East Carolina Football Announces 2025 Early Signees

GREENVILLE, N.C. – East Carolina Head Football Coach Blake Harrell announced that 19 student-athletes have signed grant in aids with the Pirates during the NCAA's early signing period, which runs from December 4 to December 6. The total number of commitments for the 2025 season is 21 including Cole Hodge (QB) and Peyton Reeder (OL) who both signed in December of 2023.

Stephen Collier, ATH, 6-2, 220, Fr., Lexington, S.C. (River Bluff HS)
Verbally committed to East Carolina on June 20, 2024 … High School: Two-sport athlete (football, baseball) … Caught 144 passes for 1,783 yards during four-year prep career … Tallied 21 career touchdowns (15 rcv, 4 rush, 1 PR) … 11-time MaxPreps Player of the Game selection … As a senior, hauled in 51 passes for 643 yards (12.6 ypc) with five touchdowns … Ran the ball three times for 13 yards … Tallied 1,035 all-purpose yards (10 KOR, 266 PR, 103 INT, 643 rcv, 13 rush) … Consensus three-star prospect by 247Sports, ESPN, On3.com … Listed as the 28th-best player in the state and 56th-best tight end by ESPN … Chose East Carolina over offers from Arkansas State, Charlotte, Coastal Carolina and Marshall.

Kendric Davis, LB, 6-2, 200, Fr., Charlotte, N.C. (Palisades HS)
Verbally committed to East Carolina on June 15, 2024… High School: Two-sport athlete (football, basketball) … Two-time All-South Meck Conference selection as a linebacker (2023-24) … As a junior, tallied 119 tackles, 10.0 TFLs which included 5.0 sacks … Forced six fumbles, credited with four pass breakups and one interception … Named MaxPreps Player of the Game in basketball on Feb. 14, 2023 … Brother plays collegiate basketball at Gardner-Webb … Consensus three-star prospect by 247Sports, ESPN, On3.com … Listed as the 45th-best player in the state and 79th at his position by ESPN … Chose East Carolina over offers from Appalachian State, Charlotte, Duke, James Madison, Liberty and Temple.

Chaston Ditta, QB, 6-0, 190, Fr., Austin, Texas (Lake Travis HS)
Verbally committed to East Carolina on June 11, 2024 … High School: Passed for 4,301 yards during his prep career … Completed 295 of 510 attempts … Threw for 47 touchdowns to just eight interceptions … Averaged 14.6 yards per completion … Ran for 673 yards on 122 attempts with 12 touchdowns … Caught 16 passes for 211 yards and two scored as a junior … Tallied 5,187 yards of total offense in 28 games played (185.3 per game) … Consensus three-star prospect by 247Sports, ESPN, On3.com … Listed as the 94th-best quarterback and 289th-best player in the state by ESPN … Chose East Carolina over offers from Arkansas State, Colorado State, James Madison, Marshall, North Texas, UL Monroe, UNLV, Utah State and Yale.

Josiah Dwyer, DT, 6-4, 255, Fr., Bennettsville S.C. (Marlboro County HS)
Verbally committed to East Carolina on June 22, 2024 … High School: Four-year player who recorded 64 career tackles (51 solo) … Booked with 14.0 TFLs with 8.0 credited as sacks … Tallied one quarterback hurry, picked off one pass and recovered one fumble … Named MaxPreps Player of the Game on Nov. 3, 2023 … Consensus three-star prospect by 247Sports, ESPN, On3.com … Listed as the 91st-best player in the state and 169th-best at his position by ESPN … Chose East Carolina over offers from Coastal Carolina, Old Dominion, Troy and others.

