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Recruiting report card: Defense
Potential playmakers
may see action early
By
Sammy Batten
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East Carolina went from being one of
the worst to the one of the better defensive teams in the nation during
the 2013 season under the direction of new coordinator Rick Smith.
Ranked 87th nationally in total
defense in 2012 after giving up an average of 430.7 yards per game, the
Pirates rose to 30th last season with an average of 363.2 yards. The
dramatic improvement was no doubt a key factor in producing the
second-highest win total (10) in school history.
But with some major graduation losses
that claimed seven starters and some valuable reserves, ECU had to
devote significant space in the recruiting Class of 2014 for defensive
prospects to continue the progress made last season.
Coach Ruffin McNeill and his staff
didn't disappoint by signing up 11 high school defenders and a
gray-shirted recruit, while also adding a former top prep prospect via
transfer.
Here's a position-by-position report
and grade on the defensive class, a look at who's returning and some
speculation on what the Pirates' priorities may be for in the recruiting
Class of 2015.
DEFENSIVE END B-
WHAT THEY NEEDED: The Pirates went
into the 2013 shorthanded at end due to the transfer of John Lattimore
to North Alabama and the unexpected decision by 22-game starter Matt
Milner to forego his final year of eligibility due to a hip problem. Two
other ends were expected to complete their eligibility after the 2013
season, so signing three or four ends seemed like the goal.
WHO SIGNED: Alex Evans (6-6, 215) was
a three-year letterwinner at Springbrook High in Silver Spring, MD,
where he made 70 tackles as a senior. Evans also entertained an offer
from Old Dominion.
Shaun James
is a 6-4, 235-pounder from Virginia Beach, VA, and Green Run High
School. The Virginian-Pilot newspaper named James to the first-team
All-Beach District team as a senior. Hampton, James Madison and Marshall
also offered James. Although he didn't sign yet, you can also include
another Virginia Beach product, Tony Baird, on this list. Baird (6-3,
210), from Ocean Lakes High School, enjoyed an incredible senior season
in which he made 132 tackles, 23 tackles for loss and 17 sacks. He
accepted an offer from ECU to "gray shirt,'' which means he'll delay his
enrollment until January 2015. He chose the Pirates over an offer from
Navy.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF: The Pirates
landed three extremely athletic, albeit raw talents in Baird, Evans,
James. All are tall, rangy players who should develop into strong pass
rushers, but need to mature physically before they're ready to take the
field for ECU. However, the Pirates may actually need to rush Evans and
James into action next fall. The tragic car accident earlier this month
that resulted in serious injuries to starting defensive end Terrell
Stanley and the graduation of starter Lee Pegues could force the
freshmen into backup roles at end if veterans don't step up to fill the
voids.
BIG ONE THAT GOT AWAY: Although a
number of highly ranked ends were offered by ECU, the interest never
materialized. Plus, the Pirates secured their main guys here early in
Evans and James. Baird was a bonus when he joined the group in January
with a commitment.
WHO'S BACK: As mentioned above,
rising junior Terrell Stanley suffered serious injuries in a car
accident in early February and his status for the 2014 season remains
uncertain. That's a shame, too, because Stanley really emerged as one of
ECU's best last season when he started 12 of 13 games and made 46
tackles, 10 tackles for loss and seven sacks. Three others with
significant experience must step forward to fill the void for graduated
starter Lee Pegues and for Stanley, if he can't return. Junior Johnathan
White played in 13 games and logged one start last season while making
22 tackles and two sacks. Massive walk-on Fred Pressley (6-3, 323) was
Pegues backup for the bowl game, but is probably better suited to the
nose tackle position. He'll be a sophomore next season after appearing
in 11 games and making 19 tackles as a freshman. Junior Jeton Beavers is
another possbility, but only if he can overcome the injury bug that's
stalled his career. A tall, athletic rush end, Beavers only played one
game last season before being sidelined with a back injury, and his
status for spring practice is unknown at this point. More potential help
could come from Class of 2013 signee Randall Anderson, who was
redshirted last season.
