By Sammy Batten
©2012 Bonesville.net
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East Carolina red-shirted
19 players from its recruiting Class of 2011 to build depth and
stockpile talent for the future. A year later, the Pirates focused on
securing immediate help at specific positions.
Seven junior college
prospects, including two of whom are already enrolled at ECU, plus one
of the nation's top-ranked safety recruits headline the 19-player class
Coach Ruffin McNeill and his staff added since the national signing
period began last Wednesday. More players could join that group as
McNeill stated on signing day he planned to take at least 20 in the
Class of 2012.
So next fall will see an
large influx of new talent at ECU as last year's red-shirts combine with
a 2012 class in which more than half the players will be expected to
make an impact during the 2012 season.
Now, as a way to get the
know the new class better and look ahead to next season, here's our
annual position-by-position report card.
Coaches don't like these
things, and that's understandable. They know more about the recruits,
their talents and personalities than anyone else.
Obviously, I don't spend
as much time studying as they do. My research is based on limited film
study, interviews with the players themselves, with their coaches and
those who have coached against them. So consider this a method of
providing fans a first impression, and not the final judgment on how
good this class could be when all is said and done.
We all remember the ECU
recruiting Class of 2005 that hardly anyone gave more than a passing
glance. That group included virtual no-names like Aundrae Allison,
Terrence Campbell, Van Eskridge, Dominique Lindsay, Scotty Robinson, Jay
Ross and C.J. Wilson who would go on to form the core of back-to-back
Conference USA championship teams.
Offense
QUARTERBACK (Grade: D)
WHAT THEY NEEDED: Because
there isn't a proven quarterback on the roster at this point, signing
one was a fairly important objective.
WHO SIGNED: None.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF:
Well, in one way the Pirates did help themselves by missing on a
quarterback signee, which is why the grade is a D instead of an F. By
not adding on this year, they may have created a more attractive
situation for one of the numerous quality rising senior quarterbacks in
the 2013 in-state recruiting class.
BIG ONE THAT GOT AWAY:
Kanler Coker from Flowery Branch, GA, seemed to be a great find for the
Pirates when he committed in early December. After spending his first
two preps seasons in a running offense, the 6-foot-4 Coker had excelled
at running and throwing in the spread attack after transferring to
Flowery Branch. But in January the new coaching staff at North Carolina
put a full-court press on Coker and convinced him to sign with the Tar
Heels.
WHO'S BACK: Rising junior
Rio Johnson was the No. 2 quarterback in 2011, completing 20 of 29
passes for 157 yards in four games. Johnson will compete for the
starting job with a guy the ECU coaches really like, sophomore Shane
Carden, senior Brad Wornick and red-shirt freshman Cody Keith. As we've
said before, Keith is a wild card in the group. Highly touted out prep
school, he struggled with an ankle injury as a true freshman and really
hasn't gotten an opportunity to show what he can do yet at ECU. Spring
practice will be his chance.
WHO'S GONE: A great one in
Dominique Davis. In just two seasons, Davis became the school career
record holder in completions (727), touchdown passes (62) and finished
fourth in passing yardage (7,192).
NEED FOR 2013: This will
be a “must'' position in the next class, especially considering the
amount of in-state talent at the position. Signing one should be a major
focus.
RUNNING BACK (Grade: C+)
WHAT THEY NEEDED: The top
three rushers return, plus UNC-Chapel Hill transfer Hunter Furr becomes
eligible, so any signee in this category was a bonus.
WHO SIGNED: Three days
after signing day the Pirates picked up Vintavious Cooper, a 5-foot-9,
200-pound quarterback from Southwest Mississippi Community College.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF:
Cooper was the starting quarterback for two seasons at Southwest, where
he led the conference in rushing this season with 1,273 yards and 11
touchdowns. Needless to say, he won't play QB at ECU. But with 4.4 speed
and excellent agility, he's a good fit for the running back position. It
shouldn't take long for him to make the transition to running back at
ECU, but with the talent returning at that position the Pirates will
have the luxury of red-shirting Cooper.
BIG ONE THAT GOT AWAY:
Jela Duncan produced 2,307 yards rushing as a senior at Mallard Creek
High, the fourth-highest total ever in Charlotte area history. Duncan
followed that up with a 100-yard rushing effort in the Shrine Bowl
all-star game. ECU was his leader most of the way, but both Duke and
Wake Forest closed the gap in the final weeks. The Blue Devils surprised
many by snaring Duncan at the finish on signing day.