Cole Hodge, QB, 6-2, 193, Fr., Louisville, Ky. (Christian Academy of Louisville)
Officially signed with East Carolina in December of 2023 … High School: Played for head coach Hunter Cantwell helping CAL to a pair of state championships as a junior and senior … His senior season, led the Centurions to a 14-1 overall record which included a 41-16 win over Bell County for the state crown … In that game, he completed 18 of 20 passes for 238 yards and scored five total touchdowns (2 pass, 3 rush) including connecting on a five-yard toss to his younger brother (Connor) on the final score of the contest … Named state championship game MVP … Earned Kentucky 3A Player of the Year honors as a senior … As a junior, earned 3A State Player of the Year, District 4A Player of the Year and Wave 3 State Player of the Year honors after leading CAL to a state title … Completed 73.0 percent of his passes … Threw for 2,949 yards with 48 touchdowns to four interceptions … Rushed for 711 yards with nine scores with a 9.4 yards per rush … Led all Kentucky prep signal callers in TD passes, completion percentage (fifth all-time in state history), TD to INT ratio and yards per attempt … Three-star prospect according to 247Sports Composite, ESPN.com, On3.com and Rivals.com … Listed as the 86th-best quarterback nationally by 247Sports … Tabbed as the No. 28 quarterback nationally by ESPN.com and No. 39 by Rivals.com … Listed as a Top 20 player in Kentucky by Rivals.com (No. 6), ESPN.com (No. 11), 247Sports (No. 11) and On3.com (No. 18) … Chose East Carolina over offers from Appalachian State, Army, Ball State, Central Michigan, Charlotte, Eastern Kentucky, Georgia Southern, Liberty, Marshall, Memphis, Miami (OH), UAB, Western Michigan and others.

Connor Hodge, WR, 6-1, 160, Fr., Louisville, Ky. (Christian Academy of Louisville)
Verbally committed to East Carolina on August 23, 2023 … High School: Two-sport athlete (football, basketball) … During senior season, helped the Centurions to an 11-3 overall record and a spot in the KHSAA 3A State Championship Game (Dec. 7) … Nominee for Mr. Football for the state during senior season … As a junior, he ranked second in the state in receiving yards with 1,494 … Also played on defense in the secondary … Brother of Cole Hodge who officially signed with ECU in December of 2023 … Consensus three-star prospect by 247Sports, ESPN, On3.com … Listed as the 14th-best player in the state and 200th-best at his position by ESPN … Chose East Carolina over offers from Ball State, Central Michigan, Eastern Kentucky, Georgia Southern and others.

Tavius Horne Jr., DB, 5-11, 160, Fr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (St. Thomas Aquinas HS)
Verbally committed to East Carolina on June 22, 2024… High School: Two-sport athlete (football, track) … Named Palm Beach Post & Sun-Sentinel All-County in football as a junior (honorable mention as a sophomore) … On the track, junior Olympic All-America selection in the 100 and 200 (2021) … Palm Beach All-County Second-Team in the 100 and 200 (2022) … As a 10th grader, placed third in at the FHSAA 4A meet in the 200 with a time of 21.51 … State qualifier in the 100 and part of the 4.400 team that won the regional title … As a sophomore, tallied 47 tackles with six pass breakups, two interceptions and a forced fumble earning all-county honors at Delray Beach Atlantic … Consensus three-star prospect by 247Sports, ESPN, On3.com … Listed as the 83rd-best player in the state and 59th at his position … Chose East Carolina over offers from Colorado, FIU, Florida Atlantic, Georgia Tech, Indiana, James Madison, Louisville, Pittsburgh, South Florida, Stanford, Syracuse, Temple, UAB, West Virginia and Western Michigan.

Derrion Horsley, DB, 6-2, 185, Fr., Sharpsburg, Ga. (East Coweta HS)
Verbally committed to East Carolina on Dec. 4, 2024… High School: Played in 28 games over three-year prep career … Booked 75 tackles (62 solo) with 2.0 TFLs … Picked off three passes while being credited with 18 pass breakups and two forced fumbles … Scored five career touchdowns (4 rcv, 1 KOR) … As a senior recorded 20 tackles (14 solo) with 2.0 TFLs … Intercepted a pair of passes and credited with three pass breakups … During junior campaign helped team to a 7-4 record and first round playoff berth … Tallied 38 stops with 13 pass breakups and one interception … Caught three passed for 56 yards and three scores on offense … Consensus three-star prospect by 247Sports, ESPN, On3.com … Rated as the 158th-best player in the state and 140th at his position … Chose East Carolina over offers from Georgia State, Marshall, Mississippi State, South Florida, Troy and Western Kentucky.

