TJ Engleman Jr.

Position:
Running Back
Height:
5-9
Weight:
189
Class:
Redshirt Sophomore
Hometown:
Atlanta, Ga.
High School:
Hughes Center
Major:
Recreation & Parks Management

Two-year letterman (2024-25) … Played in 16 career games (5/2024, 11/2025) … Rushed 59 times for 306 yards (5.2 ypr) with one touchdown … Caught seven passes out of the backfield for 37 yards … Verbally committed to East Carolina on June 25, 2023 … Officially enrolled at ECU in January of 2024.

2025: Played in 11 games earning second varsity letter … Logged 135 offensive snaps … Rushed 59 times for a team third-best 306 yards (5.2 ypr) … Scored one touchdown at Coastal Carolina (1 yard) … Caught seven passes for 37 yards … Established career-highs in rushing attempts (10 vs. Tulsa and Tulane), rushing yards (77 at Temple), receptions (4 at Tulane) and receiving yards (20 at Tulane) … Had a career-long run of 23 yards at Temple … Rushed for 30 or more yards in a game seven times … Caught multiple passes in a game twice … Stood fourth on the team in total offense (306) … Tallied 343 all-purpose yards (31.2 pg) … Thirteen plays (10 rush, 3 rcv) resulted in a touchdown/first down … Three plays (2 rush, 1 rcv) went for 15 or more yards … Targeted nine times making seven grabs.

2024: Played in five games during initial year with the program earning a varsity letter … Logged 19 total snaps as a member of special teams unit … Made collegiate debut against Temple … Also played versus Florida Atlantic, Tulsa, Navy and NC State.

High School: Three-year letterman who played for Hughes Center HS (2022-23) and Princeton High School (2021) … As a senior threw for 1,200 yards and ran for 600-plus as the full-time quarterback for the Big Red … Accounted for 17 touchdowns … Defensively made 39 tackles and forced four fumbles … Named to 2023 Preseason All-TSF First-Team as a senior … Ohio Mr. Football Watch List member during senior year … Transferred from Princeton High School following sophomore campaign … In first career varsity start, threw for 297 yards and four touchdowns while running for 245 yards with two more scores in a 58-45 win over Anderson … Finished sophomore season with 1,207 yards passing and 16 touchdowns (fifth in the Greater Miami Conference) and 960 ground yards with 13 scores (seventh-best in rushing) … Helped the Big Red to a 6-4 record in 2022 (junior year) … Three-star prospect according to 247Sports Composite, ESPN.com, On3.com and Rivals.com … Listed as the 86th-best running back and 49th overall player in Ohio by 247Sports … Tabbed as the 102nd-best running back nationally by 247Sports … Also ranks as the 156th running back and 83rd overall player in Ohio by On3.com … Chose East Carolina over offers from Akron, Army, Boston College, Bowling Green, Charlotte, Cornell, Dartmouth, Eastern Michigan, Georgia Tech, Harvard, Kentucky, Miami (OH), Purdue, South Florida, Toledo and others … Majoring in university studies at East Carolina.

Personal: Full name is Tranel Dexter Engleman Jr., but prefers to go by TJ ... Named to American Conference All-Academic Team (2024) … Two-time ECU Director of Athletics Honor Roll member (fall 2024-present).