College football
recruiting is all about meeting needs.
So, when trying to
evaluate the recruiting class East Carolina added on college football’s
national signing day on Wednesday, I didn’t start by counting the stars
assigned to the 18 new Pirates by the national analysts.
Instead, I went back and
reviewed all the comments ECU head coach Skip Holtz made about his
team’s weaknesses in 2007, I studied the Pirates depth chart and roster,
and lastly I considered the talent each recruit brings to the table.
Even with that extensive
research, trying to predict the true quality of a recruiting class is
only speculation. The real experts are the ECU coaches who courted these
players for months, and in some cases for years.
For conversation sake,
however, here’s one man’s opinion based primarily on how well the
Pirates met their needs, especially on the offensive line, at linebacker
and in the secondary.
QUARTERBACK (B+)
WHAT THEY NEEDED: Signing
at least one quarterback was already important because the Pirates would
have been graduating three of the four scholarship programs on the 2007
roster over the next two seasons. But with red-shirt freshman D.J.
McFadden expressing an interest to move from signal caller to wide
receiver and another of 2007’s quarterback recruits, Rodney Cox,
expected to move to tight end when he reports this spring after sitting
out the fall as a partial academic qualifier, signing a quarterback
became essential.
WHO SIGNED: Josh Jordan
(6-4, 210) St. Amant, LA.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF:
Jordan already has the kind of arm strength that will rival last year’s
co-starter Rob Kass. It’s strong enough that he won the state javelin
championship as a junior. But it’s the intangibles that really impress
you about Jordan. He’s the son of a former college coach, so he knows
the game and usually makes good decisions with the ball. And he’s tough
as nails. Jordan played the second half of his senior year with a
hairline fracture in his foot. Despite the injury, Jordan directed his
team to the state 5-A championship, throwing for 392 yards and seven
touchdowns in the final. You hate to put pressure on someone before he
even steps on campus, but Jordan looks like ECU’s quarterback of the
future to me. The only reason the Pirates don’t get an 'A' is because
they probably could have used another one just like Jordan.
WHO’S BACK: Junior Rob
Kass and senior Patrick Pinkney were co-starters in ’07 and will
probably take the bulk of the snaps in ’08. Junior Brett Clay, who
actually started last year’s opener against Virginia Tech, returns as
the No. 3 guy.
NEEDS FOR 2009: Securing
one quarterback is critical, but two would be the perfect number.
RUNNING BACK (C+)
WHAT THEY NEEDED: Even
with the great Chris Johnson departing, the Pirates are well stocked
with good young running backs. So the need wasn’t great unless they
could find a truly great one to coral.
WHO SIGNED: Nobody yet.
Marquan Brown, a 5-foot-7 whirling dervish of a runner from
Fayetteville’s Gray’s Creek High School, verbally committed to ECU. But
because of some issues with paperwork, Brown hadn’t signed a
letter-of-intent as of Feb. 7. Gray’s Creek coach David Lovette still
expects Brown to join the Pirate class. A second potential running back
commit, Darius Spencer from Asheville’s Reynolds High, is probably
headed to junior college. But Reynolds coach Shane Laws said Spencer is
determined to make it to Greenville eventually, so look for him again in
the Class of 2010.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF: It
hasn’t yet. But if Brown signs they’ll be adding an exciting player to
its ranks, one who could make an huge impact down the road as a kick
returner.
WHO’S BACK: Dominique
Lindsay, a senior, basically took a backseat in the run game to the
dynamic Johnson. Lindsay will get a chance to shine in ’08, but the real
up-and-comer in ECU’s backfield picture is hometown product Jonathan
Williams. Williams averaged 6.8 yards on limited carries as a true
freshman and should compete for a starting role in the spring. Also in
the picture will be former top recruit Norman Whitley, a sophomore, and
walk-on senior Brandon Simmons. JUCO transfer J.R. Rogers never made an
impact in ’07, but he could be a factor this time. Kevin Gidrey, a
sophomore, appeared in 11 games last year as a fullback. He’ll be joined
at that spot by red-shirt freshman Ben Herlocker.
NEEDS FOR 2009: Signing
two is a necessity, and three would be ideal.
WIDE RECEIVER (A+)
WHAT THEY NEEDED: Picking
up two guys to replace graduating Steven Rogers and Phillip Henry was
the goal.