Benard Lackey Jr., DB, 6-2, 175, Fr., Covington, Ga. (Newton HS)
Verbally committed to East Carolina on June 22, 2024… High School: Earned first-team all-regional honors as a sophomore … Stepfather Benard Lackey lettered at East Carolina following the 1995 season … Consensus three-star prospect by 247Sports, ESPN, On3.com … Listed as the 224th-best player in the state and the 184th at his position by ESPN … Chose East Carolina over offers from Connecticut, Georgia State, Michigan State, Middle Tennessee, Ole Miss, Pittsburgh, Tennessee, West Virginia and Western Michigan.

Eddie Love Jr., RB, 5-8, 175, Fr., Fort Walton Beach, Fla. (Fort Walton Beach HS)
Verbally committed to East Carolina on June 10, 2024… High School: Two-sport athlete (football, track) … Rushed for 1,527 yards on 181 carries during his prep career … Tallied seven 100-plus rushing yards in a game … Scored 17 touchdowns … Caught 23 passes out of the backfield for 225 yards and a score … Overall, recorded 2,020 all-purpose yards with an additional 268 on kickoff return … As a junior, ran for 1,352 yards on 152 carries … Caught 18 passes for 193 yards and a score … Returned 10 kickoffs for 238 yards and a touchdown … Tallied 15 total touchdowns on the year … Consensus three-star prospect by 247Sports, ESPN, On3.com … Listed as the 160th-best player in the state and No. 90 at his position by ESPN … Chose East Carolina over offers from Appalachian State, Arkansas State, Colorado, Florida Atlantic, Liberty, Pittsburgh, South Florida, Southern Miss, Toledo, Troy, Tulane and West Virginia.

Jordan David Miles, LB, 6-1, 200, Fr., Huntsville, Ala. (Grissom HS)
Verbally committed to East Carolina on June 28, 2024… High School: Three-sport athlete (football, basketball, track) … During senior season booked 96 tackles (50 solo) with 12.0 TFLs, two via sacks … Credited with nine quarterback hurries and four pass breakups … Intercepted one pass while causing a fumble and recovering one … During junior campaign, booked 60 stops with 6.0 TFLs, 2.0 sacks and forced a pair of fumbles … Father played collegiate football at California (safety) … Consensus three-star prospect by 247Sports, ESPN, On3.com … Listed as the 55th-best player in the state and the 194th at his position by ESPN … Chose East Carolina over offers from Arkansas State, Air Force, Army, Central Michigan, Georgia State, Memphis, Toledo and UAB.

Dominick Moody, DL, 6-2, 260, Fr., Kennesaw, Ga. (North Cobb HS)
Verbally committed to East Carolina on June 16, 2024… High School: Recorded 52 tackles (39 solo) during senior year … Registered 6.0 TFLs (all sacks) for minus 36 yards … Credited with 13 quarterback hurries … Caused a pair of fumbles and recovered one … Consensus three-star prospect by 247Sports, ESPN, On3.com … Listed at the 177th-best player in the state and 122nd overall at his position by ESPN … Chose East Carolina over offers from Appalachian State, Arkansas State, Coastal Carolina, Connecticut, Florida Atlantic, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Liberty, Maryland, South Florida, Toledo and Western Kentucky.

Kaleb Morrow, TWE, 6-6, 240, Fr., Apex, N.C. (Apex HS)
Verbally committed to East Carolina on June 16, 2024… High School: Caught 57 passes for 727 yards during prep career scoring eight touchdowns … As a senior, hauled in 29 passes for 260 yards with two scores … During junior campaign, caught 30 passes for 382 yards a two touchdowns … Added 15 tackles (10 solo) with 4.0 TFLs, 1.5 sacks and four quarterback hurries … Consensus three-star prospect by 247Sports, ESPN, On3.com … Listed as the 47th-best player in the state and 49th at his position by ESPN … Chose East Carolina over offers from Appalachian State, Charlotte, Marshall, Middle Tennessee and Temple.

