2024 Football Roster

Jersey Number 90
Elijah Morris
- Position:
- Defensive Line
- Height:
- 6-2
- Weight:
- 280
- Class:
- Senior
- Hometown:
- Fayetteville
- High School:
- Terry Sanford
- Major:
- University Studies
Career Notes: Five-year letterman (2020-24) who played in 53 career games making 45 starts ⦠Recorded 118 career tackles (54 solo) ⦠Registered 19.0 TFLs (-82 yards) with 10.5 sacks (-69 yards) ⦠Credited with 12 quarterback hurries ⦠Recorded at least one tackle in 46 of 53 games (multiple 37 times) ⦠Established career-highs in tackles (8) at Georgia State in 2020 ⦠Registered personal-best two sacks against Temple (2021) and two TFLs versus Temple (2021) and Appalachian State (2024) ⦠Credited with three pass breakups, one forced fumble and four fumble recoveries ⦠Since 2022, logged 1,350 total snaps (1,274 defense, 76 special teams) ⦠Helped ECU to three bowl appearances since 2021 (Military Bow/ā21, win vs. Coastal in Birmingham Bowlā22, win vs. NC State in Military Bowl/ā24).
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2024: Started all 13 games where he tallied 33 tackles (15 solo) earning his fifth varsity letter ⦠Closed out career having started 16 consecutive games dating back to 2023 ⦠Logged 522 total snaps (496 defense, 26 special teams) ⦠Booked at least one tackle in all 13 contests (multiple 11 times) ⦠Registered season-high six stops at Old Dominion ⦠Over final eight games of the season, tallied 20 tackles including four against NC State in the Go Bowling Military contest ⦠Recorded 6.5 TFLs for minus 23 yards that included four sacks for minus 18 yards ⦠Tallied sacks against Old Dominion (-8 yards), Appalachian State (no yards), Liberty (-3 yards) and Temple (-7 yards) ⦠Added TFLs against ODU (0.5/-2 yards), Appalachian State (1.0/-1 yard) and Florida Atlantic (0.5/no yards) ⦠Lone forced fumble was against Appalachian State ⦠Credited with quarterback hurries versus Tulsa and NC State ⦠Member of a defensive unit that stood among the NCAA FBS leaders in red zone defense (13th/74.5 pct), tackles for loss (14th/7.2 pg), turnovers gained (27th/22) and 4th down conversion percentage defense (29th/45.7 percent) ⦠One of 22 players that received the Captainās Award ⦠Seven-time gameday captain ⦠Named Fourth Team All-AAC by Athlon Sports ... Earned Watch List inclusion to the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy, Allstate AFCA Good Works TeamĀ® and Burlsworth Trophy.
2023: Appeared in eight games making four starts for the Pirates ⦠Entered season having started 21 consecutive games which was extended following start at Michigan before suffering an injury ⦠Logged 316 total snaps (295 defense, 21 special teams) ⦠Recorded 21 tackles (10 solo) which included 5.0 TFLs for minus 17 yards ⦠Credited with 1.5 sacks (-12 yards) with a quarterback hurry and a forced fumble ⦠Registered a season-high five tackles (two solo) against Charlotte ⦠Added four stops (two solo) at No. 2 Michigan ⦠Credited with TFLs against Michigan (1.0/-1 yard), Charlotte (1.5/-4 yards), UTSA (0.5/-2 yards), Florida Atlantic (1.0/-10 yards) and Navy (1.0/no yards) ⦠Tallied at least one stop in all eight contests (multiple six times) ⦠Registered sacks against UTSA (0.5/-2 yards) and Florida Atlantic (1.0/-10 yards) ⦠Had a QBU against Charlotte and recovered a fumble at Navy.
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2022: Started all 13 games for the Pirates on the defensive line ⦠Logged 512 total snaps (483 defense, 29 special teams) ⦠Booked 23 total tackles (seven solo) ⦠Registered 3.0 TFLs (-22 yards) with 2.5 sacks (-22 yards) ⦠Credited with a pair of quarterback hurries and three pass breakups ⦠Recorded TFLs against Old Dominion (0.5/-2 yards), Campbell (0.5/-11 yards), Memphis (1.0/-5 yards), Cincinnati (1.0/-4 yards) ⦠Booked at least one tackle in 10 of 13 contests (multiple eight times) ⦠Credited with sacks against Old Dominion (0.5/-2 yards), Campbell (0.5/-11 yards), Memphis (1.0/-5 yards), Cincinnati (0.5/-4 yards) ⦠Recorded pass breakups against Campbell and Temple (two) ⦠Credited with QBHs against NC State and Tulane ⦠Booked a season-high four tackles against Campbell (two solo).
