Seven Pirates Earn Spots On The American Bowl 1000 Watch List
August 28, 2026 | Football
GREENVILLE, N.C. – Seven members of the East Carolina football team have been named to the 2026 American Bowl 1000 Watch List the bowl announced Friday.
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RB Michael Allen, OL Brandon Best, DL Preston Carr, OL Hayes Creel, OL Ethan Kramer, DL Jasiyah Robinson and WR Brock Spalding are among the 1,000 NFL Draft-eligible seniors named to the 2027 Watch List. The contest will be played in January of 2027 in Orlando, Fla. and aired on the NFL Network.
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2026 Preseason Honors List (as of Aug. 28)
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RB – Michael Allen
American Bowl 1000 Watch List
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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)
American Bowl 1000 Watch List
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)
American Bowl 1000 Watch List
OL – Hayes Creel
Third Team All-American Conference (Phil Steele Magazine)
Fourth Team All-American Conference (Athlon Sports)
American Bowl 1000 Watch List
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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)
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RB – Ashton Gray
Doak Walker Award Watch List
Second Team All-American Conference (Athlon Sports)
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LB – DJ Johnson Jr.
Third Team All-American Conference (Athlon Sports)
Fourth Team All-American Conference (Phil Steele Magazine)
WR – Tyler Johnson
Third Team All-American Conference (Phil Steele Magazine)
OL – Karson Jones
Allstate AFCA Good Works Team Nominee
Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Watch List
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OL – Ethan Kramer
Third Team All-American Conference (Pro Football Network)
American Bowl 1000 Watch List
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DB – Kevon Merrell
Third Team All-American Conference (Pro Football Network)
Fourth Team All-American Conference (Athlon Sports)
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DB – Ashton Levells-Mitchell
Third Team All-American Conference (Phil Steele Magazine)
Fourth Team All-American Conference (Athlon Sports)
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WR – Jaquaize Pettaway
Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List
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WR – Landon Sides
Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List
Third Team All-American Conference (Athlon Sports)
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TE – Ismael Smith Flores
Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List
Third Team All-American Conference (Pro Football Network)
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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)
American Bowl 1000 Watch List
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)
Second Team All-American Conference (HERO Sports Group)
Shriner Children's East-West Bowl 1000 Watch List
American Bowl 1000 Watch List
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DL – Rion Roseborough
Fourth Team All-American Conference (Athlon Sports)
Fourth Team All-American Conference (Phil Steele Magazine)
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OL – Bryce Weaver
Third Team All-American Conference (Pro Football Network)
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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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RB Michael Allen, OL Brandon Best, DL Preston Carr, OL Hayes Creel, OL Ethan Kramer, DL Jasiyah Robinson and WR Brock Spalding are among the 1,000 NFL Draft-eligible seniors named to the 2027 Watch List. The contest will be played in January of 2027 in Orlando, Fla. and aired on the NFL Network.
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2026 Preseason Honors List (as of Aug. 28)
Â
RB – Michael Allen
American Bowl 1000 Watch List
Â
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)
American Bowl 1000 Watch List
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)
American Bowl 1000 Watch List
OL – Hayes Creel
Third Team All-American Conference (Phil Steele Magazine)
Fourth Team All-American Conference (Athlon Sports)
American Bowl 1000 Watch List
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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)
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RB – Ashton Gray
Doak Walker Award Watch List
Second Team All-American Conference (Athlon Sports)
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LB – DJ Johnson Jr.
Third Team All-American Conference (Athlon Sports)
Fourth Team All-American Conference (Phil Steele Magazine)
WR – Tyler Johnson
Third Team All-American Conference (Phil Steele Magazine)
OL – Karson Jones
Allstate AFCA Good Works Team Nominee
Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Watch List
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OL – Ethan Kramer
Third Team All-American Conference (Pro Football Network)
American Bowl 1000 Watch List
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DB – Kevon Merrell
Third Team All-American Conference (Pro Football Network)
Fourth Team All-American Conference (Athlon Sports)
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DB – Ashton Levells-Mitchell
Third Team All-American Conference (Phil Steele Magazine)
Fourth Team All-American Conference (Athlon Sports)
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WR – Jaquaize Pettaway
Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List
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WR – Landon Sides
Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List
Third Team All-American Conference (Athlon Sports)
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TE – Ismael Smith Flores
Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List
Third Team All-American Conference (Pro Football Network)
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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)
American Bowl 1000 Watch List
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)
Second Team All-American Conference (HERO Sports Group)
Shriner Children's East-West Bowl 1000 Watch List
American Bowl 1000 Watch List
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DL – Rion Roseborough
Fourth Team All-American Conference (Athlon Sports)
Fourth Team All-American Conference (Phil Steele Magazine)
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OL – Bryce Weaver
Third Team All-American Conference (Pro Football Network)
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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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