East Carolina Football Recruiting News: Recruiting Class of 2012

This page last updated: 02.08.12

Total announced signees to date: 20, including fall semester transfer Hunter Furr

Most recent additions: RB Vintavious Cooper

Thumbnails are included for players who signed letters of intent to join East Carolina's incoming recruiting class of 2012. Stricken-through thumbnails are included for players previously reported to have verbally committed to join the class but whose names were not included on ECU's official list of signees as announced on Signing Day, Feb. 1, 2012.

Thumbnails compiled by Al Myatt.
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Text in BOLD BLUE CAPS denotes link to full-length
feature profile by recruiting analyst Sammy Batten.

DESHAUN AMOS (6-1, 170) DB/WR, Manchester High, Midlothian, VA ... Committed to East Carolina on Sunday, Jan. 15 during a campus visit. ... Amos liked the family feel of the program. ... Defensive line coach Marc Yellock headed up Amos' recruiting. ... Projects as a field corner with size, speed (4.4 seconds/40 yards) and coverage ability. ... Also expected to contend as a returner. ... Averaged 17.4 yards on nine punt returns as a high school senior and 45.0 yards on eight kickoff returns. ...Amos had four returns for touchdowns. ... He had nine catches for 333 yards and four touchdowns. ... Had four interceptions in 2011 as the Lancers of coach Tom Hall compiled a 7-3 record. ... Was the team's Player of the Week after a 47-12 Homecoming win over Richmond Wythe. ... Amos made first team All-District as a wide receiver and returner, second team All-District as a defensive back. ... Other schools showing recruiting interest in Amos included Delaware, Maryland, Ohio, Old Dominion, Virginia and Virginia Tech. [Posted 01.18.12]

ADONIS ARMSTRONG (5-10, 180) DB, Hinds Community College, Raymond, MS ... Signed with East Carolina on Dec. 22 and enrolled for spring semester. ... Helped team to a 7-3 record in 2011 by breaking up 17 passes with eight interceptions. ... Armstrong returned two of the picks for scores. ... Had 45 tackles, including two tackles for loss. ... Had 197 yards in interception returns. ... Returned seven punts for 60 yards. ... Served as a captain on the defensive unit. ... Head coach at Hinds is Gene Murphy ... Armstrong runs 40 yards in 4.47 seconds. ... Comes from the same community college program that produced current Pirate linebacker Chris Baker. ... Played on the high school level at Clinton (MS), where he had 49 solo tackles and 16 assists for an 8-4 team as a senior strong safety. ... Teammate of Pirate signee Godfrey Thompson at Hinds. [Posted 01.12.12]

J.T. BOYD (6-4, 275) OL, Fort Mill (SC) Nation Ford ... A four-year letterwinner and three-year starter for the Falcons who capped career by receiving Class AAA All-State honors from the High School Sports Report ... As a senior, helped Nation Ford to a 6-6 overall record, including a 35-28 overtime victory over Clinton in the first round of the South Carolina High School League Upper State Class AAA state playoffs ... The six triumphs set the program's single-season record and it was the first postseason appearance in school history ... Following final campaign, participated in the 63rd South Carolina Automobile Dealers Association North-South All-Star game ... Graded out at 91 percent for the season and was named to the Rock Hill Herald All-Area Team ... Paved the way for the Falcons to average 21.9 points per game during final year, including two contests posting more than 40 points ... Started two games for the varsity squad, one as a tight end and the other as right guard, during freshman year ... Started every remaining contest of career as a right tackle (sophomore) or left tackle (junior and senior) ... Selected as the team's offensive lineman-of-the-week four times as a sophomore and five times as a junior ... Also picked as the Rock Hill Herald region offensive lineman-of-the-week five times during final three campaigns ... Named the team's offensive lineman MVP following junior year and was an honorable mention all-area selection ... Played for head coaches Michael Allen and Rusty Jester ... Selected as the 31st-best prospect in South Carolina by SuperPrep Magazine... Invited to participate in the Schuman's National Underclassmen All-World Gridiron Competition U100 Camp and The Rivals.com/VTO Sports Elite 100 Showcase ... Also a member of the basketball team at Nation Ford and the AAU Fort Mill Trailblazers, which was ranked as high as third in the nation ... A-B Honor Roll member who is a member of the National Beta Club, Future Business Leaders of America, Junior Civitens and FS Cubed [Posted 02.02.12; Source: ECU Media Relations]