Peyton Reeder, OL, 6-5, 290, Fr., Indian Trail, N.C. (Metrolina Christian Academy)
Officially signed with East Carolina in December of 2023 … High School: Three-year letterman for head coach Thomas Langley … Two-sport athlete for the Warriors (football, track and field) … Appeared in 33 career games as a two-way player … During three-year career, helped the Warriors tally 9,705 yards of total offense (4,595 rush, 5,110 pass) with 122 touchdowns … Provided running holes for 13 100-plus yard rushers … Defensively booked nine total tackles (one solo) … Eight-time MaxPreps Player of the Game selection during his career (1/2021, 3/2022, 4/2023) … As a senior, team recorded 3,284 yards of total offense (1,940 rush, 1,344 pass) with 40 TDs … As a junior, the Warriors generated 3,091 yards of offense (1,398 rush, 1,693 pass) with 35 scores … Named First-Team All-State by the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association following junior season … During first year of varsity football, helped the Warriors to a 10-2 overall record … The offense posted 3,330 total yards (1,257 rush, 2,073 pass) with 47 touchdowns … Also competed as a member of the track and field team posting a 37'4.5 in the shot put and discus throw of 125'4 as a junior … Three-star prospect according to 247Sports Composite, ESPN.com and On3.com … Listed as the 46th-best prospect in North Carolina and tabbed as a Top 150 offensive lineman nationally by 247Sports … Also rated as a top 70 overall recruit in North Carolina by ESPN.com (No. 42) and On3.com (No. 62) … Chose East Carolina over offers from Army, Brown, Campbell, Charlotte, Georgia Southern, James Madison, Marshall, Maryland and others … Father Thomas, played collegiate baseball at Western Carolina (first base).

Cayman Reynolds, TE, 6-4, 225, Fr., Calhoun, Ga. (Sonoraville HS)
Verbally committed to East Carolina on June 27, 2024 … High School: During senior season, caught 58 passes for 660 yards (11.6 ypc) with four touchdowns … As a junior caught 21 passes for 296 yards (14.1 ypc) with two scores … Consensus three-start prospect by 247Sports, ESPN, On3.com … Listed as the 199th-best player in the state and No. 62 at his position by ESPN … Chose East Carolina over offers from Arkansas State, Coastal Carolina, Colorado State, Georgia State, Georgia Tech, Jacksonville State, Kennesaw State, UL Monroe, Memphis, Michigan State, Middle Tennessee, Toledo, UAB, Western Kentucky and others.

Angelo Ross, DB, 6-1, 170, Fr., Baltimore, Md. (Mount Saint Joseph HS)
Verbally committed to East Carolina on June 18, 2024 … High School: Tallied 768 all-purpose yards during prep career (21 rush, 388 rcv, 60 punt return, 299 interceptions) … Picked off 11 career passes, the most in program history … As a senior, intercepted four passes for 124 yards … Scored six total touchdowns (2 rcv, 3 INT, 1 PR) … Caught a pair of passes for 12 yards and rushed seven times for 15 yards … During junior campaign, intercepted seven passed for 175 yards … Consensus three-star prospect by 247Sports, ESPN, On3.com … Listed as the 57th-best player in the stats and No. 164 at his position by ESPN … Chose East Carolina over offers from Akron, Buffalo, Fordham, Holy Cross, Miami (Ohio) and others.

