GREENVILLE, N.C. – Filling personnel vacancies at the offensive line and defensive
secondary positions, and continuing the depth-building process at linebacker to
bolster his 3-4 scheme, were all addressed by East Carolina Head Football Coach
Ruffin McNeill as the Pirates announced their 18-member 2012 signing class
Wednesday.
Included among the 18 student-athletes are two mid-year additions, junior defensive
backs Adonis Armstrong and Godfrey Thompson, who signed in December and are
currently enrolled at ECU. Both are expected to participate in spring drills next
month.
Of the 18, 11 are projected to play defense while the other seven will line up on
offense. Defensively, the Pirates signed six linebackers and five secondary
performers. On offense, ECU is looking forward to adding four lineman and three wide
receivers to its roster.
“I’m very excited about the entire 2012 signing class and am confident we answered
our immediate needs on the offensive line, in the secondary and at the linebacker
position,” McNeill said. “I’m proud of the job our staff did. We had battles against
some traditionally-strong programs, and while you don’t win all of those all the
time, I was encouraged by the number of young men we had on our campus this year.
There is a lot of reason for optimism in our short and long-term future, especially
with this particular class.”
Twelve of the 18 signees played at the high school level last fall, while Armstrong
and Thompson are two of six junior college transfers on this year’s list of
newcomers. The pair, along with fellow junior Colby Brown, will be expected to make
immediate impacts in a Pirate secondary that lost three of four starters to
graduation a year ago.
While the 18 newcomers hail from seven different states and the District of
Columbia, five played at the prep level in North Carolina and three in neighboring
South Carolina.
East Carolina recorded a 5-7 overall mark and stood third Conference USA’s East
Division last season. The Pirates opened the season by dropping four of their first
five contests before posting a 4-3 mark the remainder of the campaign and falling
short of bowl eligibility for the first time since 2005.
ECU opens spring drills March 19 and will host Appalachian State Sept. 1 to kick off
the season.
—GET BIOS—
2012 EAST CAROLINA FOOTBALL SIGNEE BIOS
Deshaun Amos, DB, 6-1, 170, Fr., Midlothian, Va. (Manchester)
High School: A three-year varsity football letterman who was also a three-sport
standout … As a senior, earned All-Dominion District honors in three positions
(football) … Was a first-team selection as a wide receiver and kick returner, and a
second-team pick as a defensive back … Helped the Lancers to a 7-3 overall record
and 7-1 Dominion District mark as a senior … Scored 12 touchdowns during final
campaign – five on offense, five on special teams and two on defense … Only member
of the squad who played both ways on a full-time basis … Two-time Manchester
MaxPreps.com Player-of-the-Week in 2011 … Caught a pair of touchdown passes (62 and
45 yards) against Midlothian … Returned a kickoff 80 yards for a score in a 21-13
upset over rival L.C. Bird that snapped the Skyhawks’ 33-game Dominion District
winning streak that had spanned nearly five years … Scored on a 73-yard punt return
versus Cosby in the team’s only district loss of the season … Tallied a 95-yard
kickoff runback for a score in the Lancers’ 53-44 victory over Clover Hill …
Second-Team All-Dominion District member as a kick returner junior year, when
injuries limited playing time … Squad posted a 7-3 ledger and 6-2 record in district
games in 2010 … Played for head coach Tom Hall … Also a member of the basketball and
baseball programs.
Adonis Armstrong, DB, 5-10, 180, Jr., Clinton, Miss. (Hinds CC)
Officially enrolled early at ECU in January of 2012 and will join Pirates for spring
drills … Signed a letter-of-intent during the December junior college signing
period. Junior College: A two-year standout in the defensive secondary for Gene
Murphy’s Eagles … Helped Hinds to a Mississippi Association of Community and Junior
Colleges (MACJC) south state runner-up finish as a sophomore, when the team went 7-3
… Eagles finished the season ranked 15th in the National Junior College Athletic
Association (NJCAA) poll … A MACJC All-State Second-Team selection who was one of
Hinds’ two defensive captains in 2011 … Intercepted eight passes, which tied for the
third-most nationally, during final campaign … Added 197 interception return yards
to stand second among all NJCAA players … Pair of interceptions returns for
touchdowns tied for the national lead … Was fourth at the NJCAA level with 17 pass
breakups … Collected 45 tackles (two for lost yardage) and one sack during sophomore
campaign … Forced and recovered lone fumble of the season in the opener against
Itawamba Community College … Ended the year with seven punt returns for 60 yards …
As a freshman at Hinds, booked 24 tackles, including two for lost yardage … Forced
one fumble and recovered three during initial campaign within the program … Broke up
six passes and intercepted one in 2010. High School: Guided Clinton to an 8-4
overall record as a senior safety and earned the program’s best defensive back Award
… The Arrows also went 5-2 in league action during final campaign … Closed high
school career with 171 tackles, 24 pass break ups, 14 interceptions, four blocked
kicks, three forced fumble and a trio of touchdowns … Tallied seven interceptions as
a senior … Gained additional playing time as a kickoff and punt returner … A
Defensive First-Team All-Metro honoree by the Jackson Clarion-Ledger … Originally
signed with Southern (La.) University.