WHO'S BACK: The top three
rushers from last season all return in junior Torrance Hunt (489 yards,
2 TDs), senior Reggie Bullock (428-4) and junior Michael Dobson (221-3).
Injuries hindered Bullock after a strong start, so look for him to
reclaim the starting job. Junior Hunter Furr transferred to ECU from
North Carolina last fall. Furr is a former state sprint champion from
Winston-Salem, who never received a fair chance to show what he could
with the Tar Heels. He and promising red-shirt freshman Chris Hairston
will push the veterans for playing time.
WHO'S GONE: None.
NEED FOR 2013: Only
Bullock graduates after the 2012 season, but Dobson, Furr and Hunt are
all gone following 2013. The same for Cooper, if he's not red-shirted
next season. So with the possibility of five running backs departing
over the next two years the number of targets here should be at least
two.
WIDE RECEIVER (Grade: A+)
WHAT THEY NEEDED: Three
was the magic number to replace three graduating seniors.
WHO SIGNED: South Carolina
Shrine Bowl all-star member Jabril Solomon from Hemingway and in-state
dynamo Quatay Smyre, from Statesville, were early members of ECU's
class. Junior college All-American Lance Ray came aboard in early
December, choosing the Pirates over Kansas State.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF:
Ray, a product of Quincy, FL, is a Southeastern Conference-type athlete.
How do we know? Because he spent two seasons at Arkansas, including one
as the Razorbacks chief kick returner, before off-the-field issues sent
him tumbling down the depth chart. Ray made the difficult decision to
leave and spent last season becoming one of the nation's premier JUCO
receivers at Northwest Mississippi Community College. Ray will
immediately become one of the fastest athletes in Conference USA and
should step right in to replace Lance Lewis as ECU's major deep threat.
Smyre is another speed merchant, but lacks Ray's size. He's a 5-10,
165-pound slot receiver who also excels at kick returns. Solomon is yet
another track star with 10.5-second 100-meter dash speed, but he's not a
finesse receiver. The 6-2, 180-pounder is such a physical player that
schools like Clemson, N.C. State and Nebraska offered him scholarships
to play defensive back.
BIG ONE THAT GOT AWAY: The
Pirates offered several other receivers, but really landed the guys they
wanted. That's just another reason they get an A+ in this category.
WHO'S BACK: Rising senior
Andrew Bodenheimer, junior Derrick Harris and sophomore Justin Hardy
were all starters in the final game of 2011. Hardy, who joined the
program as a walk on, emerged as a true star last season when he led the
Pirates with 64 catches for 658 yards and six touchdowns. Bodenheimer, a
possession-type wide out, was third in receiving (46-484-0). Three
others are scheduled to return who caught 23 or more passes, including
Harris (23-168-1). Sophomore Danny Webster (43-418-1) was one of the few
true freshmen to see action, but a knee injury ended his season
prematurely with two games to play. Junior Reese Wiggins (29-432-3) is
the third plus-20 catch player. The experience doesn't end with those
players, however. Senior Dayon Arrington (2-14), one-time starter Justin
Jones (6-41-4), junior Zico Pasut (1-16) and junior Mike Price (2-16)
also caught passes in 2011. Sophomore Torian Richardson, and redshirt
freshmen Antonio Cannon and Donte Sumpter are talented players waiting
for their big breaks to come.
WHO'S GONE: Lance Lewis
broke the school record for career TD catches with 22, and also finished
third in receptions (149) and yardage (1,716) in just two seasons. Solid
contributors Michael Bowman and Joe Womack also depart via graduation.
NEED FOR 2013: This will
always be an area of focus in recruiting for the Pirates due to their
offensive style. Arrington and Bodenheimer are the only two scheduled to
graduate after the 2012 season, but with five others ready to set sail
after 2013 you can expect ECU to seek at least four replacements in the
next class.
OFFENSIVE LINE (Grade: B-)
WHAT THEY NEEDED: Injuries
decimated ECU's offensive line in 2011, so for insurance just in case it
happens again signing three blockers was important.