WHO'S GONE: Lee Pegues played a
prominent role on ECU's defense for four straight seasons. He was an all
conference honorable mention performer as a junior, then capped his
career by making 29 tackles, seven tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks last
season. Also completing his eligibility was Justin Dixon, who came to
ECU with great promise, but saw his career devastated by multiple
injuries.
NEED FOR 2015: Currently, no players
on the roster at end are scheduled to complete their eligibility after
the 2014 season. The oldest of the group, Stanley and White, will only
be juniors next fall. Still, with Stanley's status uncertain and the
possibility that a younger end or two may not be around come spring
means signing at least three here would be a good move.
NOSE TACKLE A
WHAT THEY NEEDED: The Pirates are
well stocked at nose tackle with talent and experience, so there wasn't
an immediate need to sign anyone.
WHO SIGNED: Although he technically
didn't join the Pirates as part of the recruiting Class of 2013,
K'Hadree Hooker may well turn out to be one of the most significant
additions made to the roster by the coaching staff over the past year.
Hooker transferred to ECU last August from N.C. State, where he
originally signed with the Class of 2012. But after spending a year in
Raleigh, the resident of the Deep Run community near Kinston decided to
take his act back closer to home. He sat out last season under NCAA
transfer rules and should be eligible to compete for playing time this
spring. Hooker was rated the nation's No. 33 defensive tackle prospect
out of South Lenoir High School as a senior and had offers from
Arkansas, Auburn, Duke, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Maryland, North
Carolina, South Carolina, Vanderbilt and Virginia Tech.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF: If nothing
else, Hooker will provide depth at the nose tackle spot. But we expect
even more in the long run. Hooker is the kind of strong, wide-body
athlete who usually requires two people to block him in the middle of
the defensive front. If he's ready to go in the spring and plays as well
as we think he's capable, he could wind up as the starter or top backup
at nose tackle, which would allow the Pirates to use Chrishon Rose more
at end where they're not as deep.
BIG ONE THAT GOT AWAY: DeShaywn
Middleton from Winston-Salem's Parkland High was rated the nation's No.
39 defensive tackle prospect by Rivals.com, and in June said he'd
narrowed his list to the Pirates and Appalachian State. But sometime
between then and the middle of July, N.C. State made a big play for
Middleton and gained his commitment.
WHO'S BACK: Chrishon Rose was the
starter at nose tackle for most of the season, due in part to a
September suspension of returning starter Terry Williams. Rose, who can
also play defensive end, made 31 tackles, six tackles for loss and two
sacks while making 10 starts over 13 games. Williams, a senior next
fall, returned to play in the final two games against Marshall and Ohio
after starting the first three contests before the suspension. He made
15 tackles and one tackle for loss in limited play. One of the real
pleasant surprises for ECU was the play of true freshman Demitri McGill,
who moved up to No. 2 on the depth chart at nose tackle when Williams
was suspended. McGill played in nine games and was named to the
Conference USA All-Freshman squad. Redshirt freshman Mike Myers is a
short, but stout-playing nose tackle candidate who impressed in
preseason practice a year ago and came close to seeing action. Don't be
surprised to see 6-3, 323-pound walk-on Fred Presley operating out of
the middle more next fall, too.
WHO'S GONE: No players who saw time
at nose guard completed their eligibility in 2013.
NEED FOR 2015: Position changes could
alter the need, but with both Rose and Williams finishing their ECU
careers in 2014, recruiting at least one possible replacement is
necessary and signing two wouldn't be overacting.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER B+
WHAT THEY NEEDED: Practically every
ECU recruiting class is going to see at least two signed at the outside
positions each year. But with two starters graduating after 2013, and
another two scholarship players departing after 2014, two or more were
the objective.
WHO SIGNED:
Yiannis
Bowden is a 6-5, 215-pounder from Glenn High in
Kernersville, NC, who also had scholarship offers from Ball State, N.C.
A&T and Old Dominion. Bowden made 82 tackles and had seven tackles for
loss as a senior.