WHO SIGNED: Dayon
Arrington (6-2, 205) Silver Spring, MD; Jacobi Jenkins (6-0, 175) Rocky
Mount, NC; Adrian Jones (5-11, 180) Laurinburg, NC; Joe Womack (6-1,
195) Jacksonville, NC.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF:
Arrington is the physical receiver with an attitude that the quarterback
likes to look for on third-down plays or when you need to throw one up
in the end zone. He’ll see action in some capacity next fall. Adrian
Jones is probably the most versatile athlete in the class, while Joe
Womack is another big receiver who’ll be making the conversion from
high-school quarterback. Jones and Jacobi Jenkins are both prep sprint
stars that’ll eventually provide excellent speed to the receiving corps.
WHO’S BACK: Junior Jamar
Bryant has star potential and should be an all-league candidate next
fall, while sophomore Dwayne Harris is a developing player who can hurt
opponents catching, running or even passing the football. Senior T.J.
Lee and junior Kyle Johnson saw extensive action last year as reserves.
Junior Alex Taylor and red-shirt freshman DeMario Waymon are other
possibilities.
NEEDS FOR 2009: The
Pirates are only expected to lose Lee after the 2008 season, so it won’t
be a priority. But with the passing game so prominent at ECU you can
expect one or two to be signed anyway.
TIGHT END (C-)
WHAT THEY NEEDED: Before
the news that Rodney Cox will probably convert to tight end this spring,
getting two in this class was pivotal because the probable top two on
the ’08 depth chart graduate after next season. In the end, one was
sufficient.
WHO SIGNED: Mike Brown
(6-4, 230) Reidsville, NC.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF:
Brown wasn’t heavily recruited, despite an impressive prep resume. He’s
got good hands and mobility, but it wouldn’t take much for him to grow
into an offensive tackle once he gets to Greenville. With that in mind,
the Pirates probably fell a little short of the goal at tight end.
WHO’S BACK: Starter Davon
Drew will be a senior next fall as will his backup, J.R. Kraemer. But
don’t be surprised to see the athletic Cox develop quickly. Like Drew,
he was recruited as a quarterback. Red-shirt freshmen Michael Byrd and
Will Towery will also return.
NEEDS FOR 2009: Signing
one for good measure will give the program a nice round number of four
at tight end.
OFFENSIVE LINE (B+)
WHAT THEY NEEDED: Four to
five signees were imperative for the offensive line simply to bolster
the depth. But some immediate assistance was needed at guard and center.
The hopeful return of former starter Terence Campbell to action in ’08
will be a major boost at tackle.
WHO SIGNED: C.L. Brown
(6-4, 315) Wilmington, NC; Josh Clark (6-4, 265) Gastonia, NC; Dalton
Faulds (6-3, 285) Ponte Vedra Beach, FL; Grant Harner (6-6, 300)
Jacksonville, FL; Logan Kudlinski (6-5, 265) Orange Park, FL; T.J.
Harper (6-2, 315) Meridian, MS.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF:
T.J. Harper, a JUCO transfer, is already enrolled at ECU and will, at
the very least, compete for a backup job at guard or center. Dalton
Faulds, who played on an offensive line as a sophomore at Nease High
School that blocked for Tim Teabow, will also be trained at center where
the Pirates struggled last year because of injuries. Harner and
Kudlinski are future tackle prospects, while Clark projects at guard. So
ECU got immediate help, replenished its depth and signed some super
future prospects for its blocking corps.
WHO’S BACK: Junior Doug
Palmer started every game at right guard last season and junior Sean
Allen played in all 12 games as a reserve. Allen will probably shift
over to left guard and battle sophomore Andrew Farr for the starting job
Matt Butler held for 36 straight games. Junior Cory Dowless, sophomore
Larry Lease and sophomore Doug Polochak round out the guard corps.
Senior Stanley Bryant, sophomore D.J. Scott, sophomore Travis Melvin and
senior Willie Barton are all experienced tackles. If Terence Campbell
returns from his heart issues, that could be the most experienced and
deep position on the team. Junior Stephen Heis returns at center along
with senior Fred Hicks.
NEEDS FOR 2009: Even when
your cupboard is full, signing two or three offensive linemen is a good
policy.
DEFENSIVE LINE (B)
WHAT THEY NEEDED: The
Pirates signed a huge class of defensive linemen in 2007, so there
really wasn’t a major need at all in terms of numbers.
WHO SIGNED: Robert Jones
(6-3, 260) Tucker, GA; Allen Crowder (6-2, 260) Mebane, NC; Anthony
Garner (6-1, 290) Siler City, NC.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF:
Jones may wind up being the steal of the class. He’s quick, has room to
grow and time to do it because there are so many veterans ahead of him
at defensive end. But watch his progress. In about two years, he could
be special. Anthony Garner has potential at nose guard and Allen Crowder
is a workout beast who opened a lot of eyes at the annual Shrine Bowl
all-star week in December.
