Drayvon Fairley

Height:
6-3
Weight:
232
Class:
Senior
Hometown:
Red Springs
High School:
Red Springs
Major:
Family Community Services

A consummate “team-first” member of the Pirate program, who unfortunately had to deal with an abundance of physical setbacks – primarily a nagging left knee injury that has limited play to just six career games … A two-time recipient of the defensive unit’s Scout Team Player-of-the-Year Award (2012, 2014) … Lost valuable development time after initially suffering the injury during spring practice in 2013, which was also extended throughout the regular season … Recovered to experience action in five contests as a sophomore in 2014 and participated in drills the following spring before re-injuring same knee prior to the 2015 campaign, thus ending all hopes for action during junior season … After remaining sidelined in the spring of 2016, sports medicine personnel are optimistic for another return this fall, and if so, will open preseason camp competing for a place on the two-deep at one of the inside linebacking positions and a role on special teams … Despite ailments, has participated in both bowl games (2013, 2014) while on the active roster … Participated in limited strength and conditioning testing during the spring, turning in a bench press of 360 pounds and posting 19 reps of 225 pounds … Flex rating of 15 ranked among top 10 percent of linebacking corps … Owned agility marks of 37.5” (vertical jump), 10’0.5” (broad jump) and a 4.10 clip in the pro shuttle before second injury.

2015: Spent entire season on disabled list after re-injuring left knee after completion of spring drills … Posted seven tackles, including a TFL, and a fumble recovery in three spring scrimmages prior to injury.

2014: Played in five contests as a sophomore – Cincinnati, Tulane, Tulsa, UCF and Florida (Birmingham Bowl) … Did not experience action in the first eight games of the season … Was not credited with any statistics … As previously mentioned, was the defensive winner of the 2014 Rick Bankston Memorial Award (symbolic of top scout team player) during the team’s annual honors banquet.

2013: Missed entire regular season because of a left knee injury suffered during the spring … Returned to experience action in the Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl at Tropicana Field, but did not record any statistics.

2012: Turned in an award-winning effort as a member of the Pirates’ development squad during redshirt campaign as a true freshman, earning recognition as the Defensive Scout Team Player-of-the-Year by coaching staff … Signed with Pirate program in February.

High School: A three-year letterwinner at Red Springs who helped turn around the Red Devils’ program and guide it to a 10-3 record and 4-1 mark in the Three Rivers Conference as a senior … Team advanced to the quarterfinals of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) 1AA state championship after posting a 3-8 record as a junior and 1-10 ledger during sophomore season … Helped Red Springs capture a pair of playoff victories as a senior, the school’s first postseason wins since 2005 … Played primarily as a defensive end first two years before moving to linebacker as a senior … A First-Team All-Three Rivers Conference, The Robesonian All-Robeson County Team, NCPreps.com 1A All-State Team and Fayetteville Observer All-Cape Fear Region Second-Team honoree following final campaign … Tallied 132 tackles, including 17 stops for lost yardage and 13 sacks, during the 2011 season … Also contributed six forced fumbles … Prior to senior year, placed on the NCPreps.com Preseason 1A All-State Team … Booked 78 tackles and a team-high six sacks as a junior, when the team went 3-2 in the league … Earned All-Three Rivers Conference accolades after junior campaign … During first year with Red Springs, earned defense’s most valuable player award … Spent freshman year at Scotland High School in the junior varsity program … Played for head coach George Coltharp as a senior, Eric Puryear as a junior and John Harper as a sophomore … Also was a member of the Red Devils’ basketball program.

Personal: Full name is Drayvon T. Fairley … Born June 18, 1994 at Washington, D.C. … Participated in ECU’s Spring Commencement Exercises on May 6 after earning a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice … Enjoys playing the guitar, art and music.