2021: Started nine of 11 games during second year with the program ⦠Booked 25 stops (11 solo) with 4.0 TFLs (-19 yards) which included 2.5 sacks (-16 yards) ⦠Registered at least one tackle in 10 contests (multiple eight times) ⦠Tied for the team lead in quarterback hurries (five) with Jeremy Lewis ⦠Credited with sacks against Houston (0.5/-6 yards) and Temple (2.0/-10 yards) ⦠Also had TFLs against Appalachian State (0.5/-1 yard) and Navy (1.0/-2 yards) ⦠Booked season-high five tackles at Navy (one solo) ⦠Twenty-four of 25 stops came on rushing plays.
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2020: Enjoyed an accelerated climb up the defensive depth chart after arrival on campus (as a true freshman walk-on) ⦠Played in all nine contests and earned a starting assignment in the last seven outings ā South Florida, Navy, Tulsa, Tulane, Cincinnati, Temple and SMU ⦠Finished preseason camp as Hozey Haji-Badriās top backup before winning top job prior to road matchup against the Bulls ⦠Credited with 16 tackles (11 solo) ⦠Stood first in the American Athletic Conference and third nationally with three fumble recoveries (all coming in first-half action vs. South Florida, Navy, Temple) ⦠Also logged a pair of quarterback pressures in tilts against the Midshipmen and Green Wave ⦠Netted at least one stop in five games and registered multiple hits on four occasions ⦠Tallied a career-best eight tackles (5 solo) at Georgia State before collecting three against Navy and two each vs. Tulsa and Cincinnati ⦠Had a single stop at Temple ⦠Of 16 overall tackles, 14 came on rushing plays (87.5 percent) ⦠Officially awarded a full scholarship following the Piratesā 28-3 victory over the Owls at Lincoln Financial Field.
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High School: A three-year letterman at Terry Sanford where he amassed 183 career tackles, 7.0 sacks and three forced fumbles ⦠Earned All-Patriot Athletic Conference (4-A/3-A) honors after tallying 107 stops for the Bulldogs as a senior.
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Personal: Son of Annie and Nelson Morris ⦠Earned undergraduate degree in December of 2024 in university studies with a minor in communications.
Ā
2024: Started all 13 games where he tallied 33 tackles (15 solo) earning his fifth varsity letter ⦠Closed out career having started 16 consecutive games dating back to 2023 ⦠Logged 522 total snaps (496 defense, 26 special teams) ⦠Booked at least one tackle in all 13 contests (multiple 11 times) ⦠Registered season-high six stops at Old Dominion ⦠Over final eight games of the season, tallied 20 tackles including four against NC State in the Go Bowling Military contest ⦠Recorded 6.5 TFLs for minus 23 yards that included four sacks for minus 18 yards ⦠Tallied sacks against Old Dominion (-8 yards), Appalachian State (no yards), Liberty (-3 yards) and Temple (-7 yards) ⦠Added TFLs against ODU (0.5/-2 yards), Appalachian State (1.0/-1 yard) and Florida Atlantic (0.5/no yards) ⦠Lone forced fumble was against Appalachian State ⦠Credited with quarterback hurries versus Tulsa and NC State ⦠Member of a defensive unit that stood among the NCAA FBS leaders in red zone defense (13th/74.5 pct), tackles for loss (14th/7.2 pg), turnovers gained (27th/22) and 4th down conversion percentage defense (29th/45.7 percent) ⦠One of 22 players that received the Captainās Award ⦠Seven-time gameday captain ⦠Named Fourth Team All-AAC by Athlon Sports ... Earned Watch List inclusion to the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy, Allstate AFCA Good Works TeamĀ® and Burlsworth Trophy.