COLBY BROWN (5-10, 180) DB, Highland (KS) Community College ... Brown made his commitment to ECU on dec. 4 after a campus visit and canceled subsequent trips to Troy and Texas Tech. ... Liked the Pirates' coaching staff, defensive scheme and facilities. ... ECU defensive coordinator Brian Mitchell recruited the three-star junior college corner, who had 40 tackles with two interceptions last season. ... Has run a time of 4.3 seconds for 40 yards. ... Has also covered 100 meters in 10.4 seconds. ... Brown has confidence in his man coverage talents and his run defense support capability. ... The Georgia product also would like to make kick returns at ECU. [Posted 12.16.11]

DESHAWN BYRD (6-6, 315) OT, Grand Rapids (MI) Community College ... Byrd had a visit on Jan. 20 and committed to East Carolina on Jan. 22. ... He bench presses 330 pounds. ... Other programs showing recruiting interest included Central Michigan, Cincinnati, Kent State, Michigan State, Mississippi State and Toledo. ... His Raiders team went 11-0 in 2011. ... GRCC announced it was dropping football in January, 2012, primarily due to financial considerations. ... The final GRCC team averaged 50 points a game, rushing for an average of 282 yards per game and throwing for 227.9 yards per game. ... The program was 30-4 over the last three seasons under coach Tony Annece. ... Byrd was named GRCC's Athlete of the Week on July 14, 2011. ... He had a grade point average of 3.0 for the 2010-11 academic year. ... Byrd played on the high school level at Trotwood-Madison in the Dayton, Ohio area. ... His Rams team was 9-4 under coach Maurice Douglas during his senior season in 2009. [Posted 01.27.12] [Was not included on East Carolina's official list of signees as announced on Signing Day, Feb. 1, 2012]

KANLER COKER (6-3, 200) QB, Flowery Branch High School, Flowery Branch, GA ... Visited ECU for the Tulane game on the weekend of Oct. 29 and committed to the Pirates in early December after passing for 2,809 yards with 31 touchdowns as a senior. ... Coker also ran for 833 yards and 15 scores. ... Transferred from North Hall before his senior season. ... Received recruiting interest from Ole Miss, UCLA, Wake Forest and Vanderbilt. ... Coker was impressed with ECU's offensive scheme and the Pirates coaching staff. ... Was recruited by ECU offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley and outside linebackers coach Duane Price. ... Coker will play for the North team in the Georgia All-Star game on Dec. 28. ... His 40-yard time is 4.7 seconds and he has a vertical leap of 34 inches. [Posted 12.16.11] [Coker withdrew his pledge to ECU and committed to North Carolina, according to a Bonesville column by Sammy Batten and a Jan. 16 Atlanta Journal-Constitution report.]

VINTAVIOUS COOPER (5-9, 200) RB, Southwest Mississippi Community College ... Inked with the Pirates three days after signing day ... Starting quarterback at Southwest for two seasons ... Led Midwest Conference in rushing in 2011 with 1,273 yards and 11 touchdowns ... Was named second-team junior college All-America at the running back position ... Earned All-State honors as a dual-threat QB at Clinch County (GA) High School ... Size, 4.4 speed and superb agility make Cooper a prime candidate to play RB at ECU ... Talent returning at the position in 2012 affords Pirates the option of red-shirting Cooper to acclimate him to the system and the new position. [Posted 02.08.12]

QUANDARIUS CRUMP (6-2, 215) RB/LB, Lexington High ... Crump sustained a season-ending knee injury his senior season on Oct. 14 against Salisbury. ... He had rushed for 503 yards on 47 carries with six touchdowns to that point in the 2011 season for coach Joe Gaddis' Yellow Jackets. ... Crump also had 16 catches for 184 yards and four touchdowns. ... N.C. State had also offered Crump. ... Was a two-way standout in high school who said he expects to play outside linebacker at ECU. ... He was scheduled to have knee surgery on Nov. 18, according to The Lexington Dispatch. ... The newspaper also stated that plans called for Crump to attend prep school in Mississippi for one year before enrolling at ECU. ... Also played basketball for the Jackets. ... One service rated him the No. 40 prospect in North Carolina. ... Committed to ECU on Nov. 8. [Posted 12.16.11]