J.T. Boyd, OL, 6-4, 275, Fr., Fort Mill, S.C. (Nation Ford)
High School: 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) and 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 line 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. Personal: An A-B Honor Roll student who is a member of the National
Beta Club, Future Business Leaders of America, Junior Civitans and FS Cubed (Falcons
Supporting Success in Science).
Colby Brown, DB, 5-10, 180, Jr., Augusta, Ga. (Highland CC)
Junior College: A two-year starter for the Scotties … Named to the 2011 All-Jayhawk
Conference Honorable Mention Team after tallying 36 tackles, 13 pass breakups, two
interceptions, one forced fumble and one recovery … Tallied interceptions versus
Hutchinson and Independence, returning the pick at Hutchinson 51 yards for a
touchdown – the fifth-longest interception runback among all National Junior College
Athletic Association Region VI players in 2011 … Added three kickoff returns for 68
yards during the campaign … Played in eight games as a freshman, tallying seven pass
breakups and a trio of interceptions … Added 19 tackles, one for lost yardage,
during initial season. High School: As a senior in 2009, helped North Clayton to a
10-3 record and 6-2 mark in league play … Guided the Eagles to the program’s first
ever quarterfinal appearance of the Georgia High School Association Class AAAA State
Championship playoffs before falling to Clarke Central … Part of a defense that
surrendered just 11.8 points per game and posted three shutouts during final season
… Played for head coach Rodney Hackney … Also ran track at NCHS.
Quandarious Crump, LB, 6-3, 210, Fr., Lexington, N.C. (Lexington)
High School: A two-way starter at linebacker and running back for three years who
suffered a leg injury Oct. 14 against Salisbury and did not play for the remainder
of the campaign … Team finished 2011 with a 4-7 record and 2-3 mark in the 2A
Central Carolina Conference (CCC) … As a senior prior to injury, rushed for 503
yards and six touchdowns on 47 carries and caught 16 passes for 184 yards and four
scores … Also served as a punter during the season … Despite games missed, still
named to The Dispatch All-County Team and the All-CCC Team … Scored four touchdowns
in a 48-10 win over Jay M. Robinson as a senior, reaching the endzone on a 62-yard
blocked punt return, 20-yard pass, 18-yard pass and 13-yard run … Ran for an 84-yard
touchdown against North Davidson … Returned an interception 20 yards for a score
after rushing in from seven and five-yards out in a 45-14 victory over West Davidson
… An Honorable Mention The Dispatch All-County honoree as a junior … Squad posted a
7-6 mark in 2010 and advanced to the second round of the North Carolina High School
Athletic Association (NCHSAA) 2A State Championship playoffs, topping Providence
Grove 35-0 before falling to Cummings 45-31 … During sophomore season, program went
8-7 and played in the NCHSAA 2A state semifinals, where it lost to Mountain Heritage
44-13 … Playoff run by the ninth-seeded Yellow Jackets was the school’s longest
since the 1985 and 1986 state championship teams … Played for head coaches Joe
Gaddis and Chris Deal … Rated as the 39th-best prospect in the state by SuperPrep
Magazine and the 64th-best by ESPN.com … Suited up for the Yellow Jackets’
basketball program and was a three-year starter prior to leg injury that kept him
out of 2011-12 campaign … Named The Dispatch’s 2009-10 Davidson County
Player-of-the-Year after averaging 18 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three
steals a game as a sophomore … Averaged 12 points and seven rebounds a game as a
junior and was an all-league honoree. Personal: Cousin of former Virginia Tech
quarterback Cory Holt.
