2018 Football Roster

Tahj Deans
- Height:
- 6-2
- Weight:
- 184
- Class:
- Sophomore
- Hometown:
- Bailey
- High School:
- Southern Nash
- Major:
- Sport Studies
In a conducive position to take another significant career step by moving from a limited starting role to a full-time version as a junior ⦠Completed spring drills competing with Blake Proehl and Andre Pegues at the outside āXā receiving slot ⦠Challenged by the new coaching staff throughout the practice period, but for the second-straight spring, experienced nagging injuries that prevented significant scrimmage statistical compilation ⦠Has played in 20 career contests, made four starts and caught 34 passes for 364 yards (10.7 ypr) and three touchdowns ⦠Has made at least one reception in 10 games (posted two or more catches on nine occasions) ⦠Targeted 70 times during career and converted 21 into first-down receptions.
2018: Recorded 18 catches for 187 yards (10.4 ypr) and one TD in 11 contests during sophomore season ⦠Did not play vs. UCF ⦠All 18 grabs came in the first six games of the year (did not have a reception in final five appearances) ⦠Was targeted 40 times and made nine receptions that resulted in a first down ⦠Logged a career-high six catches against Houston (for 40 yards) ⦠Other outing of note was a five-reception, 48-yard effort against Old Dominion, which also included his lone TD of the campaign ā a four-yarder from Reid Herring in the fourth quarter ⦠Opened the campaign with three catches (25 yards) vs. North Carolina A&T before following with two grabs (54) against North Carolina ⦠Also pulled in a career-long 39-yarder vs. the Tar Heels ⦠Made first two league receptions of the campaign at Temple (for 20 yards), which also marked his only pair of road grabs all year ⦠Stood fourth on unit with 10 catches in non-conference action (10-127) ⦠Was teamās third-leading receiver in October (8-60) clashes, trailing only Trevon Brown and Leroy Henley ⦠Credited with a pair of tackles on interception returns (ODU, UH).
2017: Experienced action in nine contests as a redshirt freshman ⦠Made one start (at Houston) ⦠Did not play against Connecticut, USF and Temple (injury) ⦠Recorded 16 receptions for 177 yards (11.1 ypr) and two touchdowns ⦠Snared scoring passes vs. UCF (17-yarder) and Cincinnati (23) ⦠Logged a season-best five catches on two occasions (Cincinnati, Memphis) ⦠Topped a 56-yard effort vs. the Bearcats by hauling in a personal-best 59 reception yards in season finale against the Tigers (averaged 5.0 receptions and 57.5 receiving yards per game in final two tilts of year) ⦠Other notable performances came against Houston (3-27) and James Madison (2-18) in collegiate debut ⦠Other grab resulted in a TD against the league champion Knights in Orlando ⦠Longest catch of campaign was the aforementioned 23-yarder vs. Cincinnati to help Pirates post a 48-20 win at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium on Senior Day. 2016: Redshirted during true freshman campaign ⦠Member of offensive and special teams scout/developmental squads while acclimating to collegiate competition level ⦠Member of former coach Scottie Montgomeryās initial East Carolina signing class, inking with the Pirates in February.
High School: Completed high school career with 65 catches for 1,074 yards and nine touchdowns ⦠Racked up over 500 all-purpose yards in 2015 ⦠Had 24 receptions for 411 yards as a senior ⦠Also starred defensively, collecting 61 total tackles (which stood third on the unit) ⦠Topped Firebirds in interception return yards with 78 ⦠Served as SNHSās punter as well, averaging 33.7 yards per boot (640 yards on 19 punts) ⦠Earned invitation to compete in the prestigious Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas after senior campaign and was part of North Carolinaās 54-39 win over South Carolina ⦠Led Southern Nash in receiving with 21 catches for 348 yards and three TDs as a junior ⦠Eclipsed the 100-yard all-purpose yard milestone during the Firebirdsā 26-13 triumph against Fike HS ... Defensively, stood second on team with 63 overall stops in 2014 to earn Rocky Mount Telegram All-Area honors ⦠A three-star prospect according to ESPN.com ⦠Also rated by ESPN.com among the Top 60 recruits in North Carolina (and Top 115 athletes nationally) ⦠Picked up additional letters as a standout track and field performer at Southern Nash as well ⦠Also recruited by Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, Appalachian State and Georgia Southern before officially committing to ECU on May 5, 2015.
Personal: Full name is Tahj Natorry Deans ⦠First name is pronounced TODGE (silent D) ⦠Son of Tavis Battle and Shavonnie Deans ⦠Major is sport studies ⦠Earned Honor Roll accolades for classroom work during the 2016 and 2017 fall semesters ⦠Cousin is Julius Peppers, a former North Carolina All-America selection and National Football League All-Pro choice (while with the Carolina Panthers).
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