Jones Named To Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Watch List

ATLANTA, Ga. – East Carolina offensive lineman Karson Jones is one of 113 nominees to the 2026 Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Watch List the organization announced today. The annual award recognizes college football players from across the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) who exemplify community service, academic excellence and athletic achievement.

A spring 2026 graduate with a degree in communications who is pursuing an MBA at East Carolina, Jones is a four-time ECU Director of Athletics Honor Roll member and a three-time American Conference All-Academic Team selection (2023, 2024 & 2025). In community, he has volunteered at the Joy Soup Kitchen, participated in the Ignite Church Hurricane Relief Project, helped box packages for military members stationed abroad and has visited local elementary schools and hospitals. As a member of the East Carolina Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC), he helped organize over 300 community service hours for student-athletes since stepping on campus in 2024.

On the field, Jones has played in five collegiate games, appearing in three for the Pirates in 2024 before suffering an injury that sidelined him for the 2025 campaign. He has been part of a program that has produced 17 wins and consecutive Go Bowling Military Bowl Championships the last two seasons under head coach Blake Harrell.

2026 Preseason Honors (as of August 11, 2026)

OL – Brandon Best
First Team All-American Conference (Phil Steele Magazine)
First Team All-American Conference (Sports Info Solutions)
Second Team All-American Conference (Athlon Sports)
Second Team All-American Conference (Lindy's Sports)
Shriner Children's East-West Bowl 1000 Watch List

DL – Preston Carr
First Team All-American Conference (Sports Info Solutions)
Third Team All-American Conference (Pro Football Network)

OL – Hayes Creel
Third Team All-American Conference (Phil Steele Magazine)
Fourth Team All-American Conference (Athlon Sports)

DL – Kendrick DuJour
Second Team All-American Conference (Athlon Sports)
Second Team All-American Conference (Lindy's Sports)
Second Team All-American Conference (Phil Steele Magazine)

DB – Zyeir Gamble
First Team All-American Conference (Pro Football Network)

RB – Ashton Gray
Second Team All-American Conference (Athlon Sports)

LB – DJ Johnson Jr.
Third Team All-American Conference (Athlon Sports)
Fourth Team All-American Conference (Phil Steele Magazine)

OL – Karson Jones
Allstate AFCA Good Works Team Nominee
Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Watch List

WR – Tyler Johnson
Third Team All-American Conference (Phil Steele Magazine)

OL – Ethan Kramer
Third Team All-American Conference (Pro Football Network)

DB – Kevon Merrell Jr.
Third Team All-American Conference (Pro Football Network)
Fourth Team All-American Conference (Athlon Sports)

DB – Ashton Levells-Mitchell
Third Team All-American Conference (Phil Steele Magazine)
Fourth Team All-American Conference (Athlon Sports)

WR – Landon Sides
Third Team All-American Conference (Athlon Sports)

TE – Ismael Smith Flores
Third Team All-American Conference (Pro Football Network)

WR – Brock Spalding
First Team All-American Conference (Athlon Sports)
First Team All-American Conference (Phil Steele Magazine)
Second Team All-American Conference (Lindy's Sports)

DL – Jasiyah Robinson
First Team All-American Conference (Athlon Sports)
Second Team All-American Conference (Phil Steele Magazine)
Second Team All-American Conference (Pro Football Network)
Shriner Children's East-West Bowl 1000 Watch List

DL – Rion Roseborough
Fourth Team All-American Conference (Athlon Sports)
Fourth Team All-American Conference (Phil Steele Magazine)

OL – Bryce Weaver
Third Team All-American Conference (Pro Football Network)

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

Brandon Best

Preston Carr

Hayes Creel

Kendrick DuJour

Zyeir Gamble

Ashton Gray

Tyler Johnson

DJ Johnson Jr.

Karson Jones

Ethan Kramer

Ashton Levells-Mitchell

Kevon Merrell Jr.

Jasiyah Robinson

Rion Roseborough

Landon Sides

Ismael Smith Flores

Brock Spalding

Bryce Weaver

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