Drayvon Fairley, LB, 6-3, 200, Fr., Red Springs, N.C. (Red Springs)
High School: A three-year letterwinner at Red Springs who helped turn around the Red
Devils’ program and guide it to a 10-3 record and 4-1 mark in the Three Rivers
Conference as a senior … Team advanced to the quarterfinals of the North Carolina
High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) 1AA state championship after posting a 3-8
record as a junior and 1-10 ledger during sophomore season … Helped Red Springs
capture a pair of playoff victories as a senior, the school’s first postseason wins
since 2005 … Played primarily as a defensive end first two years before moving to
linebacker as a senior … A First-Team All-Three Rivers Conference, The Robesonian
All-Robeson County Team, NCPreps.com 1A All-State Team and Fayetteville Observer
All-Cape Fear Region Second-Team honoree following final campaign … Tallied 132
tackles, including 17 stops for lost yardage and 13 sacks, during the 2011 season …
Also contributed six forced fumbles … Prior to senior year, placed on the
NCPreps.com Preseason 1A All-State Team … Booked 78 tackles and a team-high six
sacks as a junior, when the team went 3-2 in the league … Earned All-Three Rivers
Conference accolades after junior campaign … During first year with Red Springs,
earned defense’s most valuable player award … Spent freshman year at Scotland High
School in the junior varsity program … Played for head coach George Coltharp as a
senior, Eric Puryear as a junior and John Harper as a sophomore … Also a member of
the Red Devils’ basketball program.
Jonathan McLaughlin, OL, 6-4, 288, Fr., Mauldin, S.C. (Mauldin)
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. Personal: High school
teammate of current Pirate Taylor Hudson.
Keifer Neal, OL, 6-5, 310, Jr., Anaheim, Calif. (Golden West College)
Junior 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.
Dayon Pratt, LB, 6-4, 190, Fr., Washington, D.C. (Calvin Coolidge)
High School: A two-way standout for the Colts who experienced action at both
defensive end and wide receiver/tight end … Senior squad was 8-3 and earned a berth
in the D.C. Interscholastic Athletic Association championship game before falling to
Dunbar 33-21 … Coolidge posted a 4-1 league mark during final campaign … Named to
the Washington Post All-Met Team (honorable mention) as a senior after hauling in 27
passes for 484 yards and nine touchdowns … Caught three TD passes against Anacostia
to lead CHS to a 52-0 triumph … Defensively, booked 62 tackles, including a season
high of 12 in a regular-season contest versus Dunbar, a 43-42 setback … Totaled 6.5
sacks for 58 yards lost and a pair of two-sack contests … Also contributed six pass
breakups and two fumble recoveries … After dropping first five games of junior
season, helped Colts turn around campaign with wins in four of their last six games
(4-2) … Played for head coach Natalie Randolph, a receiver for six years with the
D.C. Divas of the National Women’s Football Association and the only current female
varsity football coach in the nation … Rated by ESPN.com as the eighth-best recruit
in the Washington D.C. area … Tabbed by SuperPrep Magazine as the 50th-best prospect
in the Mid-Atlantic region … Attended the Sound Mind, Sound Body Camp … Also runs
track for Coolidge.
