Peyton Winstead

Position:
Offensive Line
Height:
6-3
Weight:
300
Class:
Sophomore
Hometown:
Raleigh
High School:
Leesville Road
Major:
Communication

A tough and resilient front line performer who hopes to fully bounce back from an injury that sidelined him for the entire 2019 calendar year … Should be in a position to regain prominent two-deep status and a possible return to a conference honors candidacy trajectory if full comeback is realized … Flexibility and athleticism allowed plenty of action as a swing (guard/center) blocker on the line early during his first spring and preseason camp before earning a more defined role as the program’s top offensive snapper during true freshman year … Is one of the more personable and outgoing members of the program off the field, often taking an active role in community relations activities and visibly supporting other ECU sports.

2019: Redshirted while undergoing (and completing) a grueling rehabilitation assignment following an injury … Initially held out of contact work during the spring before decision was made to extend layoff throughout the fall to allow a complete recovery.

2018: Experienced action in nine games as a true freshman … Did not play in the opener vs. North Carolina A&T or against North Carolina and Old Dominion … Started the final six contests of the season – UCF, Memphis, Tulane, Connecticut, Cincinnati and NC State – at center … Shared first collegiate start against the American Athletic Conference champion Knights with quarterback Holton Ahlers, a fellow early signee who possesses an uncanny similar leadership ability … In contests played, helped an offensive unit that eclipsed 400 yards of total offense on six eight occasions and 500-plus yards twice – 556 vs. Memphis and 657 vs. Connecticut … Performance vs. Huskies at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium also included season-bests in points (55), rushing yards (415) and first downs (34) … Also helped ECU rack up 496 yards (406 passing) against UCF and 450 at Tulane … Credited with paving the way for two individual 100-yard rushing performances and three 300-yard passing efforts … Part of unit that stood 20^th nationally in passing yards per game (284.8) … Officially enrolled early at ECU (January) and participated with the Pirates in spring drills.

High School: An Associated Press First-Team All-State performer as a senior for coach Chad Smothers at Leesville Road … Graded out as the top blocker for a Pride program which turned in an 8-5 record and third-place finish in the Cap 7 4A Conference (4-2) in 2017 … A preseason all-state selection who helped LRHS advance to the second round of the NCHSAA 4AA playoffs as a senior … Captured back-to-back All-Cap 7-4A Conference selections as a junior and senior in 2016 and 2017, respectively … In all, earned three football varsity letters … Rated among the Top 40 centers nationally according to recruiting/scouting services … Officially committed to ECU on February 18, 2017 … Also received offers from Appalachian State and Charlotte, while Duke, NC State and Virginia Tech also showed considerable interest … Prep program also produced Brian Rimpf, who earned numerous All-Conference USA honors as an offensive lineman at ECU before playing with the Baltimore Ravens.

Personal: Full name is Peyton Winstead … Born at Raleigh, N.C. … Son of Bob and Amy Winstead … Father (football) and mother (cheerleading) are both ECU alums who were involved with the Pirates’ athletic programs … A communication major … Enjoys fishing and playing the guitar … Earned ECU Dean’s List honors for work in the classroom during the 2018 spring semester (before participating in high school commencement exercises) … Followed up with another Dean’s List accolade during the 2018 fall semester before garnering inclusion on the Honor Roll in the spring of 2019 and 2020.