Durante "DJ" Speer, DB, 6-2, 180, Fr., Decatur, Ga. (Columbia HS)
Verbally committed to East Carolina on June 8, 2024 … High School: Recorded 104 tackles (62 solo) during his prep career … Credited with 2.0 TFLs and 1.0 sack … Intercepted two passes to go along with 10 pass breakups and a fumble recovery … As a senior, tallied 60 stops (36 solo) with a TFL … Picked off one pass, broke up two and recovered one fumble … During junior campaign, recorded 44 tackles (26 solo) with 1.0 TFL and 1.0 sack … Credited with one quarterback hurry, one interceptions and eight pass breakups … Consensus three-star prospect by 247Sports, ESPN, On3.com … Listed as the 215th-best player in the state and No. 147 at his position by ESPN … Chose ECU over offers from Coastal Carolina, Georgia State, Kent State, UAB and UT Martin.

Jonathan Stokes, OL, 6-4, 285, Fr., Randleman, N.C. (Randleman HS)
Verbally committed to East Carolina on March 25, 2024 … High School: Three-year starter on the offensive line for the Tigers … Credited with one tackle (assisted) during senior season … Consensus three-star prospect by 247Sports, ESPN, On3.com … Listed as the 49th-best player in the state and 17th at his position by ESPN … Chose East Carolina over offers from Charlotte and Elon.

Kendall Walton, OL, 6-5, 300, Fr., Lamar, S.C. (Lamar HS)
Verbally committed to East Carolina on Oct. 15, 2024 … High School: Three-sport athlete (football, basketball, track) … Three-year starter on the offensive line for the Silver Foxes … As a junior, booked 24 tackles (8 solo) with 1.0 TFLs … Credited with 11 pancake blocks … Placed fourth in the shot put with a throw of 43-3.75 at the South Carolina Class A event … Finished third in the regionals in the javelin with a throw of 112-9 … Consensus three-star prospect by 247Sports, ESPN, On3.com … Chose East Carolina over offers from Campbell, Maine, The Citadel and others.

Jonathan Williams, WR, 5-10, 160, Fr., Havelock, N.C. (Havelock HS)
Verbally committed to East Carolina on Dec. 4, 2024 … High School: Two-sport athlete (football, track) … Caught 116 passes for 2,429 yards 23 touchdowns during prep career … Passed for 1,021 yards completing 86 of 145 attempts with nine touchdowns … On the ground, rushed for 1,847 yards (180 carries) with 27 additional scores … In all, tallied 4,890 all-purpose yards (128.7 per game) … Defensively, booked 15 tackles (13 solo) … Credited with one sack for minus five yards as a junior … Picked off one pass as a senior (11-yard return) … Registered five pass breakups over his career … His senior year, he hauled in 48 passes for 1,035 yards (21.6 ypc) with eight touchdowns … Also ran the ball 42 times for 451 yards (10.7 ypr) with eight scores … Named The New Bern Sun Journal All-Area Offensive MVP as a junior … Helped the Rams to a 13-1 record which included a quarterfinal appearance in the North Carolina 3A playoffs … Completed 80 of 134 passes for 995 yards with nine touchdowns to six interceptions … Rushed for 1,333 yards and 16 touchdowns on 129 touches … Caught 14 passes for 123 yards and a touchdown … During sophomore season, caught 27 passes for 694 yards and eight scores … Consensus three-star prospect by 247Sports, ESPN, On3.com … Listed as the 37th-best player in the state and 104th at his position by ESPN … Chose East Carolina over offers from Appalachian State, Boston College, Buffalo, Charlotte, Coastal Carolina, James Madison, Liberty, Old Dominion and West Virginia.

Dylon Worthen, DL, 6-2, 235, Fr., Bradenton, Fla. (IMG Academy)
Verbally committed to East Carolina on June 24, 2024 … High School: Coached by former ECU defensive lineman Ernie Logan at IMG … Helped program to a 10-0 record during sophomore campaign in 2022 … Brother Daylon Gordan currently plays at Georgia Tech (running back) … Consensus three-star prospect by 247Sports, ESPN, On3.com … Listed as the 140th-best player in the state and No. 123 at his position by ESPN … Chose East Carolina over offers from FIU, Georgia Southern, Georgia Tech, Jacksonville State, Kentucky, Louisville, Michigan, Tennessee, UCF, South Florida and West Virginia.

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