Lance Ray, WR, 6-2, 210, Jr., Quincy, Fla. (Northwest Miss JC)
Junior College: A 2011 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA)
Honorable Mention All-America selection after lone season with Northwest … A
Mississippi Association of Community and Junior College (MACJC) First-Team All-State
and NJCAA All-Region 23 selection who tallied 37 catches for 704 yards (19.0 yards
per catch) and 12 touchdowns … Added two more scores on kickoff returns of 73 and
84 yards … Tied former first-round NFL Draft selection John Avery’s 1994 program
single-season record for kick return scores … Closed the year averaging 25.8 yards
per kickoff return … Ended the campaign with 14 total touchdowns, the highest among
all MACJC players during the regular season … Led the Rangers in scoring (86
points), all-purpose yards per game (118.3) and yards per catch while ranking second
in receptions and yards … Named the NJCAA Special Teams Player-of-the-Week after
debut game in which he averaged 38.3 yards on three kickoff returns, including the
84-yarder for a score … During initial contest with Northwest, added a trio of
aerial scores by hauling in TD passes of 30, 43 and 74 yards to help the
ninth-ranked Rangers top No. 8 Pearl River 56-55 in overtime … Played for head coach
Ricky Woods. Arkansas: Led the Razorbacks in kickoff returns (23), kickoff return
yards (518) and average per return (22.5 yards) during only fall campaign in 2010 …
Returned a kickoff 66 yards against Vanderbilt, which marked both a career long and
UA season best … Also contributed in a limited role on offense, catching one pass
for six yards … In three 2010 spring scrimmages and the Red-White Spring Game,
hauled in a total of five passes for 119 yards, including one 50-yard reception …
Played wide receiver for the White Team in the spring game … Made four catches for
69 yards with a long of 39 during an April 16 scrimmage … Redshirted during first
year with the program in 2009, the same campaign in which ECU played the Razorbacks
in the Liberty Bowl … Was timed at 4.35 seconds in the 40-yard dash. High School:
Served as a two-way standout during senior season at East Gadsden High School to
help the Jaguars to a 5-5 mark … Named to the Florida Sports Writers Association
Honorable Mention Class 3A All-State Team as a wide receiver after catching 33
passes for 632 yards and six touchdowns … Also an occasional running back who
carried four times for 15 yards and a score … Recorded 19 tackles as a safety and
had 12 kickoff returns for 322 yards … Set single-game season highs in receiving
yards (127) and touchdown receptions (three) against Chiles High in the 2008 opener
… Finished the campaign with three 100-yard receiving games (Chiles, Leon, Wakulla)
during only season as a wideout after shifting from tight end … Was an all-district
and all-conference honoree as a junior after making 21 receptions for 475 yards and
three touchdowns … Defensively, contributed 50 tackles, two sacks, two interceptions
and two forced fumbles in 2007 … Rated as the No. 59 athlete in the country by
Rivals.com … Played for head coach Scott Anderson … Also a member of the basketball
team. Personal: Born March 16, 1991 … Son of Reginald and Glenda Ray.
Ryan Revia, OL, 6-6, 303, Fr., Roanoke, Va. (Patrick Henry)
High School: A three-year varsity member for the Patriots … Served as the squad’s
top blocker at offensive tackle and was also the deep snapper as a senior during
PHHS’ 7-3 campaign that included a second-place finish in the Western Valley
District with a 3-1 mark … Anchor of an offensive line that helped the team average
27.8 points per contest and surpass the 40-point plateau four times … Following
final season, named to the All-Timesland (Roanoke Times) Second Team Offense …
Helped Patriots to a runner-up district showing and the program’s first winning
season since 2000 despite missing three games … Club finished the 2010 season with a
6-4 record … A starter on the varsity squad as a sophomore after spending initial
season on the junior varsity team … An All-Area, All-Timesland (Roanoke Times)
Sizzlin’ Sophmore First-Team Offense, All-District honoree following sophomore
season … Played for head coach Brad Bradley the first two years and Alan Fiddler the
final campaign … Ranked as the 45th-best prospect in Virginia according to SuperPrep
Magazine … Suited up for the Patrick Henry basketball program as a freshman and
sophomore before switching to wrestling as a junior and senior … Participated in the
UVA Big Man camp in the summer of 2010 and was selected the most valuable player
among the offensive linemen … Invited to the National Underclassmen Combine Ultimate
100 and Ultimate 100 Top Prospect National Showcase. Personal: A DECA member … An
All-Academic Western Valley District selection in 2010 and 2011.
DeAndre Scarbrough, LB, 6-3, 200, Fr., Beulaville, N.C. (East Duplin)
High School: A four-year starter for the Panthers who played linebacker, defensive
end and fullback during four-year career … Selected to play in the 75th North
Carolina-South Carolina Shrine Bowl after guiding the Panthers to a 9-3 overall
record and 6-1 mark in the East Central Conference as a senior … Became the first
East Duplin Shrine Bowl participant since 1998 … Team finished second in the league
and fell to Tarboro 34-26 in the first round of the North Carolina High School
Athletic Association (NCHSAA) 2A State Championship playoffs … Tallied 84 tackles,
nine hits for lost yardage and two sacks to go along with two blocked punts, a
batted down extra point and a fumble return for a touchdown during senior season,
his first playing primarily as a linebacker … Named to the Jacksonville Daily News
All-Area First Team and All-East Central Conference Team following final campaign …
Anchor of a defense that held a trio of opponents to under 10 points and allowed
just 21.1 per contest … Named to the 2011 Honorable Mention ESPNHS North Carolina
Preseason All-State Team and NCPreps.com Preseason All-State 2A squad … As a junior,
lifted East Duplin to a 12-2 record and its second-straight East Central Conference
championship with a perfect 7-0 league mark … Squad advanced to the quarterfinals of
the NCHSAA 2A playoffs before falling to Tarboro 13-10 … Recipient of the 2010
Jacksonville Daily News Defensive Player-of-the-Year award after producing 108
stops, eight quarterback drops and six fumble recoveries, two of which were returned
for scores … Set the national record for fumble returns for touchdowns in a game
with three during sophomore season … Played for head coach Brian Aldridge … Was
timed at 4.74 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the Shrine Bowl Combine … Participated
in the 2011 U.S. Army National Combine, turning in the seventh-highest number of
bench press repetitions and ninth-highest vertical leap among all outside
linebackers at the event … Tabbed by SuperPrep Magazine as the 14th-best prospect in
North Carolina … Also plays basketball and throws the shot put for the Panthers.
