2017 Football Roster

Jersey Number 57
Taijh Alston
- Height:
- 6-4
 
- Weight:
- 212
 
- Class:
- Freshman
 
- Hometown:
- Vass
 
- High School:
- Union Pines
 
- Major:
- Physical Education
 
Officially enrolled early at ECU in January of 2017 and participated with the Pirates in spring drills, thus signed a grant-in-aid with the program instead of a letter-of-intent (per NCAA policy) ⦠Collected a pair of tackles in each of the first two scrimmages (April 1, April 7) before notching three, including one for lost yardage, during the Purple-Gold Game on April 22. 
High School: A three-year varsity starter as a defensive end for coach Ryan Riggan at Union Pines ⦠Completed prep career with 13.5 sacks and averaged 6.5 tackles per game ⦠Played outside linebacker position on junior varsity squad as a freshman before becoming full-time starter at end during sophomore, junior and senior campaigns ⦠Tallied 54 tackles, including 7.5 for lost yardage, and 1.5 sacks in 2014 in starting debut on Vikingsā varsity roster ⦠Earned First-Team All-Cape Fear Valley 3-A Conference honors and was named to The Fayetteville Observer's All-Cape Fear Region squad (second team) as a junior after collecting 77 stops, 13.0 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks despite missing several games because of an injury ⦠Credited with 96 hits, 16.0 TFL and 7.0 sacks in 2016 during senior year as team captain ⦠Offensively, contributed as a tight end ⦠Resided in Lumberton during childhood before transferring to Union Pines district prior to ninth grade ⦠Listed among Top 25 college football recruits in state of North Carolina according to Charlotte Observer ⦠A three-star recruit per 247Sports.com and Scout.com ⦠Ranked as the No. 3 defensive end in state, 46th in region and was included among nationās top 120 performers by Scout.com ⦠Recruited by Appalachian State, Charlotte, Coastal Carolina, Miami (Ohio), N.C. State and West Virginia ⦠Also earned varsity letter in basketball.
Personal: Full name is Taijh Tyrik Alston ⦠Born at Pinehurst, N.C. ⦠Son of Chrystal Dowd and Donald Fairley ⦠Enjoys working out and strength building with weights ⦠Plans to major in physical education.
High School: A three-year varsity starter as a defensive end for coach Ryan Riggan at Union Pines ⦠Completed prep career with 13.5 sacks and averaged 6.5 tackles per game ⦠Played outside linebacker position on junior varsity squad as a freshman before becoming full-time starter at end during sophomore, junior and senior campaigns ⦠Tallied 54 tackles, including 7.5 for lost yardage, and 1.5 sacks in 2014 in starting debut on Vikingsā varsity roster ⦠Earned First-Team All-Cape Fear Valley 3-A Conference honors and was named to The Fayetteville Observer's All-Cape Fear Region squad (second team) as a junior after collecting 77 stops, 13.0 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks despite missing several games because of an injury ⦠Credited with 96 hits, 16.0 TFL and 7.0 sacks in 2016 during senior year as team captain ⦠Offensively, contributed as a tight end ⦠Resided in Lumberton during childhood before transferring to Union Pines district prior to ninth grade ⦠Listed among Top 25 college football recruits in state of North Carolina according to Charlotte Observer ⦠A three-star recruit per 247Sports.com and Scout.com ⦠Ranked as the No. 3 defensive end in state, 46th in region and was included among nationās top 120 performers by Scout.com ⦠Recruited by Appalachian State, Charlotte, Coastal Carolina, Miami (Ohio), N.C. State and West Virginia ⦠Also earned varsity letter in basketball.
Personal: Full name is Taijh Tyrik Alston ⦠Born at Pinehurst, N.C. ⦠Son of Chrystal Dowd and Donald Fairley ⦠Enjoys working out and strength building with weights ⦠Plans to major in physical education.
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Tuesday, October 28
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