as a junior. … He had 11 tackles for loss and an interception in 2021 as the Lions went 5-7 overall and 3-2 in 5-A Region 6. … Offensively, Seymore had nine catches for 105 yards and two touchdowns as well as one carry for 30 yards in 2021. … He joins a South Atlanta program that was 11-2 overall and 8-0 in its region last year. … Charlotte, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Kent State, Liberty, Miami of Ohio, Middle Tennessee State and Toledo extended offers to Seymore before he committed to East Carolina on July 10. … The Pirates offered Seymore on May 3 and he visited campus on June 23. … Defensive coordinator Blake Harrell was the primary recruiter with recruiting coordinator/running backs coach Chris Foster assisting. (Image source: 247sports.com)
MICHAEL SHORT (6-3, 220) LB, Mallard Creek High School, Charlotte … Short committed to East Carolina on June 18 after receiving an offer on May 2. … He made an official visit to ECU on June 16. … Pirates safeties coach Tripp Weaver was the primary recruiter with special teams coordinator/defensive ends/linebackers coach Tim Daoust serving in a secondary role. … Programs that offered Short included Air Force, Appalachian State, Army, Brown, Campbell, Charlotte, Connecticut, Dartmouth, Furman, Holy Cross, Howard, James Madison, Kent State, Liberty, Memphis, Miami of Ohio, Navy, Ohio, Rhode Island, Rice, Richmond, William & Mary and Yale. … Mallard Creek was 6-5 last season and 3-3 in league play. (Image source: 247sports.com) >>> Short withdrew his commitment to ECU and reopened his recruitment.
GREGORY TURNER (6-2, 195) S, Hapeville Charter High School, Atlanta … Turner committed to East Carolina on June 18 after receiving offers from Akron, Buffalo, Colorado, Eastern Michigan, Florida Atlantic, Fordham, Indiana, Kent State, Middle Tennessee State and Tulane. … Primary recruiter for Turner was Pirates running backs coach Chris Foster with safeties coach Tripp Weaver serving in a secondary role. … The Hornets went 6-6 in 2021 with a 3-2 record in 4-A Region 6. … Turner was the first commitment in ECU’s 2023 recruiting class. … Hapeville Charter also is the alma mater of Pirates corner Malik Fleming. … ECU made an offer to Turner on May 3. ,., Has the potential to play sam linebacker. (Image source: 247sports.com)
BRYCE WEAVER (6-3, 300) OL, D.H. Conley High School, Greenville … East Carolina made an offer to Weaver on Jan. 29 and he made his commitment to join his hometown program on June 25 following an official visit on June 23. … Offensive line coach Steve Shankweiler and offensive coordinator/area recruiter Donnie Kirkpatrick have been involved in recruiting Weaver. … Conley, coached by Nate Conner, was 4-7 overall last season and 3-3 in league play. … Weaver had an offer from Elon as well as visits to Duke and N.C. State. … He made an unofficial visit to ECU on March 15. … Conley is the alma mater of Pirates quarterback Holton Ahlers. … Weaver is projected as an interior offensive lineman. (Image source: 247sports.com)
CLASS OF 2023 POSITION TARGETS:
• Batten: ECU targets quarterbacks of the future
• Batten: Loaded Pirates still courting running backs
• Batten: Pirates cast wide net for wide receivers
• Batten: ECU faces uphill battle in hunt for tight ends
• Batten: Well stocked Pirates enter fray for offensive tackles
• Batten: Pirates aim high for interior line talent
• Batten: Pirates target edge rushers
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