Best And Robinson Earn Spot On East-West Bowl 1000 Watch List
July 29, 2026 | Football
GREENVILLE, N.C. – East Carolina offensive lineman Brandon Best and defensive lineman Jasiyah Robinson have been named to the 2026 Shriner Children's East-West Bowl 1000, a preseason watch list recognizing the nation's top prospects eligible for the 2027 NFL Draft.
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The Pirate duo are two of approximately 1,000 players selected by the East-West Bowl scouting department. The list provides an early look at the prospects being evaluated for potential participation in the upcoming all-star game, which will take place at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Feb. 4, 2027.
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Brandon Best (Career and 2025 Biographical Sketch)
Mid-year graduate transfer from Kennesaw State who, enrolled at East Carolina in January of 2026 … Three-year letterman (2/Georgia Tech, 1/Kennesaw State) … Played in 43 career games with one start … Earned undergraduate degree from Georgia Tech in May of 2025 … 2026 (East Carolina): Named Preseason All-American Conference by Phil Steele Magazine (first team), Athlon Sports (second team) and Lindy's Sports (second team) … Named to Shriner Children's East-West Bowl 1000 Watch List … 2025 (Kennesaw State): Named First-Team All-Conference USA … Played in all 14 games in his lone season with the Owls … Helped Kennesaw State to a 10-4 overall record that included a 7-1 league ledger with a Conference USA championship and faced Western Michigan in the Myrtle Beach Bowl …The Owls offense stood among NCAA leaders (Top 60) in first down offense (24th/301), passing yards per completion (24th/13.09), team pass efficiency (41st/144.13), total offense (49th/402.4 ypg) and passing offense (51st/243.1 pypg) … Opened up rushing lanes for four 100-plus yard rushing performances … Helped the offensive unit registered nine games of 350 or more yards of total offense (7 with 400-plus, 2 with 500-plus) … Offense tallied a season-high 579 yards of total offense against Jacksonville State … Ten times the offense ran for 150 or more yards, while on nine occasions they passed for 200 or more yards (300-plus twice).
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Jasiyah Robinson (Career and 2025 Biographical Sketch)
Two-year letterman (2024-25) … Played in 27 career games making 11 starts (all in 2025) … Tallied 39 career tackles (16 solo) with 9.0 TFLs (-60 yards) which includes 5.5 sacks (-49 yards) … Credited with one forced fumble and a fumble recovery – both in 2025 … Enters 2026 season having the Pirates longest defensive starting streak at 11 contests … 2026: Named Preseason All-American Conference by Athlon Sports (first team) and Phil Steele Magazine (second team) … Named to Shriner Children's East-West Bowl 1000 Watch List … 2025: Earned second varsity letter starting 11 of 13 contests … Logged 324 defensive snaps where he tallied 26 tackles (14 solo) … Registered 6.5 TFLs (-52 yards) that included 5.0 sacks (-45 yards) … Stood third on the team in TFLs and second in sacks … Forced one fumble (Campbell) and recorded a fumble (FAU) … Credited with four quarterback hurries sharing the team lead with Zion Wilson … Booked at least one tackle in 10 of 13 games (multiple eight times) … Registered career-best five stops (two solo) against Pittsburgh in the Go Bowling Military Bowl game … Tallied at least a half TFL in seven games and a half sack in five contests …. Notched TFLs against Campbell (1.0/-14 yards), Coastal Carolina (1.0/-7 yards), BYU (1.0/-6 yards), Tulsa (0.5/-3 yards), Temple (1.0/-9 yards), Charlotte (0.5/-1 yard) and Pittsburgh (1.5/-12 yards) … Stood 11 in The American in sacks per game (0.38).
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The Pirates will open the 2026 season on Saturday, Sept. 5 when it travels to Tuscaloosa, Ala. to take on Alabama at Saban Field inside Bryant-Denny Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 12 noon (ET) and will be televised on ABC. Season ticket orders are currently on sale, with packages starting at just $75 for the six-game home slate at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium this fall. To purchase new season tickets, visit ECUPirates.com or contact the ECU Athletics Ticket Office at (252) 737-4500 during normal business hours (Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.).