Massaddiq
Walton (6-3, 245) from Ocean Lakes High in Virginia Beach
was a two-time selection to the Virginian-Pilot newspaper's All-Beach
District first team. Walton also was offered by Navy. Markel Winters
(6-3, 226) is from Rickards High in Tallahassee, FL. Winters was a late
addition to the ECU class, committing just a 48 hours before national
signing day. He had 74 tackles, 22 tackles for loss and nine sacks as a
senior at Rickards. Central Florida, Florida Atlantic, Memphis, Middle
Tennessee State, Northern Illinois, Old Dominion, South Florida,
Tennessee State and Western Kentucky were others that offered Winters,
who could also wind up playing defensive end for the Pirates.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF: Bowden and
Walton are both tall, fast athletes, but both will require time to
develop their football knowledge and physical strength. Winters is a
physical player who plays with attitude. He's not in the same class as
Bowden and Walton speed-wise, but he covers a lot more ground than his
40-yard dash time indicates.
BIG ONE THAT GOT AWAY: Kalin McNeil
from Northeast Guilford High near Greensboro, NC, wasn't exactly a
"big'' fish, but he was certainly good enough that ECU offered a
scholarship soon after a junior year in which he racked up 138 tackles.
McNeil narrowed his list of college choices to the Pirates and Wake
Forest, before choosing to join the Demon Deacons with a commitment last
July.
WHO'S BACK: The Pirates have a wealth
of experience and talent at the outside positions, despite losing both
2013 starters to graduation. Rising seniors Maurice Falls and Jake
Geary, junior Montese Overton and sophomores Davon Pratt, Devaris
Brunson and Reece Speight all appeared in games last season. Falls, who
has made three starts during his ECU career, played in 12 games last
year as a reserve, making 15 tackles and an interception. Geary also
started games early in his career before a serious ankle injury derailed
his progress. He entered the 2013 fall camp expected to compete with
Derrell Johnson and Falls for playing time, but wound up seeing action
in just four games due to a knee injury. Overton saw the most playing
time on defense of the returnees and made 50 tackles, 10.5 tackles for
loss and six sacks in 13 games as a backup. Pratt (nine games) and
Speight (4) were also used as reserves and on special teams. Then there
was Brunson, a future defensive star in my book, who unselfishly agreed
to move to offense last year to help provide some depth at running back.
He played in 11 games between the two positions, but we're betting he's
back working at outside linebacker by spring practice. Hoping to
overcome the back and knee issues that have kept him off the field the
last two seasons is sophomore Drayvon Fairley, while redshirt freshmen
Kirk Donaldson and Pat Green will be trying to make their mark this
spring.
WHO'S GONE: The guy Ruffin McNeill
believes is a sure-fire NFL linebacker, Derrell Johnson. Johnson was
second-team All-C-USA pick as a senior after making 80 tackles, 14
tackles for loss and eight sacks, the latter two figures which led the
Pirates. Departing with Johnson is Gabe Woullard, the starter on the
opposite side who made 44 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and two sacks.
NEED FOR 2015: Falls and Geary
complete their eligibility in 2014, but that doesn't mean signing two is
critical because of the depth and youth already on campus at the
positions. But bringing in at least one outside guy is to be expected.
INSIDE LINEBACKER B
WHAT THEY NEEDED: The inside
positions in the 3-4 were a big priority for the Pirates because two of
the six scholarship players on the roster were seniors in 2013 and two
more are on schedule to graduate after 2014. The Pirates also lost an
inside guy with great potential before preseason practice began last
season when Tristan Mumford decided to leave school after the spring
semester. Mumford, who many recruiting analyst considered the jewel of
ECU's recruiting Class of 2013, was already third on the depth chart at
one inside position as a true freshman after spring practice. So
essentially a restocking of this position was required, which meant two
or three signees.
WHO SIGNED:
Joe Carter,
from Ponte Vedra High in Florida, produced 75 tackles, one sack and
blocked a punt as a senior. Carter turned down offers from Air Force,
Appalachian State and UAB to sign with the Pirates.