DRAYVON FAIRLEY (6-4, 225) LB, Red Springs (NC) High School ... Fairley committed to ECU during a campus visit the weekend of Jan. 28. ... Had 132 tackles, including 17 for losses, for a 10-3 team that reached the third round of the 1-AA playoffs under coach George Coltharp. ... Red Springs is near ECU coach Ruffin McNeill's home town of Lumberton. ... Fairley also had 13 sacks and forced six fumbles during his senior season. ... Other programs showing interest in Fairley included Charlotte, Norfolk State, Fayetteville State and Brevard. ... All-Three Rivers 1-A/2-A Conference as a junior and senior. ... Coltharp compared Fairley to Aaron Curry, the half brother of former Pirate quarterback Patrick Pinkney, who now plays in the NFL with the Oakland Raiders and Jason Hunter, now with Denver Broncos, both of whom Coltharp coached while at Fayetteville E.E. Smith. ... Fairley hopes to play as a true freshman at ECU. ... Has a 40-yard time of 4.6 seconds.(6-2, 225) LB, Red Springs High School. [Posted 01.30.12]

HUNTER FURR (6-0, 210) RB, Winston-Salem Mount Tabor High School/UNC-Chapel Hill ... Furr announced his plans to transfer from North Carolina to East Carolina three days after Butch Davis was dismissed as Tar Heels head coach but insisted that the desire for more playing time was the driving factor. ... Furr enrolled at ECU for the fall semester and will have two seasons of eligibility beginning in 2012. ... Furr ran for 6,187 yards and a Forsyth County record 94 touchdowns in his high school career. ... Had eight carries for 35 yards in two years with the Tar Heels, playing primarily on special teams. ... Coached by Laymarr Marshall at Mount Tabor. ... Also considered Elon, Marshall and West Virginia in the transfer process. ... Furr already knew Pirates strength and conditioning coach Jeff Connors, who returned to ECU from North Carolina in January. ... Furr was a state 4-A champion in the 100- and 200-meter in high school.. [Posted 08.12.11]

MIKE JONES (6-7, 270) OT, Hargrave Military, Chatham, VA ... Initially committed to ECU out of Westover High School in Fayetteville as part of last year's Pirate class but spent a year in the post-graduate program at Hargrave instead. ... Expected to become an offensive tackle at ECU but also played defense for Westover, where he had 68 tackles as a junior. ... Also played basketball for the Wolverines. ... Helped pave the way for Westover back Christian Russell to run for 2,439 yards as a junior. ... Jones wears a size 18 shoe. ... Played basketball for George Stackhouse at Westover, a former assistant to Bill Herrion at ECU. ... Stackhouse encouraged "Big Mike" to go out for football. ... Jones also was recruited out of Westover by North Carolina Central. [Posted 12.16.11] [Was not included on East Carolina's official list of signees as announced on Signing Day, Feb. 1, 2012]

JONATHAN MCLAUGHLIN (6-4, 288) OL, Mauldin (SC) High School ... A three-year starter for the Mavericks who served as the top right tackle as a sophomore before shifting over to left tackle for the final two seasons ... Selected to play in the 75th North Carolina-South Carolina Shrine Bowl ... Guided the Mavericks to a 6-6 record and an appearance in the South Carolina High School League (SCHSL) Class AAAA Division I playoffs, where the team lost to Boiling Springs 35-14 in the opening round ... Named to the 2011 SCPrepNation.com Preseason All-State Second Team Offense and the Postseason SCPrepNation.com All-State Second Team ... Earned selection to the All-Region II-AAAA First-Team Offense as a senior ... Anchor of an offensive line that paved the way for a unit that averaged 30.1 points per game ... Squad also topped 40 points four times ... Mauldin went 6-6 during junior season, falling to Byrnes in the first round of the SCHSL state tournament ... Offense averaged 29.4 points a contest in 2010 ... Played for head coach Doug Shaw ... A three-star recruit according to ESPN.com ... Tabbed as the 28th-best prospect in South Carolina and the 92nd-best offensive tackle in the country by ESPN.com ... Rated by SuperPrep Magazine as the 29th-best recruit in the state ... High school teammate of current Pirate Taylor Hudson. [Posted 02.02.12; Source: ECU Media Relations]

