
Game Program Feature: Zeek Bigger
October 08, 2014 | Football
Originally printed Oct. 4, 2014 in the First and Goal football game program
By Tyler Wallace,
ECU Media Relations Student Assistant
Winning the Walter Camp Defensive Player-of-the-Week honor is something that holds high regard in college football. Zeek Bigger received the award following an extraordinary performance against North Carolina two weeks ago, notching 17 tackles and an interception return for touchdown during the Pirates' 70-41 victory.
Despite the recent national attention, the road in which he traveled hasn't been an easy one.
The junior linebacker from Gastonia, N.C. has been the voice of the Pirates defense since he stepped on the field, but without his late stepfather's help Bigger may have never stepped foot onto the gridiron.
"I got started in football from my late stepfather," Bigger explained. "I was about seven or eight years old and I kept getting in trouble at school. I had a lot of energy. I would sit down and be doing things I shouldn't be doing, but my stepfather kept telling my mother that I needed to play football.
"My mom said no; I was already playing basketball. She didn't want me to get hurt and she thought it was too much of an intense sport to play. One day she finally said yes and since then I've been playing linebacker."
Bigger was ironically too big to play with his age group when he started, so he began playing with 11 and 12 year olds. He wasn't intimidated by the bigger and older boys, and in his first year of organized football he started at linebacker.
A two-year starter on both offense and defense at Ashbrook High School, Bigger was named an All-Big South 3A conference selection. Due to his size and athleticism, he was rated as the 96th best outside linebacker in the country according to ESPN.com as well as a spot on the 2011 ESPNU 150 Watch List.
When it came time for him to choose where to continue his education and football career, East Carolina University was first on his list.
"I told coach [Donnie] Kirkpatrick when he recruited me, that he wouldn't be making a mistake. I am going to go out there each and everyday and give you all I've got."
Bigger stepped on campus with a great group of linebackers on the roster. He knew that he would have to sit his freshman year, but he gives credit to the group in front of him to helping him earn his way onto the field.
"Jeremy Grove, Kyle Tudor, Ty Holmes and Daniel Drake all taught me a lot," said Bigger. "I give them all the credit and I love those boys. I have to thank them for everything that they have done."
ECU Head Coach Ruffin McNeil has seen first hand the growth of Bigger, from a young 18-year-old freshman to the first Walter-Camp Defensive Player-of-the-Week Award winner in program history.
"I thought Zeek would be a great player and he has earned his way," McNeil said. "He has earned a leadership role and his playing time. I have a group of about 22 guys that I text when I need something done and he's one of those 22. The kids on the team know that if you are one of those 22 that get these personal texts that means you're a leader," said McNeil.
Despite all the attention for his performances this season, Bigger doesn't plan to rest on his laurels.
"My expectations are to get better each and every day," he said. "I have accomplished some of my goals, but I still have things to work on and I am going to keep doing that.
"I want to be the best that I can be. I want to be the best linebacker of all time. I know that is a big goal to prove and but I think I can do it. So each and everyday I want to get better."
Bigger is excited to be a part of a new era of East Carolina football as the Pirates enter the American Athletic Conference.
"Being in The American is something new," he said. "Each and everyday we talk about the conference championship. It makes us work hard. Each and every day we are grinding, but we have to take things one game at a time and that will take us a long way."