Kyron
Speller enjoyed a stellar senior year at Kempsville High
in Virginia Beach, VA, making 65 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, six
sacks and blocking three kicks. Speller was twice named to the
Virginian-Pilot's All-Beach District team. Army, James Madison and Navy
also offered Speller. Ray Tillman of Miller Grove High in Lithonia, GA,
was named the 2013 Class 6-AAAAA Defensive Player of the Year by the
Atlanta Journal Constitution after making 62 tackles, 14 tackles for
loss and eight sacks. Illinois, Indiana, Marshall, Middle Tennessee
State, Mississippi, Syracuse and Tennessee were others that offered
Tillman.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF: ECU landed
three distinctly different athletes inside. Carter is one of those guys
who doesn't do anything spectacular but is steadily making plays.
Speller is the strong man, capable of overpowering blockers with his
strength. Tillman is the lean, fast athlete who plays a lot tougher than
his 193-pound size might suggest. Any of the three could make an impact
on special teams next fall, but the Pirates do appear to have enough
depth inside at this point to redshirt them all.
BIG ONE THAT GOT AWAY: There really
didn't appear to be one since ECU signed three of the four it apparently
offered at the position.
WHO'S BACK: A 2012 All-C-USA pick,
Jeremy Grove collected 205 tackles through his first two seasons as a
Pirate before a chest injury put him on the sidelines early in the 2013
campaign. The situation limited him to nine games and just three starts
last season in which he still made 41 tackles. Grove will be back for
his senior year in 2014 and a return to form would benefit ECU in
performance and leadership. The injuries to Grove and Kyle Tudor opened
the door for Zeek Bigger to have a breakout season in 2013. Bigger
ranked third on the team in tackles (77), had 4.5 tackles for loss and
1.5 sacks as a sophomore. He's the most likely candidate to team with a
healthy Grove at the two inside spots. Rising senior Brandon Williams,
who also made three starts in 13 games, could have something to say
about that since he produced 69 tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss last
year. Another senior, Desi Brown, will be back after appearing in 11
games, mostly on special teams.
WHO'S GONE: Kyle Tudor missed some
time early, but bounced back to start 11 games. Tudor collected 69
tackles and three tackles for loss. Ty Holmes was No. 3 on the
season-ending depth chart at one inside spot and made 16 tackles in 11
games.
NEED FOR 2015: Despite signing three
this time around, there is still a significant need to be filled. Two
additional inside linebackers in the Class of 2015 would give them five
underclassmen in the program, so maybe signing three is a better number.
SAFETY C+
WHAT THEY NEEDED: About this time
last year we expected the secondary emphasis to be on cornerback and
that maybe the Pirates "might'' take two safeties in the recruiting
class. But when a third senior outside the two starters started playing
a prominent role in 2013, the numbers needed shifted to something
higher.
WHO SIGNED: Blake Norwood from
Pensacola, FL, was actually part of the 2013 recruiting class, but
delayed his enrollment until January 2014. He chose the Pirates over
offers from South Alabama and Western Michigan.
Cody Purdie
was a major contributor at one of North Carolina’s top prep programs at
New Bern High. After making 143 tackles for the unbeaten 4-A state
champs as a junior, he switched to offense as a senior and rushed for
1,317 yards. ECU was the first and only major school to offer Purdie.
Drew Turnage
is another fairly local product from just outside Greenville in Ayden,
NC. Like Purdie, he was a two-way player at Ayden-Grifton High School
where he scored 17 touchdowns as a running back and made 47 tackles on
defense as a senior. ECU was also his lone offer.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF: Because
Norwood and Purdie are already enrolled and will participate in spring
practice, they’ll immediately be available to provide much needed depth
at safety. Norwood is a ballhawking center-fielder type safety, while
Purdie plays the position with the mentality of a linebacker. Turnage is
an all-around athlete who could handle either safety position.
BIG ONE THAT GOT AWAY: East Carolina
was the first major program to step up with an offer to Dexter Wright,
who played just up the road from Greenville at Wilson’s Hunt High
School. But before the Pirates or anyone else could get serious with
their recruitment of Wright he committed to N.C. State in June.
WHO’S BACK: Rising junior Dominique
Lennon was the No. 2 free safety last season when he appeared in 10
games and made eight tackles. Beyond that, only walk-on sophomores Nate
Mays (10 games) and Terrell Richardson (eight games, 6 tackles) return
with playing experience at safety. One shift expected to strengthen the
depth at safety this spring will be the move of rising sophomore DeShaun
Amos from cornerback to safety. Amos, of course, made a name for himself
by returning an interception 100 yards for a touchdown to finish off a
victory against Tulsa last season. As a true freshman he appeared in all
13 games for the Pirates and made 15 tackles. Another converted
cornerback, redshirt freshman Travon Simmons, could also be in the mix
at safety as could redshirt freshman Xavier Smith.