WHO THEY SIGNED: The
Pirates exceeded expectations by signing four offensive linemen. Two
hail from South Carolina: J.T. Boyd from Fort Mill and Shrine Bowl all
star Jonathan McLaughlin from the ECU stronghold of Mauldin. Ryan Revia
from Roanoke, VA, and junior college transfer Keifer Neal rounded out
the group.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF:
Neal is a massive 6-5, 310-pounder, who could challenge for a starting
job at the vacant left tackle spot. Boyd and Revia are promising
projects who'll need time to mature before getting on the field.
McLaughlin, too, needs to add some size, but he's probably most ready to
play among the true freshmen. Above all else, the Pirates boosted their
depth along the offensive line with this group.
BIG ONE THAT GOT AWAY:
Kameron Davis, a 6-6, 280-pound tackle from Oakland Park, FL, took an
official visit to East Carolina last September and had the Pirates on
his list of three finalists along with South Florida and West Virginia.
Davis decided in the end to stay closer to home and play for former ECU
head coach Skip Holtz at USF.
WHO'S BACK: Because of all
the injuries last season, ECU is expected to return six players who
logged starts last season. Only junior right guard Will Simmons,
however, started all 12 games. Junior Jordan Davis (11 starts at right
guard), junior Adhem Elsawi (7 starts at right tackle), junior Grant
Harner (8 starts at right tackle), sophomore Drew Gentry (1 start at
tackle) and senior Josh Clark (6 starts at center) are others who were
in the starting lineup at one time or another. Sophomore Taylor Hudson
also appeared in seven games subbing at both guard spots. Four prospects
from the
Class of 2011 who were
red-shirted are now ready to fill in up front: Issac Harris, Stewart
Hinson, Chaz Lowery and Tre Robertson. Sophomore Mack Helms, who was
slated to be the center starter entering 2011 before an injury sent him
to the sidelines, is yet another talent boosting ECU's depth.
WHO'S GONE: Steven Baker
started the majority of games at left tackle last season and Hugh Parker
made two starts at center. Often-injured Doug Polochak, who made four
starts, has also graduated.
NEED FOR 2013: The Pirates
appear to have come out of last year's injury issues deeper than ever on
the offensive front. But that won't prevent them from going after two to
three blocking prospects this year.
Defense
DEFENSIVE LINE (No grade)
WHAT THEY NEEDED: The
Pirates probably have more defensive linemen than they need at this
point on the roster, and only one of the 12 on scholarship graduates
after the 2012 season. It wasn't necessary to sign anyone at those
positions this time around, so no need to punish ECU with a grade on
this one.
WHO SIGNED: None.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF:
None.
WHO'S BACK: Juniors
Derrell Johnson and Matt Milner return at the end positions in the 3-4
as does senior nose guard starter Michael Brooks. Junior Lee Pegues,
sophomore Crishon Rose, sophomore Terry Williams and junior Jimmy Booth
have all seen extensive playing time, too. Two players from
last year's recruiting class
expected to make an impact up front next fall are juniors John Lattimore
at end and Leroy Vick at nose guard. Both players were expected to make
contributions last season as junior college transfers, but were derailed
by injuries. Red-shirt freshmen include Jeton Beavers, Johnathan White
and Terrell Stanley.
WHO'S GONE: None.
NEED FOR 2013: Brooks is
the lone senior. Five others in the junior class, however, make it
necessary to sign two here.
LINEBACKER (Grade: A)
WHAT THEY NEEDED: The
linebacker corps is a fairly young group, which seemed to indicate this
wouldn't be a major focus. One or two signees seemed like plenty.
WHO SIGNED: The Pirates
picked up four in-state prospects in Quandarious Crump of Lexington,
Drayvon Fairley from Red Springs, Reece Speight of Wilson and Shrine
Bowl all-star Dre Scarborough from Beulaville. Receiver/linebacker Dayon
Pratt hails from Washington, DC, and junior college transfer Gabriel
Woullard is a product of Valencia, CA.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF:
Scarborough was the most physical linebacker in the state. His high
school coach compared him to former N.C. State star Nate Irving, which
is quite a compliment. The ECU staff believes they got a steal in
Speight, who may have been overlooked by other schools because he played
defensive end in high school. Fairley and Pratt are splendid athletes
who are going to need time to mature physically. Both are tall, fast,
lean athletes with super potential. Crump is another fantastic athlete,
but he missed most of his senior season after tearing the MCL and ACL in
his knee. Plus, he could be headed to the JUCO ranks for a semester
before enrolling at ECU, if he sticks to the plan he described to us
about a month ago. Woullard is a beast of an inside linebacker and
should compete for playing time early.