KEIFER NEAL (6-5, 310) OL, Anaheim (CA) Golden West College ... Helped the Rustlers to a 7-4 record during final campaign and a Central Championship Bowl victory with a 51-36 triumph over Long Beach City ... Golden West posted a 3-1 Southern California Central East Conference mark as a sophomore and won its last four contests ... A key member of an offensive line that allowed the unit to average 29.4 points per game in 2011 ... Offense averaged 128.2 rushing yards a contest and 227.7 aerial yards per tilt ... Helped the offense score 30 or more points in six of 11 games ... During freshman year, team posted a 6-4 record and won its final three games ... Squad went 3-2 in league tilts to place third ... Part of a squad that averaged 24.1 points as well as 226.2 passing yards and 101.9 rushing yards per game ... In conference contests, averages were upped to 28.8 points and 258.4 passing yards a contest ... Paved the way for 14 total rushing touchdowns ... Played for head coach Nick Mitchell.
High School: A key contributor to a Valencia program that gained a playoff berth and compiled an 8-3 record as a senior ... Squad went 4-1 in Empire League play in 2008 to claim second place ... Named to the All-Empire League Second Team Offense following final campaign ... A member of a line that helped the offense to 30 or more points in five games ... As a junior, guided the Tigers to an 8-3-1 mark and a 3-1 record in the Empire League, good for a second-place tie ... Team captured a pair of playoff victories, topping Savanna 58-28 and Irvine 38-14, before falling to Cypress 28-21 in the California Interscholastic Federation-Southern Section semifinals ... Squad earned a share of the Empire League championship during sophomore year ... Played for head coach Mike Marrujo ... Also played baseball for the Tigers. [Posted 02.02.12; Source: ECU Media Relations]

DAYON PRATT (6-4,188) WR, Washington (DC) Coolidge High ... Compares favorably in style with current ECU wideout Lance Lewis. ... Had 15 catches for 301 yards and five touchdowns in his team's first four games in 2011. ... Also received offers from Boston College, James Madison, Marshall, Old Dominion and Towson. ... Duke and Temple showed interest. ... Former women's professional player Natalie Randolph coaches the Coolidge Colts. ... After an 0-5 start in 2010, Coolidge finished 4-7. ... The Colts were 4-1 through the first week in October in 2011. ... Committed to East Carolina on Oct. 6. ... Plays outside linebacker on defense. ... Has the frame to add weight.. ... [Listing posted 10.12.11; thumbnail posted 10.13.11]

LANCE RAY (6-3, 210) WR, Northwest (Miss.) Community College ... Ray signed with Arkansas out of East Gadsden High School in Havana, Fla. ... Ray made 37 catches for 704 yards with 12 touchdowns at Northwest CC in 2011. ... He also had two kick returns for scores, attracting offers from LSU, Illinois, Mississipi State, Ole Miss and Kentucky among others before committing to ECU in early December, 2011 . ... Ray runs an exceptionally-fast 40 yards (4.35 seconds). ... He had five catches for 119 yards with a longest gain of 50 yards in three spring practice scrimmages and the spring game at Arkansas in 2010. ... Ray saw action primarily as a kick returner at Arkansas in 2010 before an arrest for marijuana possession expedited his departure from the program. ... He caught one pass for six yards as a redshirt freshman for the Hogs. ... He led the team in kickoff returns (23), kickoff return yards (518) and kickoff return average (22.5 yards) during the 2010 season for the SEC West Division program. [Posted 12.16.11]

