ECU Officially Opens Spring Practice
March 18, 2026 | Football
GREENVILLE, N.C. – East Carolina second-year Head Coach Blake Harrell officially opened spring practice with a workout Wednesday morning with temperatures in the mid-30's on Hight Field inside the Cliff Moore Practice Complex.
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Harrell led his squad through a fundamental-oriented 90-minute practice in shorts and helmets, the first of 15 schedule workouts, which will culminate with the playing of the Purple-Gold Spring Game on April 15 at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.
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The Pirates return seven starters from the 2025 Go Bowling Military Bowl Championship team in DJ Johnson Jr. (LB), Jordan Miles (LB), Tomas O'Halloran (P), Jasiyah Robinson (DL), Kyler Pearson (PR/KR), Everett Scott (PK) and Brock Spalding (WR). In all, ECU welcomes back 28 letterwinners which comprise of eight offensive players, 15 on defense and five special teamers.
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In addition to five new coaches in Jordan Davis (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks), Jordon Hankins (defensive coordinator/linebackers), Julian Griffin (running backs), Alex Huettel (offensive line) and Juan Soto (wide receivers), ECU also welcomes 40 new players (20 offense, 19 defense, 1 special teams) that consists of 23 mid-year enrollees as well as 15 freshman and two redshirt signees from the Dec. 3-5 signing period.
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2025 OFFENSIVE RANKINGS
ECU ranked among the FBS leaders (Top 30) in passes had intercepted (ninth/6), 3rd down conversion percentage (16th/0.472), passing offense (19th/272.7 ypg), total offense (19th/449.0 ypg), first down offense (22nd/303), scoring offense (24th/32.7 ppg) and sacks allowed (25th/1.38 pg). The 2025 Pirates also notched their names among the all-time greats in program history in total offense (fourth/5,837), total offense per game (sixth/449.0), points per game (t6th/32.7) and passing yards (eighth/3,545).
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2025 DEFENSIVE RANKINGS
The Pirates stood among the FBS leaders (Top 30) in fumbles recovered (second/14), tackles for loss (fourth/7.8 pg), red zone defense (seventh/0.705), 3rd down conversion percentage (ninth/0.305), turnovers gained (14th/24), team sacks (23rd/2.62 pg), scoring defense (25th/20.1 ppg), rushing defense (26th/120.2 ypg) and 4th down conversion percentage (28th/0.447).
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2025 SPECIAL TEAMS RANKINGS
Pirate specialists ranked among the FBS leaders (Top 30) in blocked punts allowed (t1st/0 blocked punts allowed) and blocked punts (24th/1 blocked).
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ECU returns to practice on Friday for another session in shorts and helmets before progressing to shells on Monday, March 23rd.
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Harrell led his squad through a fundamental-oriented 90-minute practice in shorts and helmets, the first of 15 schedule workouts, which will culminate with the playing of the Purple-Gold Spring Game on April 15 at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.
Â
The Pirates return seven starters from the 2025 Go Bowling Military Bowl Championship team in DJ Johnson Jr. (LB), Jordan Miles (LB), Tomas O'Halloran (P), Jasiyah Robinson (DL), Kyler Pearson (PR/KR), Everett Scott (PK) and Brock Spalding (WR). In all, ECU welcomes back 28 letterwinners which comprise of eight offensive players, 15 on defense and five special teamers.
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In addition to five new coaches in Jordan Davis (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks), Jordon Hankins (defensive coordinator/linebackers), Julian Griffin (running backs), Alex Huettel (offensive line) and Juan Soto (wide receivers), ECU also welcomes 40 new players (20 offense, 19 defense, 1 special teams) that consists of 23 mid-year enrollees as well as 15 freshman and two redshirt signees from the Dec. 3-5 signing period.
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2025 OFFENSIVE RANKINGS
ECU ranked among the FBS leaders (Top 30) in passes had intercepted (ninth/6), 3rd down conversion percentage (16th/0.472), passing offense (19th/272.7 ypg), total offense (19th/449.0 ypg), first down offense (22nd/303), scoring offense (24th/32.7 ppg) and sacks allowed (25th/1.38 pg). The 2025 Pirates also notched their names among the all-time greats in program history in total offense (fourth/5,837), total offense per game (sixth/449.0), points per game (t6th/32.7) and passing yards (eighth/3,545).
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2025 DEFENSIVE RANKINGS
The Pirates stood among the FBS leaders (Top 30) in fumbles recovered (second/14), tackles for loss (fourth/7.8 pg), red zone defense (seventh/0.705), 3rd down conversion percentage (ninth/0.305), turnovers gained (14th/24), team sacks (23rd/2.62 pg), scoring defense (25th/20.1 ppg), rushing defense (26th/120.2 ypg) and 4th down conversion percentage (28th/0.447).
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2025 SPECIAL TEAMS RANKINGS
Pirate specialists ranked among the FBS leaders (Top 30) in blocked punts allowed (t1st/0 blocked punts allowed) and blocked punts (24th/1 blocked).
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ECU returns to practice on Friday for another session in shorts and helmets before progressing to shells on Monday, March 23rd.
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Players Mentioned
LB
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LB
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P
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WR
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DL
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PK
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WR
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