Skip Holtz could tell East
Carolina defensive line coach Donnie Thompson really wanted to see
Maurice Mercer in a Pirate uniform next summer.
“Coach Holtz told me that
every time a coach would bring up someone else they wanted to recruit at
defensive end, Coach Thompson would say, ‘No. I want that kid from Nash
Central,’’’ said Mercer, a 6-foot-5, 235-pound pass-rushing specialist
who made Thompson’s wish come true in early October by verbally
committing to the Pirates.
The decision ended a
three-month courtship of Mercer by the Holtz, Thompson and linebackers
coach Thomas "Rock" Roggeman, who was his main recruiter. Boston
College, North Carolina, N.C. State and Virginia were some of the others
who were showing interest in Mercer, but the Pirates clearly made the
strongest impression.
“A lot of big schools were
inviting me to their games, but each time I went to an East Carolina
game the coaches made me feel like I was at home,’’ Mercer said. “When I
went to other places they just gave me tickets to the game, but the
coaching staff didn’t really make me feel welcome.
"I really enjoyed myself
every time I went to East Carolina. Coach Holtz even invited me on the
field and talked to me about becoming a Pirate. So when they called to
offer me a full ride, I didn’t hesitate to accept it.’’
Mercer resides in
Nashville, a town of about 4,500 about 10 miles west of Rocky Mount and
only about 30 miles from the East Carolina campus in Greenville. He’s
been a member of the varsity football team at Nash Central since his
freshman season, but has started the last two seasons at defensive end.
Mercer has also seen spot action at tight end during his career.
Nash Central has only been
open for five years and the football program was only in its second
season when Mercer reported for preseason practice as a freshman.
“We brought several
freshmen up to the varsity because of numbers,’’ Nash Central coach
Kenneth Grantham said. “He had a big frame to work with and a lot of
tools. We felt like he would be a good for us down the road, and he has
developed into a pretty good ballplayer.
“He’s got good height and
is really quick off the ball. I could even see him playing linebacker in
college. He still needs to develop some in the weight room, but he has
tremendous potential.’’
Maurice will be the second
Mercer to advance to the college football ranks. His older brother
Marcus played at Northern Nash High School and spent the 2003 season
with the NCAA Division II Shaw Bears. A 6-2, 217-pound linebacker,
Marcus left Shaw after the coach who recruited him to the school
departed for another job. He wound up playing a year of junior college
football in 2005 at the College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, CA.
Maurice Mercer said his
brother is now enrolled at Texas State University, where he’s a middle
linebacker with the football team.
“I guess you could say I’m
following in my brother’s footsteps,’’ Maurice Mercer said. “He won a
lot of awards and accomplished a lot of things when he was in school,
and I wanted to do the same thing. I think I’ve fulfilled that now.’’
Mercer collected eight
quarterback sacks as a senior in helping Nash Central to a 7-4 finish.
When asked to describe himself as a defensive end, Mercer said he “likes
to take control of everything on the field.’’
“I’m a real big-time
leader and that’s one of my main strengths,’’ Mercer said. “I’m a good
pass rusher, but I can also keep outside containment. I don’t let
nothing get outside of me. I’m also good at knocking down passes.’’
Mercer is looking forward
to joining the Pirate family next fall and is excited about the future.
“East Carolina is kind of
like my high school,’’ Mercer said. “We’ve come a long way from when we
first opened. Now, this year we’re a playoff team.
“Well, now East Carolina
is winning big-time games after a couple of down years. I feel like a
lot of people are going to start becoming East Carolina fans in the near
future because of how good the program is becoming. That’s why I’m happy
I’m going to be part of all that.’’