RYAN REVIA (6-7, 302) OT, Patrick Henry High School, Roanoke, Va. ... Committed to East Carolina on Tuesday, Dec. 13. ... A weight room devotee, Revia bench presses a maximum of 300 pounds and squats 425. ... No dumbell in the classrrom, Revia has a 3.9-grade-point average and a 1290 score on two segments of the SAT. ... Regarded for his ability to get to the second level as a run blocker. ... Did not allow a sack as a pass protector in a spread offense as a senior. ... Interested in a business major at ECU. ... Revia liked the ECU campus and facilities. ... He was impressed by offensive line coach Brandon Jones and defensive line coach Marc Yellock in the recruiting process. ... Nebraska, Virginia and Virginia Tech were among programs interested in Revia. ... Took up wrestling to improve his skills for football. ... 40-yard time is 5.6 seconds and can get his 300-plus pounds off the floor with a 20-inch vertical jump. [Posted 12.17.11]

DRE SCARBOROUGH (6-2, 220) LB, East Duplin ... Committed to the Pirates on April 28. ... Played mostly defensive end as a junior, making 108 tackles with eight sacks and two defensive touchdowns. ... Scarborough had three fumble returns for scores in one game as a sophomore. ... Alabama, Clemson, Illinois, North Carolina and N.C. State were among schools showing interest in Scarborough but ECU made the first offer. ... Ran 40 yards in 4.74 seconds at a Shrine Bowl combine in Williamston on April 30. ... East Duplin, coached by Brian Aldridge, went 12-2 in 2010, losing at eventual state 2-A champion Tarboro by a 13-10 score in the Eastern semifinals. ... Scarborough also has played basketball and thrown the shot put in track and field for the Panthers. ... Projects as a linebacker at ECU. [Posted 05.09.11]

QUATAYE SMYRE (5-10, 165) WR, Statesville (NC) South Iredell ... First verbal commitment for ECU's 2012 signing class. ... Received a scholarship offer from the Pirates after a visit to Greenville for Junior Day on March 20. ... Smyre made unofficial recruiting visits to Auburn, N.C. State and North Carolina. ... Coached at South Iredell by Scott Miller. ... Moved up to varsity as a freshman to defend against Quan Rucker, now a wide receiver at Wake Forest, who was playing for West Iredell. ... Versatile athlete who has seen action at wide receiver, running back, quarterback, defensive back as well as a kickoff and punt return man. ... Smyre had 51 tackles and four interceptions on defense as a junior. ... He caught 36 passes for 749 yards and 12 touchdowns at wide receiver. ... He rushed 13 times for 130 yards and three scores. ... Smyre took seven kickoffs back for 203 yards and a touchdown. ... On 12 punts, he totaled 134 yards and another score in 2010. ... Recruited by ECU assistant Duane Price. ... Pirates interested in him as a wide receiver. ... Has experience in a spread attack. ... Has run a 10.9-second time for 100 meters in track and competes in other sprint events such as the 200, 4x100 and 4x200. [Posted 04.01.11]

JABRIL SOLOMON (6-2, 180) WR, Hemingway High School, Hemingway, SC. ... Made his commitment to East Carolina over Clemson, Nebraska, N.C. State and Wake Forest on July 6. ... Other programs showing interest included Alabama, Marshall, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia Tech. ... Also excels at free safety for the Tigers but wants to play wide receiver in college and likes ECU's pass-oriented offense. ... Visited ECU in May and was impressed with the academic support available. ... Doesn't plan to make any additional visits. ... Helped Hemingway to a 12-1 record under coach Clay Owens in 2010 with 58 catches for 1,178 yards. ... Led South Carolina defenders with 10 interceptions. ... Solomon broke the school 100-meter record with a 10.21-second clocking in the spring. ... Also averaged 6.0 tackles per game on the gridiron last season. ... Had five rushes for 13 yards. ... 40-yard time is listed at 4.47 seconds. ... Benches 295 pounds and squats 395 with a 38-inch vertical jump. [Posted 07.08.11]

REECE SPEIGHT (6-2, 220) OLB, Wilson Beddingfield ... Speight impressed East Carolina coaches when he ran a 4.7-second time for 40 yards at an ECU summer camp. ... Speight got an offer from the Pirates after the ECU coaches had seen tape of Beddingfield's season-opening 13-3 win over Northern Nash in which he had 12 tackles, including five for losses. ... Committed to the Pirates on Sept. 15. ... He likes the proximity of ECU to his home and loved the atmosphere in Greenville. ... Became a starter for the Bruins as a sophomore and made the Eastern Plains 2-A Conference team as a defensive lineman his junior year. ... Duke, Elon and N.C. State were all expressing interest in Speight. ... Coached by former ECU linebacker Tyrone Johnson at Beddingfield. ... Has also played basketball and competed in track. ... Plays guard on offense.. ... [Posted 10.12.11]

