Michael Witherspoon

Height:
6-1
Weight:
194
Class:
Junior
Hometown:
Lawrenceville, Ga.
High School:
Central Gwinnett
Prev School:
Hutchinson CC
Major:
Communication

Successfully completed two separate acclimation periods since transferring from the junior college level, transitioning to both a new program (2018) and new coaching staff (2019) … Penciled in as ECU’s starting boundary cornerback this fall following an impressive spring performance … Possesses notable lateral quickness, coverage savvy and a punishing physical approach … Opened scrimmage schedule with one tackle and an impressive four pass breakups during initial tilt on March 30 … Booked three stops in the second scrimmage (April 6) before closing out the spring with a solo hit during the Purple-Gold Game (April 13).

2018: Appeared in all 12 contests and made two starts at cornerback (USF, UCF) … Credited with 35 tackles (26 solo), including two for lost yardage against North Carolina A&T (-2) and North Carolina (-2) in successive weeks … Also stood second on the unit with five pass breakups, logging aerial knockdowns against the Aggies and Tar Heels, and vs. USF, UCF and Memphis … Stood 24^th nationally at the FBS level with a team-high two fumble recoveries (0.17 frpg) gathered against USF and NC State … Tallied multiple tackle totals in 10 contests with a career-best seven vs. North Carolina during the Pirates’ 41-19 win at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium … Other outings of note include a five-stop afternoon in the opener against N.C. A&T, a pair of four-hit performances (Memphis, NC State) and a trio of three-tackle contests (USF, Old Dominion, Temple) … Registered a pair of hits each against UCF, Tulane and Cincinnati … Registered 26 stops on pass plays, six on rushes and three on special teams (kickoff returns) … Was team’s fifth-leading defender in four non-league contests with 19 tackles (had 16 in eight AAC matchups) … Booked 21 stops in first five games of the season (4.2 tpg), while recording 14 takedowns in the final seven contests (2.0) … A key contributor for a unit which ranked third nationally in TFLs (8.8 tpg), 22^nd in sacks (2.8 spg) and 35^th in fewest first downs allowed (243) … Officially enrolled early at ECU (January) and participated with the Pirates in spring drills.

Junior College: A two-year starter in the Blue Dragon secondary for coach Rion Rhoades following a redshirt campaign in 2015 … Racked up 42 tackles, 1.0 TFL, 10 pass breakups, one forced fumble and a blocked kick during an impressive sophomore season … Played a key role in Hutch’s 7-5 overall record and fourth-place Jayhawk Conference finish (4-2) … Helped Blue Dragons get off to a 6-1 start, which prompted a Top 10 rank in the national junior college polls … Turned in back-to-back eight-tackle (season-high) performances in contests vs. Garden City CC and Highland CC on Sept. 16 and Sept. 23, respectively … Other outing of note was a five-tackle day vs. Eastern Arizona College in the Salt City Bowl on Dec. 2 … Posted two games with three pass breakups (Iowa Western CC, Garden City CC) … Logged only hit for lost yardage against Highland CC … Tallied 32 stops, 3.0 sacks and eight pass breakups as a freshman in 2016 … Officially committed to the Pirate program on Oct. 16, 2017 … Also considered Boise State and Toledo.

High School: Earned roster position as a freshman at Central Gwinnett before finishing prep career as a three-year starter … Selected as county defensive player-of-the-year as a senior … Served as team captain for coach Todd Wofford … Booked 76 tackles, seven pass breakups and three interceptions for the Black Knights in 2015 … During initial full-time campaign as a sophomore, registered 23 tackles, including one for lost yardage.

Personal: Full name is Michael Witherspoon … Son of Gretchen Kennedy … A communication major.