WHO’S BACK: Senior Zack
Slate and junior C.J. Wilson were the starters at the spots when the
season ended. Their backups are also returning in junior Scotty Robinson
and sophomore Willie Smith. But watch for senior Marcus Hands to reclaim
one of the end jobs after missing a lot of time last year due to injury.
There’s also sophomore Chris Atkins, sophomore A.J. Johnson and
red-shirt freshman Maurice Mercer. The top tackles are sophomore Linval
Joseph, senior Khalif Mitchell, junior Jay Ross and senior Brandon
Setzer. Red-shirt freshman Antonio Allison is another big man ready to
contribute in the middle.
NEED FOR 2009: Hands,
Mitchell, Slate and Setzer will graduate after 2008, so pursuing at
least two as replacements will be important.
LINEBACKER (C-)
WHAT THEY NEEDED: Four
linebackers graduated from the ’07 squad and five others, including two
walk-ons, will leave after next season. The Pirates probably could have
used at least two here. But they picked up just one and he played
defensive back in high school.
WHO SIGNED: Max Joyner
(6-2, 191) Greenville, NC.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF:
Joyner is first and foremost a winner, who has grown up in an ECU
family, so he’ll do whatever it takes to help the Pirates be successful.
With a little time and diligence, he could blossom into an outstanding
linebacker and special teams star.
WHO’S BACK: Seniors
Quentin Cotton and Pierre Bell are back at the outside linebacker spots.
Top reserves Dalvon Mack, a senior walk-on, and juniors Jeremy Chambliss
and Lorenzo Osborne are also back. Senior Jarrett Wiggins, senior
walk-on Juan Quintanilla, and red-shirt freshmen Austin Haynes, Cliff
Perryman and Steve Spence will provide depth.
NEED FOR 2009: Because
linebackers are such an important element of special-teams play, too,
you can never have enough. So it’s always wise to sign two or three
every year.
SAFETY (C+)
WHAT THEY NEEDED:
Three-quarters of the ECU depth chart graduates after ’08, which made
this an important area in recruiting this time around. Two or three
signees were needed here.
WHO SIGNED: Justin Venable
(6-1, 185) Climax, NC.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF:
Venable is one of those guys who will knock your lights out if you come
into his area. He was downright intimidating during Shrine Bowl all-star
game workouts and wound up earning defensive MVP honors for the North
Carolina squad. Venable is fast, too. He’s been timed at 4.38 in the
40-yard dash. The Pirates got a real talent here. The only problem is
they needed another two just like him.
WHO’S BACK: Junior Van
Eskridge is back at free safety and senior J.J. Millbrook is the
incumbent at strong safety. Senior Leon Best and junior Chris Mattocks
finished last year as their backups. Sophomore Melvin Patterson and last
year’s recruiting haul at safety — Matt Thompson, Devon Wallace and
Julian Carter — are ready to see their first significant action.
NEED FOR 2009: Some of the
other 2008 signees could wind up at safety, like Joe Womack or Adrian
Jones. But until then ECU should try to sign two more next February.
CORNERBACK (B)
WHAT THEY NEEDED: Nobody
ever has enough corners, or enough speed at the cornerback position. ECU
is no different, so getting at least three in this class was important.
WHO SIGNED: Rakheem Morgan
(6-0, 180) Asheville, NC; Leonard Paulk (5-11, 180) Columbia, SC.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF:
Paulk is an aggressive, hard-hitting athlete whose brother Rodney plays
linebacker at South Carolina. Morgan was a high school quarterback, so
he’ll need time to learn the cornerback skills. But both players have
the speed, athleticism and instinct to excel at the position by the time
they are red-shirt sophomores.
WHO’S BACK: Senior Jerek
Hewett, sophomore Dekota Marshall, sophomore Darryl Reynolds and
sophomore Travis Simmons are returning vets with starting experience.
Red-shirt freshmen Derek Blacknall and Emanuel Davis, two gems from the
2007 class, are now ready to get their feet wet.
NEED FOR 2009: The rule
above still applies. You can never have enough corners, so get two or
three.
The East Carolina
recruiting Class of 2008 may not have impressed any of the national
recruiting analysts. But in the final analysis it fulfilled the needs of
the program at this stage, which earns it a solid 'B' in our forum.
[View
thumbnail sketches of all players in ECU's football
recruiting class of 2008.]
