Every college program holds several “Junior Day’’ events during the spring to court the rising senior prospects for the next recruiting class.

Treshawn Council couldn’t make it to East Carolina’s Junior Day’ on March 27, but thankfully his high school coach did.

Due to a family commitment, Council was unable to attend ECU’s function on the 27th. But Antonio King, head coach at Hillside High School in Durham, N.C., made the trip anyway.

King brought with him a highlight video featuring Council, a 6-foot-1, 210-pound outside linebacker. The ECU coaching staff got a chance to view the video at some point during the visit.

“They watched the tape as a staff and after two plays they knew he (Council) was the kind of ballplayer they were looking for,’’ King said.

A scholarship offer for Council was extended and four days later he accepted to become the first member of ECU’s recruiting Class of 2011.

Council said once he learned of ECU’s offer, it was an easy decision to make a verbal commitment.

“I grew up an East Carolina fan,’’ he said. “I love the campus and the atmosphere up there for their games. I’ve been up there a couple of times.

“The new head coach played there and I think he knows what it takes to keep the program on track.

“When I found out they had offered me I was just shocked with emotion. I was ready to go ahead and commit right then.’’

Council has been well known in Durham football circles for some time. He joined one of the state’s top Pop Warner programs, the Durham Eagles, at age 5 where he started out as a defensive end. Council moved to running back the following seasons and stayed at that position until he reached the ninth grade at Hillside.

Council was such a versatile athlete that King honored him with Hillside jersey No. 8, which had been previously worn by current North Carolina wide receiver Greg Little.

“We really didn’t know where to put him,’’ King said. “So his freshman year on the JV’s we tried him at fullback, tight end, wide receiver, strong safety — you name it. We experimented with him to try to find him a home.’’

By the midpoint of that freshman year, Council had settled in at linebacker. He played well enough on the JV's to earn a promotion to the varsity for the second half of the year and the state playoffs.

Council was a part-time varsity starter as a sophomore, then moved into a full-time role last season. He recorded 11.5 sacks and earned All-PAC 6 4-A Conference honors.

“I’m very aggressive and I’ve got a lot of heart,’’ Council said. “I’m angry when I’m out there on the field. I just feel like nobody can stop me when I’m out there.’’

King offered two examples of the type of player Council has become.

“Southern Durham had a quarterback last season who scrambled really well,’’ King said. “Treshawn just kept hunting him all game and at one point made a great open-field tackle on him.

“Another time we were playing Middle Creek. A couple of times during the game he (Council) chased the slot receiver man-to-man across the middle of the field.

“He can basically do it all.’’

The Pirates are expected to use Council at outside linebacker, which is the same position he plays at Hillside.

And Council is hoping to challenge for playing time at that position very early in his ECU career.

“I don’t think I’ll redshirt,’’ he said. “I’m ready to go there and compete for the position like everybody else does. But I’ll play anywhere and do whatever they ask just to get on that field.’’