Quataye Smyre, WR, 5-10, 165, Fr., Statesville, N.C. (South Iredell)
High School: A four-year letterwinner and three-year starter who was promoted to the
varsity squad just three games into his freshman season … As a senior, helped guide
the Vikings to a 13-1 record with the lone loss a 28-14 setback to eventual state
champion West Stokes in the quarterfinals of the North Carolina High School Athletic
Association (NCHSAA) 2AA State Championship … Helped team to the Catawba Valley
Athletic Conference (CVAC) title after going 7-0 in league play for the
second-straight year … A member of the 2011 All-Lake Norman, All-Catawba Valley and
Statesville Record and Landmark All-County teams … Totaled 500 receiving yards and
10 touchdowns while rushing for 418 yards and six scores as a senior … Defensively,
registered four interceptions and four breakups … Added one special teams’ score …
Named the MaxPreps.com Player-of-the-Week for Sept. 4 after having three receptions
for 103 yards and three touchdowns, while booking four tackles on defense – two for
lost yardage … Entered senior season ranked as the 16th-best prospect in the state
by the Fayetteville Observer … Named to the 2011 Honorable Mention ESPNHS North
Carolina Preseason All-State Team and NCPreps.com Preseason All-State 2A squad …
Turned in breakout season as a junior after taking snaps as a wide receiver, running
back, quarterback, defensive back, kickoff returner and punt return man … Named the
Iredell County Player-of-the-Year after scoring a touchdown one out of every four
times touching the ball on offense or special teams … Tabbed as the Statesville
Record and Landmark County Player-of-the-Year and earned a place on the all-county
team as a utility player and on the All-CVAC squad … Ended the campaign with 36
receptions for 749 yards (20.8 yards per catch) and 12 touchdowns … Added 13 rushes
for 130 yards (10.0 yards per carry) and three scores, seven kickoff returns for 203
yards (29.0 yards per return) and a TD, and 12 punt runbacks for 134 yards (11.2
yards per return) and a touchdown … Defensively, recorded 51 tackles, six pass
breakups and four interceptions … As a junior, piloted the Vikings to an undefeated
regular season and an 11-1 campaign as the only loss was a 31-30 first-round upset
by Forest Hills during the first round of the NCHSAA 2AA playoffs … Program captured
the CVAC crown with a 7-0 record … Also an All-CVAC selection as a sophomore …
Played for head coach Scott Miller final two years and Ed Masterton the first two …
Rated as the 27th best prospect in North Carolina and the 85th best athlete in the
country by ESPN.com … Listed as the 17th-best prospect in North Carolina according
to SuperPrep Magazine … Also runs the 100 and 200 meters for South Iredell’s track
program.