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The Pirate duo are two of approximately 1,000 players selected by the East-West Bowl scouting department. The list provides an early look at the prospects being evaluated for potential participation in the upcoming all-star game, which will take place at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Feb. 4, 2027.
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Brandon Best (Career and 2025 Biographical Sketch)
Mid-year graduate transfer from Kennesaw State who, enrolled at East Carolina in January of 2026 … Three-year letterman (2/Georgia Tech, 1/Kennesaw State) … Played in 43 career games with one start … Earned undergraduate degree from Georgia Tech in May of 2025 … 2026 (East Carolina): Named Preseason All-American Conference by Phil Steele Magazine (first team), Athlon Sports (second team) and Lindy's Sports (second team) … Named to Shriner Children's East-West Bowl 1000 Watch List … 2025 (Kennesaw State): Named First-Team All-Conference USA … Played in all 14 games in his lone season with the Owls … Helped Kennesaw State to a 10-4 overall record that included a 7-1 league ledger with a Conference USA championship and faced Western Michigan in the Myrtle Beach Bowl …The Owls offense stood among NCAA leaders (Top 60) in first down offense (24th/301), passing yards per completion (24th/13.09), team pass efficiency (41st/144.13), total offense (49th/402.4 ypg) and passing offense (51st/243.1 pypg) … Opened up rushing lanes for four 100-plus yard rushing performances … Helped the offensive unit registered nine games of 350 or more yards of total offense (7 with 400-plus, 2 with 500-plus) … Offense tallied a season-high 579 yards of total offense against Jacksonville State … Ten times the offense ran for 150 or more yards, while on nine occasions they passed for 200 or more yards (300-plus twice).
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Jasiyah Robinson (Career and 2025 Biographical Sketch)
Two-year letterman (2024-25) … Played in 27 career games making 11 starts (all in 2025) … Tallied 39 career tackles (16 solo) with 9.0 TFLs (-60 yards) which includes 5.5 sacks (-49 yards) … Credited with one forced fumble and a fumble recovery – both in 2025 … Enters 2026 season having the Pirates longest defensive starting streak at 11 contests … 2026: Named Preseason All-American Conference by Athlon Sports (first team) and Phil Steele Magazine (second team) … Named to Shriner Children's East-West Bowl 1000 Watch List … 2025: Earned second varsity letter starting 11 of 13 contests … Logged 324 defensive snaps where he tallied 26 tackles (14 solo) … Registered 6.5 TFLs (-52 yards) that included 5.0 sacks (-45 yards) … Stood third on the team in TFLs and second in sacks … Forced one fumble (Campbell) and recorded a fumble (FAU) … Credited with four quarterback hurries sharing the team lead with Zion Wilson … Booked at least one tackle in 10 of 13 games (multiple eight times) … Registered career-best five stops (two solo) against Pittsburgh in the Go Bowling Military Bowl game … Tallied at least a half TFL in seven games and a half sack in five contests …. Notched TFLs against Campbell (1.0/-14 yards), Coastal Carolina (1.0/-7 yards), BYU (1.0/-6 yards), Tulsa (0.5/-3 yards), Temple (1.0/-9 yards), Charlotte (0.5/-1 yard) and Pittsburgh (1.5/-12 yards) … Stood 11 in The American in sacks per game (0.38).
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The Pirates will open the 2026 season on Saturday, Sept. 5 when it travels to Tuscaloosa, Ala. to take on Alabama at Saban Field inside Bryant-Denny Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 12 noon (ET) and will be televised on ABC. Season ticket orders are currently on sale, with packages starting at just $75 for the six-game home slate at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium this fall. To purchase new season tickets, visit ECUPirates.com or contact the ECU Athletics Ticket Office at (252) 737-4500 during normal business hours (Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.).
Players Mentioned
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