2023: Appeared in eight games making four starts for the Pirates ⦠Entered season having started 21 consecutive games which was extended following start at Michigan before suffering an injury ⦠Logged 316 total snaps (295 defense, 21 special teams) ⦠Recorded 21 tackles (10 solo) which included 5.0 TFLs for minus 17 yards ⦠Credited with 1.5 sacks (-12 yards) with a quarterback hurry and a forced fumble ⦠Registered a season-high five tackles (two solo) against Charlotte ⦠Added four stops (two solo) at No. 2 Michigan ⦠Credited with TFLs against Michigan (1.0/-1 yard), Charlotte (1.5/-4 yards), UTSA (0.5/-2 yards), Florida Atlantic (1.0/-10 yards) and Navy (1.0/no yards) ⦠Tallied at least one stop in all eight contests (multiple six times) ⦠Registered sacks against UTSA (0.5/-2 yards) and Florida Atlantic (1.0/-10 yards) ⦠Had a QBU against Charlotte and recovered a fumble at Navy.
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2022: Started all 13 games for the Pirates on the defensive line ⦠Logged 512 total snaps (483 defense, 29 special teams) ⦠Booked 23 total tackles (seven solo) ⦠Registered 3.0 TFLs (-22 yards) with 2.5 sacks (-22 yards) ⦠Credited with a pair of quarterback hurries and three pass breakups ⦠Recorded TFLs against Old Dominion (0.5/-2 yards), Campbell (0.5/-11 yards), Memphis (1.0/-5 yards), Cincinnati (1.0/-4 yards) ⦠Booked at least one tackle in 10 of 13 contests (multiple eight times) ⦠Credited with sacks against Old Dominion (0.5/-2 yards), Campbell (0.5/-11 yards), Memphis (1.0/-5 yards), Cincinnati (0.5/-4 yards) ⦠Recorded pass breakups against Campbell and Temple (two) ⦠Credited with QBHs against NC State and Tulane ⦠Booked a season-high four tackles against Campbell (two solo).
2021: Started nine of 11 games during second year with the program ⦠Booked 25 stops (11 solo) with 4.0 TFLs (-19 yards) which included 2.5 sacks (-16 yards) ⦠Registered at least one tackle in 10 contests (multiple eight times) ⦠Tied for the team lead in quarterback hurries (five) with Jeremy Lewis ⦠Credited with sacks against Houston (0.5/-6 yards) and Temple (2.0/-10 yards) ⦠Also had TFLs against Appalachian State (0.5/-1 yard) and Navy (1.0/-2 yards) ⦠Booked season-high five tackles at Navy (one solo) ⦠Twenty-four of 25 stops came on rushing plays.
Ā
2020: Enjoyed an accelerated climb up the defensive depth chart after arrival on campus (as a true freshman walk-on) ⦠Played in all nine contests and earned a starting assignment in the last seven outings ā South Florida, Navy, Tulsa, Tulane, Cincinnati, Temple and SMU ⦠Finished preseason camp as Hozey Haji-Badriās top backup before winning top job prior to road matchup against the Bulls ⦠Credited with 16 tackles (11 solo) ⦠Stood first in the American Athletic Conference and third nationally with three fumble recoveries (all coming in first-half action vs. South Florida, Navy, Temple) ⦠Also logged a pair of quarterback pressures in tilts against the Midshipmen and Green Wave ⦠Netted at least one stop in five games and registered multiple hits on four occasions ⦠Tallied a career-best eight tackles (5 solo) at Georgia State before collecting three against Navy and two each vs. Tulsa and Cincinnati ⦠Had a single stop at Temple ⦠Of 16 overall tackles, 14 came on rushing plays (87.5 percent) ⦠Officially awarded a full scholarship following the Piratesā 28-3 victory over the Owls at Lincoln Financial Field.
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High School: A three-year letterman at Terry Sanford where he amassed 183 career tackles, 7.0 sacks and three forced fumbles ⦠Earned All-Patriot Athletic Conference (4-A/3-A) honors after tallying 107 stops for the Bulldogs as a senior.
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Personal: Son of Annie and Nelson Morris ⦠Earned undergraduate degree in December of 2024 in university studies with a minor in communications.
10/28/25 Inside Pirate Athletics
Tuesday, October 28
East Carolina Head Football Coach Blake Harrell Weekly Press Conference (Oct. 27, 2025)
Monday, October 27
10/21/25 Inside Pirate Athletics
Tuesday, October 21
East Carolina Post-Game Interviews Following A 41-27 Win Over Tulsa
Friday, October 17