WHO'S BACK: Senior Chris
Baker, junior Justin Dixon, sophomore Maurice Falls, sophomore Jake
Geary and senior Marke Powell made starts at the outside positions last
season, while senior Daniel Drake, sophomore Jeremy Grove and junior
Kyle Tudor did the same in the middle. Grove will be an all-star
candidate in 2012 after ranking among the nation's top tacklers last
season with 122. Red-shirt freshmen Zeek Bigger and Montese Overton will
add even more athleticism to the linebacker corps.
WHO'S GONE: Cliff Perryman
finished eighth in team tackles and was a starter at outside linebacker.
NEED FOR 2013: After this
year's haul, ECU shouldn't need big numbers here. They'll take a couple
if they can find two really good ones.
SAFETY (Grade: A)
WHAT THEY NEEDED: Adding
two would make ECU four-deep at each safety position.
WHO SIGNED: Godfrey
Thompson from Jackson, MS, signed with the Pirates and enrolled for the
spring semester from Hinds Community College. Lucas Thompson from Winter
Garden, FL,
was rated the nation's No. 6 safety prospect by
ESPN.com.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF: The
Pirates signed two players who can come in and compete for playing time
immediately. Godfrey Thompson will have a head start because he'll
participate in spring practice. Watch for him to challenge for the
starting job at strong safety. Lucas Thompson plays with the tenacious
attitude of a linebacker, but can also defend the pass. He has the
potential to become an all-star caliber athlete at ECU.
BIG ONE THAT GOT AWAY:
None, really. The Pirates nailed their main two targets, although they
did offer three-star Jordan Moore from Lithonia, GA. But Moore didn't
express any serious interest in ECU beyond the initial scholarship
offer.
WHO'S BACK: Junior Damon
Magazu has developed into an all-star performer at free safety where he
made 80 tackles and four interceptions last season. Senior Justin
Venable and red-shirt freshman Rocco Scarfone will serve as Magazu's
backups. Sophomores Lamar Ivey and Desi Brown saw action last season at
strong safety. They'll be joined at that spot by red-shirt freshman
Domonique Lennon.
WHO'S GONE: Bradley Jacobs
was the starter at strong safety and finished fourth in team tackles
with 71.
NEED FOR 2013: Venable
will be the only graduation loss after the 2012 season, so replacing him
should be the goal.
CORNERBACK (Grade: A)
WHAT THEY NEEDED: Two or
three players who could come in and compete on the field immediately.
WHO SIGNED: Adonis
Armstrong from Hinds Community College and Colby Brown of Highland
Community College were both top-notch JUCO corners. Deshaun Amos, from
Midlothian, VA, was an all-district choice at three different positions
— receiver, kick returner and cornerback.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF:
Armstrong is a ballhawking corner who collected eight interceptions last
season at Hinds. Because he's already at ECU, Armstrong should contend
for a starting job at one of the corner spots this spring. Brown is also
a quick, shutdown corner who may make a run for a starting assignment in
the fall. Amos is a multi-purpose athlete who could fit in on special
teams very early. He could also wind up playing safety because of his
versatility.
WHO'S BACK: Seniors Jacobi
Jenkins, Rahkeem Morgan, Kristopher Sykes and Leonard Paulk have played
extensively in reserve roles during their careers. Paulk even made one
start last season. Sophomore Detric Allen is a gifted young athlete
whose career has been slowed by injuries. Red-shirt freshman Glen
Hilliard will be in the mix for playing time at corner and on special
teams this time around.
NEED FOR 2013: With so
many seniors graduating, this will be a major point of focus in
recruiting. Signing at least four should be the objective.
Overall (Grade B+)
I've actually changed my
opinion somewhat about this class after awarding it a C+ on signing day.
Although missing the mark on a couple of positions like quarterback and
running back, the wide receiver and defensive elements of this class are
much better than I originally thought after looking at them by position.
So, in the final analysis,
a B+ is a more accurate grade for this class because of the immediate
help it provides at key positions.