WHO'S GONE: A three-year starter at
free safety and four-year letterwinner in Damon Magazu and two-year
starter at strong safety Chip Thompson finished their college careers.
Magazu logged 37 starts over the last four seasons and was widely
regarded as one of the Pirates' team leaders. He ranked second in team
tackles last season with 80 and was first in interceptions with five.
Thompson started 23 games over the last two years and enjoyed a stellar
senior season with 57 tackles and two interceptions. A third prominent
member of the secondary, Michael Dobson, also completed his eligibility
after piling up 42 tackles in 13 games.
NEED FOR 2015: ECU is going to need
some quick help at safety from the Class of 2015, so don't be surprised
if a junior college guy or two crops pops up on the recruiting radar in
the coming months. Signing at least two safeties would be a good bet.
CORNERBACK B-
WHAT THEY NEEDED: The Pirates had
only one veteran corner scheduled to depart after the 2013 season, but
two more are set to leave at the end of 2014. The need was probably at
least two, and signing three would have put them ahead of the game.
WHO SIGNED: Corey Seargent helped
Northwestern High in Rock Hill, SC, claim the 2013 state title. Seargent
was named The Spartanburg Herald's Defensive Player of the Year after
leading his team with 148 tackles and making four interceptions.
Appalachian State, Charlotte, Kansas and Kansas State also offered
Seargent.
HOW ECU HELPED ITSELF: Seargent is a
bigger, aggressive corner who likes to hit. His playing speed is better
than his 40 time would indicate and he's a proven winner. If injuries
start to crop up at cornerback next season, Seargent could jump in and
play. But ECU would probably prefer to redshirt him next fall.
BIG ONE THAT GOT AWAY: When Daiquan
Lawrence from Western Branch High in Chesapeake, VA, began wavering on a
verbal commitment to Wake Forest in early December, the Pirates jumped
in with an offer. Lawrence even stated he was going to schedule an
official visit to Greenville sometime in January, but instead detoured
to Winston-Salem for a visit instead and wound up re-committing to the
Demon Deacons.
WHO'S BACK: Well, the Pirates are
apparently deep enough at the corner positions to allow Deshaun Amos to
move over to safety for spring practice. Rising senior Detric Allen
returns at one corner where he started nine times in 13 games last
season. Allen is a bigger corner and a tremendous athlete who was in on
40 tackles in 2013. Allen actually took over for Josh Hawkins, who was a
starter before suffering a scary concussion against Virginia Tech.
Still, Hawkins appeared in all 13 games, made four starts, 40 tackles
and an interception. Senior Lamar Ivey (12 games, 10 tackles), junior
Rocco Scarfone and sophomore DaShawn Benton (11 games, 10 tackles) are
others who return with game experience. Scarfone didn't play any last
season, but appeared in 12 games on special teams and in the secondary
as a redshirt freshman in 2012.
WHO'S GONE: Adonis Armstrong
developed into a quality corner and enjoyed two solid seasons as a
starter after transferring in from the junior college ranks. He started
all 13 games last season, making 48 tackles and two interceptions.
NEED FOR 2015: Taking two or three to
replace potential graduates appears to be the number to sign at
cornerback.
OVERALL DEFENSIVE GRADE B
Coach Ruff and company landed an
above average class with lots of potential playmakers, including some
who could see action as true freshmen.
OVERALL
OFFENSE &
DEFENSE CLASS GRADE B
McNeill has built East Carolina's
depth to the point that he doesn't have to bring in a ton of junior
college players to fill immediate needs. That is allowing the Pirates to
recruit more high school players who can develop and spend three or even
four years contributing to the program. The Class of 2014 is exactly
that — a group of raw, but talented football players, most of whom can
be redshirted and allowed to mature for a year before they need to
contribute.
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02/19/2014 09:15 PM |