~~DOMINIQUE STALLWORTH~~ (6-4, 280) OL, Brunswick, GA ... Recruited by East Carolina offensive line coach Brandon Jones. ... Committed to the Pirates on June 15 after receiving an offer at a camp at ECU. ... Troy and UAB also had offered Stallworth. ... The list showing recruiting interest included Clemson, N.C. State and South Carolina. ... Stallworth can bench press 375 pounds. He has benched 225 pounds 26 times in one set. ... His other lifts include a 450-pound squat and a 285-pound power clean. ... He runs 40 yards in 5.1 seconds and has a 27-inch vertical jump. ... His wing span measures 86 inches. ... Stallworth has a 2.5-grade point average. ... Stallworth's prep team, also nicknamed Pirates, went 8-4 last season, competing on the 2-A level. ... Is a physical blocker with a frame to add weight. ... Coached by Vic Floyd. ... Has played left tackle in Brunswick's spread attack but may move to left guard as a Pirate. [Posted 07.07.11] [Was not included on East Carolina's official list of signees as announced on Signing Day, Feb. 1, 2012]

GODFREY THOMPSON (6-0, 205) DB, Hinds Community College, Raymond, MS ... Played at Forest Hills High in Jackson, MS and attended Ole Miss for one year but did not play football before enrolling at Hinds. ... Had 49 tackles, including 42 solo stops as a freshman on the community college level. ... Nine of those tackles were for losses. ... Also had two sacks, one fumble recovery, three pass breakups, two interceptions and one interception return for a score in 2010. ... Played linebacker and safety in 2010. ... Made 64 tackles in seven games in 2011. ... Had one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, eight pass breakups and three interceptions as a sophomore. ... Signed with ECU on Dec. 22 as a package deal that included Hinds teammate Adonis Armstrong. ... Coached by Gene Murphy at Hinds, who said Thompson is a "physical player who can run." ... Enrolled for spring semester at ECU. [Posted 01.12.12]

LUCAS THOMPSON (6-1, 185) DB, West Orange High, Winter Garden, FL ... Thompson, rated the No. 6 safety nationally, was the No. 139 propsect among ESPNU's 150. ... Made his commitment to the Pirates on Jan. 5 from the Under Armour All-American game in St. Petersburg, FL. ... Miami (FL), South Carolina and ECU were his final three. ... Said a "sense of family" in the Pirate program was the deciding factor in his commitment. ... Runs a 4.56-second time for 40 yards. ... Has size and physicality as well as quickness with anticipation ability. ... Also had offers from Indiana, Kentucky, Louisville, Ole Miss, Washington State, Wisconsin, Marshall, West Virginia, Illinois, Cincinnati and Purdue. ... Alabama, Florida and Florida State were among programs showing interest. ... Made his campus visit on Oct. 28. ... Once blocked three kicks in a high school game. ... West Orange Warriors were 8-4 under coach Tim Smith in 2011. [Posted 01.12.12]

GABE WOULLARD (6-3, 230) LB, Pierce Community College ... All American Pacific Conference and All-California selection. ... Has ability to get off blocks and get to the ball. ... Also received offers from Florida International and New Mexico State. ... Played at Oak Ridge High School. ... Hometown is Northridge, CA. ... Talent-rich program at Pierce produced 33 md-year signees, including 13 on the Football Bowl Subdivision level. ... Teammates included Gerald Bowman, who signed with USC, Kasseim Everett (Oklahoma) and Austin Stewart (Texas Tech). ... In nine games in 2011, Woullard had a team-high 55 tackles, including 32 primary stops. ... Also had six tackles for losses totaling 24 yards and one sack for seven yards. ... Credited with two quarterback hurries and one blocked kick. ... Pierce went 3-7 overall and 3-3 in its league in 2011. ... Brahmas coached by Efrain Martinez. [Posted 01.12.12]