Sophomore Worth Gregory used mismatched shoes to average 48.5 yards on two punts in East Carolina's April spring game. The Alabama transfer arrived at ECU in 2013 but sat out the season in accordance with NCAA transfer rules. (Photo by Al Myatt)

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By Al Myatt
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Worth Gregory spent a year in the storied football program at Alabama before bringing his punting ability to East Carolina.

When Trent Tignor completed his eligibility in 2013 with a 42.8-yard average for two seasons, Gregory gave the Pirates someone ready to continue providing an edge in field position.

"We're excited about Worth and his development," said ECU special teams coordinator Kirk Doll. "Worth transferred here and had to sit out last year so he's a little more comfortable with what we do. He's been in meetings and so forth. He has a lot of potential."

Gregory is listed at 6 feet, 3 inches and 205 pounds.

"He has the length you like to have, a long lever for a punter," Doll said. "In our plans, we think he's going to be a big asset."

Gregory will also perform as holder on place kicks, a function that Tignor also handled during his career with the Pirates.

Thomas Worthington Gregory said out-of-state tuition was costly at Alabama as a walk-on. The Fort Mill, SC, product considered Maryland and North Carolina before becoming a Pirate.

He said the transition to ECU has been smooth.

"It was really easy with all the coaches who knew me here," Gregory said. "Coach Ruff (head coach Ruffin McNeill) is really accepting. It's been easy to make friends. All these guys here really fit in with me. Guys like Davis (Plowman, punter/kicker), my roommate, and all the other kickers, who are great guys."

Doll said freshman Jim Squatriglia is also involved in the competitive mix at the punting position.

Gregory gets asked to compare East Carolina and Alabama. He was in the Crimson Tide program as a freshman and although he was redshirted, he received rings for SEC and BCS championships.

"There's a lot of similarities," Gregory said. "In winning programs, you see a lot of the same stuff. The biggest difference I see here is that you are part of the family. Like Coach Ruff, I talk to him as much as I do my parents. He's a great guy. I wouldn't trade it for anything."

How is Alabama coach Nick Saban in comparison?

"A little different," Gregory said. "Coach Ruff is a little more of a family-oriented guy. He'll talk to you a lot more whereas coach Saban would say one or two things to you. He wouldn't talk to you as much."

Coach McNeill has liked what he has seen from Gregory.

"He has stepped up to the challenge because we have challenged him, pretty intensely," McNeill said. "He's got to get ready. He's got to step in for a guy who has been a steady fixture as punter. That's an important defensive weapon. He's a defensive guy.

"Worth has a lot of talent. Great mentality. He can take the intensity of coaching. I saw it from Coach (Kirk) Doll (special teams coordinator), then coach (Ryan) Dougherty (former ECU punter who is staff assistant for special teams). About the last two weeks (of spring practice), I had him. I'm proud of his progress. He's got a chance to be a difference maker and give us a lot of hidden yardage when we have to punt."

The unit of defensive coordinator Rick Smith certainly benefits in terms of field position from an effective punting game.

ECU's net punting average was 36.6 yards last season after opposition returns were factored in.

Gregory averaged 48.5 yards on two punts in the spring game and Plowman had two punts for an average of 48.0 yards. There were no returns in the spring game.

"I know a couple of times today, I made the comment, 'Man, that's a nice punt,' " Smith said following the Purple-Gold matchup. "I probably didn't watch all of them but several times the punters put us in great position."

After his booming display in the spring game, Gregory, Plowman and snapper Charlie Coggins were taped at the practice facility on a blindfolded field goal from 50 yards by Plowman. He kicked a spinning pigskin through the uprights for a sequence that was acclaimed as a Top 10 Play of the Day on ESPN SportsCenter.

ECU will make numerous appearances on ESPN platforms this season and Pirate special teams are preparing to live up to their name.

Harvey healthy

Doll sees better things from kicker Warren Harvey as he approaches his senior season. Harvey was 15 of 25 on field goals in 2013 after hitting 15 of 20 as a sophomore. He made all 50 of his extra-point attempts in 2012. He made 61 of 63 last season.

"Warren had a good offseason," Doll said. "There are some things that we've worked on. He's healthy now and he's in better condition. We're being intelligent about how much we kick him and that kind of stuff. He has a fresh leg. There are a lot of exciting things about Warren. Again, Davis Plowman is there pushing him."

Harvey kicked off 86 times last season for an average of 60 yards. Plowman had a 62.6-yard average on seven kickoffs.

Position competition is a means designed to cultivate improvement in the ECU program.

Return game promising

Doll's expansive scope with special teams includes all coverage and return units.

The return game offers a lot of potential excitement as it also impacts field position.

Justin Hardy averaged 11.2 yards on 20 punt returns last season.

"We have Justin Hardy back," Doll said. "We're looking at a couple of young players. Jimmy Williams and Davon Grayson and Breon Allen are back there in the punt game. Justin has done a lot of great things back there for us and so that's part of our philosophy here. We're going to play the best guys. Depending on the elevation of these other guys, we'll see how that works out."

Lance Ray was the leading kickoff returner with 22 for an average of 25.1 yards as a senior last year. Isaiah Jones returned four kicks for an average of 24.5 yards as a true freshman.

"Isaiah Jones is back," Doll said. "We've got Breon Allen. We've got Davon Grayson. We've got Jimmy Williams. We've got a great choice. The hardest thing is trying to get them all enough work to see which one is going to be the best."