Trace Christian

Height:
6-0
Weight:
217
Class:
Redshirt Freshman
Hometown:
Longwood, Fla.
High School:
Lake Brantley
Major:
Communication

Expected to remain in a visible position on the offensive depth chart for the third-straight season … Could challenge for a starting role among a deep and capable running backs corps after being a valuable contributor as a redshirt freshman and sophomore … Combines plenty of strength and size with quickness and agility … An excellent student whose outgoing personality also makes him one of the more popular players in the program.

2019: Experienced action in seven contest and made a pair of starts (Old Dominion, Temple) … Was team’s fourth-leading rusher with 269 yards on 64 carries … Topped all ECU ball-carriers (50-plus attempts) with a 4.2 yards-per-carry average and had the fewest lost yards (5) of any rusher … Also caught four passes for 25 yards out of the backfield (6.2 ypr) … Was the Pirates’ leading rusher on two occasions – 14-91 vs. William & Mary and 9-43 vs. Cincinnati … In addition to establishing a personal-high in attempts against the Tribe, also had double-digit carry totals against Old Dominion (11-20) and UCF (11-55) … Other notable performances came vs. Temple (7-26) and USF (9-30) … Also played against SMU (3-4) … Longest run of the year was a 21-yarder vs. William & Mary … Did not experience action in three early season (NC State, Gardner-Webb, Navy) and two late season (Connecticut, Tulsa) contests … Tallied a career-high two receptions (10 yards) against the Owls in a prime-time televised matchup at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium … Added single grabs vs. the Monarchs (7 yards) and Knights (8) … Stood third among team’s rushers against American Athletic Conference opponents (39-158) and fourth in non-league tilts (25-111) … Averaged 4.9 yards per rush (39-190) in four home games while tallying 79 yards on 25 carries (3.2) in three road matchups … First/second half splits were nearly identical – 32-137 (4.3 ypr) in three appearances during first six games and 32-132 (4.1) in four outings of the last six contests … Was the Pirates’ second-leading night game rusher with 235 yards on 52 carries (5 games) – a clip of 4.5 yards per run … Charged with just one fumble (UCF) in 64 attempts.

2018: Played in 10 games off the bench as a redshirt freshman (DNP-INJ vs. North Carolina & USF) … Rushed for 162 yards on 38 carries (4.3 ypc) … Accounted for one TD, scoring from eight yards out vs. Connecticut at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium … Established career-highs in carries (13) and rushing yards (102), while also logging a personal-long 26-yard run against the Huskies - all of which was accomplished solely in the fourth quarter … Followed up with six-attempt, team-best 25-yard outing at Cincinnati a week later … Made collegiate debut against North Carolina A&T and picked up 20 yards on 10 carries … Other ground yardage accumulation came at Temple (3-6) and at NC State (5-9) … Caught two passes out of the backfield for 18 yards … Hauled in first career reception for two yards in opener vs. the Aggies before snaring a season-best 16-yarder against the Bearcats on the road … Averaged 5.8 yards per rush (23-133) in seven AAC battles … Was ECU’s third-leading rusher (25-136) during second half of season (last six contests) … Had a team-high 7.3 yard per rush clip (14-102) in night games.

2017: Contributed efforts as a member of ECU’s offensive scout team as a redshirt during true freshman campaign … Member of former coach Scottie Montgomery’s second signing class, inking with the Pirates in February.

High School: Produced three-straight 1,000-yard rushing campaigns for Lake Brantley … A two-time team offensive MVP selection and four-year letterman … Established single-season career bests in carries (145) and yards (1,316), while scoring 16 touchdowns as a senior to help lead Patriots to a 7-5 record and appearance in the Florida High School Football Class 8A Playoffs under coach David Delfiacco … Eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark in eight of 12 contests and averaged 9.1 yards per carry in 2016 … Picked up 1,286 yards on 139 attempts (9.3 ypr) and a personal-high 20 TDs during junior year … Notable highlight in 2015 was a 15-carrry, 230-yard performance against Lake Mary … Credited with 1,016 ground yards, nine scores on 137 attempts as a sophomore in first full-time starting role … Named LBHS’s Offensive Back MVP in 2014 … Made varsity starting debut as a freshman in 2013 and rushed for 194 yards and a pair of TDs on 24 carries to help Patriots outlast Lake Howell 29-26 in double overtime (while filling in for an injured teammate) … Chosen as program’s rookie-of-the-year … Started football career as a wide receiver during recreational league and middle school action before growth spurt enabled move to running back position … Earned No. 4 rank in the Orlando Sentinel’s 2017 Central Florida Super 60 … Reportedly been timed at 4.6 in the 40-yard dash … Rated as a three-start recruit by both Scout.com and 247Sports.com … Also listed as the 34^th-best running back nationally according to 247Sports.com … An accomplished track and field performer who captured the 2015 state title in the shot put (52 feet, 9.25 inches) after finishing as Florida’s runner-up during spring of sophomore year … In addition to ECU, recruited by Boston College, Cincinnati, Duke, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa State, Kentucky, Louisville, Miami, Mississippi State, Missouri, NC State, Rutgers, Syracuse, South Florida, UCF, USF, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest.

Personal: Full name is Randolph Harris Christian III, but prefers to go by Trace … Born at Altamonte Springs, Fla. … Son of Randolph and DeeDee Christian … A communication major who earned ECU Honor Roll accolades for his work in the classroom during the 2017 and 2019 fall semesters while securing Dean’s List honors during the 2018-19 academic year and again in the spring of 2020 … Cousin Crystal Christian, who graduated from Starr’s Mill High School in Fayetteville, Ga., was an accomplished track and field letterwinner at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point who finished her career in 2014 ranked No. 3 nationally in the long jump.