Jabril Solomon, WR, 6-2, 180, Fr., Hemingway, S.C. (Hemingway)
High School: A key contributor to the most successful four-year stretch in the
school’s football history, helping the Tigers to a 43-8 record since 2008 … Went
25-2 during the last two campaigns, including an appearance in the South Carolina
High School League (SCHSL) Class A Division I state championship game as a senior …
Selected to play in the 75th North Carolina-South Carolina Shrine Bowl after guiding
the Tigers to a 13-1 mark during final season as a wide receiver and defensive back
… Lone loss was a 20-0 setback to Abbeville in the state title tilt … Reached the
Class A Lower State championship game for the third-straight season, winning it for
the first time as a senior by knocking off Bamberg-Ehrhardt 32-7 … Named the 2011
Class A Lower State Back-of-the-Year by the South Carolina Coaches Association … A
WPDE News Channel 15 All-Zoner selection … Placed on the Preseason ESPNHS All-South
Carolina Football Team as a defensive back … Finished second among area players as a
senior with 971 receiving yards on 41 catches, good for an average of 23.7 yards per
reception … Was also on the other end of 11 aerial scores … Defensively,
intercepted five passes to rank sixth among area players … Booked 94 tackles during
the campaign … As a junior, led Tigers to a 12-1 record … Tallied 58 catches for
1,178 yards and 18 touchdowns … Registered a state-leading 10 interceptions, three
of which were returned for touchdowns, and added 84 tackles … Also returned two
kickoffs for scores … Played for head coach Ken Cribb … Awarded three stars by
ESPN.com, which rated him as the 18th-best prospect in the state … Selected as the
12th-best prospect in South Carolina by SuperPrep Magazine … A standout on the track
who won the Class A Lower State titles in the 100 (11.09 seconds) and 200 (22.02
seconds) meters as a junior … Also the anchor of the winning 4×100-meter relay team
(43.17 seconds) … At the SCHSL Class A State Championship, finished second in the
100 (10.96 seconds) and 200 (22.09 seconds), while relay team placed first again
(43.07 seconds) … Has been timed at 10.5 seconds over 100 meters, which is a
Hemingway school record … Considered a very vocal leader, known for pregame and
halftime speeches.
Reece Speight, LB, 6-1, 200, Fr., Wilson, N.C. (Beddingfield)
High School: A three-year starter and letterwinner for the Bruins who played on both
the offensive and defensive lines … Becomes the first Beddingfield player to ink
with an FBS program since Everette Brown signed with Florida State in 2005 … Team
ended the year with a 3-7 record, but won two of the final three games … Anchor of a
defensive unit that allowed 15 or fewer points in a trio of contests … In a
season-opening 13-3 win over Northern Nash, tallied 12 tackles, including five for
lost yardage … Booked 13 stops, including 10 solo hits and 1.5 sacks during a 21-14
loss versus Greene Central … An Eastern Plains 2-A All-Conference honoree as a
defensive lineman following junior year … Helped the Bruins to a 6-7 overall record
in 2010, including a 36-28 victory over Southwest Edgecombe in the first round of
the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 2AA State Championship playoffs
… Beddingfield also finished tied for second in the Eastern Plains with a 4-2 mark …
Named to the All-Eastern Plains First Team Defense as a sophomore, when the team
went 6-6 … Played for head coach Tyrone Johnson, a former ECU linebacker who
lettered in 1983 and 1984 … A three-star recruit by ESPN.com … Rated as the
37th-best prospect in the state, and the 104th-best athlete nationally, by ESPN.com
… A member of the basketball program and competes in track. Personal: Full name is
Gerald Reece Speight … Cousin of current Pirate Jacobi Jenkins.
Godfrey Thompson, DB, 6-0, 205, Jr., Jackson, Miss. (Hinds CC)
Officially enrolled early at ECU in January of 2012 and will join Pirates for spring
drills … Signed a letter-of-intent during the December junior college signing
period. Junior College: A two-time Mississippi Association of Community and Junior
Colleges (MACJC) All-State Honorable Mention selection who played in every game
during two years with the program … Helped Hinds to a MACJC south state runner-up
finish as a sophomore, when the team went 7-3 … Eagles ended the season ranked 15th
in the National Junior College Athletic Association poll … Tallied a team
fourth-best 64 tackles as a sophomore to go along with eight pass breakups and a
trio of interceptions that netted 63 return yards … Added one forced fumble, one
fumble recovery and one kickoff return for 15 yards … During initial campaign in
2010, booked 49 stops (42 solo), nine tackles for lost yardage and a pair of sacks …
Also returned an interception 35 yards for a touchdown in 50-42 win over East
Mississippi as a freshman … Registered 11 pass breakups and five interceptions
during junior college career … Played for head coach Gene Murphy. High School:
Helped guide Forest Hill to a 7-4 overall record as a senior, including the
program’s first playoff berth in 17 years … Patriots also went 4-1 in league play …
Tallied 65 tackles, one sack and one interception on defense during final campaign …
Also contributed on offense and special teams, rushing for four touchdowns, scoring
on a kickoff return and adding a punt runback for a TD … A year earlier, booked 45
total tackles, forced and recovered three fumbles and picked off one pass … Returned
a fumble 96 yards for a touchdown against Taylorsville … Played for head coach Mario
Lane.
Lucas Thompson, DB, 6-1, 190, Fr., Winter Garden, Fla. (West Orange)
High School: A 2011 Under Armour All-America selection who participated in the
January Under Armour All-American Game … Helped the Warriors to an 8-3 overall
record as a senior after tallying 75 tackles (57 solo), three stops for lost yardage
and two sacks … Guided West Orange to a 22-21 victory over East River in the Larry
Gergley Gridiron Bowl, marking the program’s first postseason bowl appearance since
1997 … Became the first Warrior in school history to be selected for the Under
Armour All-American Game … Recorded 11 pass break-ups, two interceptions, two forced
fumbles and one recovery … On special teams, was a part of a unit that blocked three
kicks … Invited to Nike’s “The Opening” in July, 2011 … The Opening, a four-day
event in Oregon that features dynamic training, coaching and competition, brings
together top performers from all of the Nike Football Training Camps and Nike
Football SPARQ Combines … Attended the Under Armour Combine as a junior … A
four-star recruit according to ESPN.com, which rated him as the No. 6 safety in the
country … Awarded three stars by Scout.com … Ranked at No. 11 on the Orlando
Sentinel’s Central Florida Super60 … Listed as the 136th-best prospect on the ESPNU
150 … Tabbed by SuperPrep Magazine as the 60th-best prospect in Florida … Has been
clocked at 4.56 seconds in the 40-yard dash … Played for head coach Chip Petree, who
was a graduate assistant at East Carolina from 1990-92.
Gabriel Woullard, LB, 6-3, 230, Jr., Valencia, Calif. (Pierce College)
Junior College: A California Community College Football Coaches Association
All-California Region VI First-Team Defense selection … Also was the only defensive
unanimous pick to the Southern California Football Association American Division,
Pacific Conference First-Team Defense squad … Part of a Pierce program that had 34
players earn scholarships at the NCAA FBS (11), FCS (three), Division II (12) or
NAIA (eight) level – a total higher than any other junior college or high school in
the nation … Team went 3-7 in 2011 and 3-3 in the American Pacific Conference …
Tallied a team-high 55 tackles, including 32 solo stops … Booked a squad
third-best six hits behind the line of scrimmage (-24 yards) and one sack for a loss
of seven yards … Credited with two quarterback hurries and one blocked kick …
Paced the team with eight tackles, including one for lost yardage, at Long Beach in
a 54-47 setback … Registered a team single-game season-best 11 stops at Glendale …
Played for head coach Efrain Martinez. Wisconsin-Whitewater: Played in eight games
for the 15-0 NCAA Division III national champion Warhawks … Program has played for
the national championship from 2005-11 and claimed the title the last three seasons
while posting perfect 15-0 records … Totaled 12 tackles with four solo hits and
eight assists during the year … Registered two stops for lost yardage and a half
sack … Credited with 1.5 TFL and the half sack against Dakota State in the second
game of the season … Booked a campaign-best six hits against UW-River Falls, making
one solo hit and five assists … Turned in multiple-tackle efforts against Dakota
State and Campbellsville, while recording one stop versus UW-Eau Claire and Wesley …
Returned one fumble 21 yards against UW-River Falls … Part of a defense that pitched
four shutouts and surrendered just 11.8 points per game … Unit also held foes to
46.6 rushing yards per contest. High School: Helped Oak Park-River Forest (Ill.) to
a 5-5 mark and 3-3 league ledger as a senior in 2009 … Played both ways as a
defensive end and tight end … An all-conference selection, defensive
lineman-of-the-year and all-academic honoree in lone year with the program … Played
for head coach Jim Nudera … Also ran track for the Huskies … Played the 2008 season
at Valencia (Calif.) High School where he was a junior defensive end and running
back on a Viking program that posted a 10-3 mark and 4-1 league record … An
all-conference honoree who tallied 43 tackles with seven solo stops to assist VHS to
a state playoff appearance (third round) … Booked a season-high seven hits against
West Ranch in a 49-0 victory … Credited with five or more tackles in four contests …
Registered a personal-best two sacks during a 42-14 first-round playoff victory over
Ventura and finished the campaign with seven quarterback drops … Also broke up two
passes, recovered a pair of fumbles and caused one during the season … Played for
head coach Larry Muir. Personal: Son of Dennis and Imani Woullard.