This page serves as NC Football News’ recruiting hub for East Carolina football, tracking commitments, recruiting news, signing day updates and transfer portal movement involving the Pirates.
Throughout the year, we’ll update this page with the latest additions to East Carolina’s recruiting classes, incoming and outgoing transfers, player profiles and links to our recruiting coverage.
Bookmark this page and check back regularly as the future of Pirate football continues to take shape.
🔄 Last Updated: June 24, 2026
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2026 Incoming Transfers
2026 Outgoing Transfers
2027 Commitments
Total Commits: 16
247Sports Ranking: 79th (6/23/2026)
North Carolina Commitments: 7
Offense: 7
Defense: 8
Athlete: 1
East Carolina 2027 Football Commits
East Carolina 2027 Football Commits| ECU 2027 | POS | HT | WT | HOMETOWN | HIGH SCHOOL | COMMITED TO | STATUS | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bryce Johnson | IOL | 6-4 | 290 | Matthews, NC | Weddington HS | East Carolina | Verbal 6/24/2026 | Started at center for 12-2 Weddington team that made 7A semifinals |
| Zalen Green | WR | 5-10 | 180 | Atlanta, GA | Douglass HS | East Carolina | Verbal 6/23/2026 | Posted sub-10.5 times in the 100 meters during spring track season |
| James Porter | DL | 6-2 | 265 | Roebuck, SC | Dorman HS | East Carolina | Verbal 6/23/2026 | Played both DE and DT for Dorman in 2025 during a lengthy playoff run. |
| Mason Hefner | LB | 6-0 | 205 | Mooresville, NC | Lake Norman HS | East Carolina | Verbal 6/21/2026 | Speedy prospect has been laser clocked at faster than 21 mph (2025) |
| Chosen Hyman | DL | 6-1 | 255 | Kernersville, NC | East Forsyth HS | East Carolina | Verbal 6/21/2026 | 2025 stats: 56 tackles, 11 tackles-for-loss, four sacks for a 7-5 |
| Andre Grier | SAF | 5-10 | 175 | Ayden, NC | Ayden-Grifton HS | East Carolina | Verbal 6/21/2026 | Earned top Defensive Skill award at the Carolinas Coaches Combine in April |
| Andrew Rogers | EDGE | 6-6 | 240 | Greensboro, NC | Grimsley HS | East Carolina | Verbal 6.20/2026 | 4-star EDGE is one of ECU’s highest-rated commitments ever |
| Gio Driggers | OT | 6-5 | 310 | Rocky Point, NC | Heide Trask HS | East Carolina | Verbal 6/16/2026 | Also played basketball for Trask, averaging 18.5 ppg, 10.5 rpg; GPA 3.7 |
| Ja’Quez Johnson | CB | 6-1 | 175 | Auburn, AL | Auburn HS | East Carolina | Verbal 6/15/2026 | Had 11 offers, committed after official visit to ECU on June 13 |
| Ethan Singletary | WR | 6-0 | 180 | Columbia, SC | Irmo HS | East Carolina | Verbal 6/14/2026 | Caught 10 passes for 217 yards for state runner-up |
| AJ Veal | DL | 6-4 | 225 | Blythewood, SC | Westwood HS | East Carolina | Verbal 6/14/2026 | Two-sport athlete played on state championship hoops squad |
| Phoenix Barnes | TE | 6-4 | 215 | Fayetteville, NC | Jack Britt HS | East Carolina | Verbal 6/13/2026 | Picked the Pirates from among a top 5 that also included App State, Charlotte |
| Cash Freeman | IOL | 6-3 | 285 | Arden, NC | Baylor School (TN) | East Carolina | Verbal 6/13/2026 | Played center, tackle for state champion prep school in TN |
| Xavier Means | ATH/QB | 6-0 | 170 | Rock Hill, SC | Northwestern HS | East Carolina | Verbal 6/13/2026 | Prolific dual-threat QB accounted for 52 touchdowns in ’25 |
| Ira Dale Jr. | RB | 5-11 | 200 | Venice, FL | Venice HS | East Carolina | Verbal 6/13/2026 | 342 rushing yards and 6 TDs in 2025 as the No. 2 back in offense |
| Jael Hester | SAF | 6-1 | 160 | Toms River, NJ | Donovan Catholic HS | East Carolina | Verbal 6/13/2026 | 97 tackles, three blocked kicks during productive junior campaign. |
| DECOMMITMENTS: | ||||||||
| James Perrone | QB | 6-2 | 186 | Miami, FL | St. Thomas Aquinas HS | Decommitted from ECU and committed to Pittsburgh on 6/13/2026 |
2027 ECU Recruiting Snapshot
June 24 Update: In-state OL, Georgia WR commit to ECU
A strong official visit weekend continued to reap rewards for East Carolina football recruiting. Coming out of a June 18 event, the Pirates picked up commitments from in-state offensive lineman Bryce Johnson (Matthews, NC) and Atlanta wide receiver Zalen Green. Johnson starts at center for Weddington, which went 12-2 and made the 7A semifinals in 2025. Green has superior track speed. As of June 24, ECU’s class is 16 strong with seven players from North Carolina high school programs.
June 22 Update: ECU takes the lead with most in-state commits
East Carolina’s biggest recruiting win of the weekend was four-star edge rusher Andrew Rogers, but the Pirates may have been sending an even bigger message with the rest of their class.
ECU followed Rogers’ commitment by landing three more North Carolina prospects in linebacker Mason Hefner, defensive lineman Chosen Hyman and safety Andre Grier. None of the three hold national rankings, and two received their only reported FBS offers from the Pirates. Yet ECU coaches identified each as a fit, brought them to Greenville for official visits and secured commitments before larger programs entered the picture.
The four-man haul pushed East Carolina to 13 commitments in the Class of 2027, including six from North Carolina (most of any FBS program), and reflected a recruiting approach built on in-state relationships and evaluations rather than recruiting-star chasing.
June 20 Update: 4-Star Edge Andrew Rogers Joins Class
The Pirates scored a major in-state recruiting win by landing Andrew Rogers, a four-star edge rusher from Grimsley High ranked No. 14 in North Carolina by 247Sports.
Rogers chose ECU over offers from more than 20 Division I programs, including numerous SEC and ACC schools. He had 23 sacks during a breakout 2024 season and is considered one of the highest-ranked commits in program history.
👉 Read our full story on Andrew Rogers’ commitment to ECU
June 13 Update: Seven new commits join the fold
East Carolina lost a QB pledge but added seven commitments to its 2027 recruiting class during a busy June official visit weekend, highlighted by versatile athlete and quarterback Xavier Means from South Carolina state champion Northwestern High School.
The group also included Fayetteville tight end Phoenix Barnes, North Carolina offensive lineman Cash Freeman, New Jersey safety Jael Hester, Florida running back Ira Dale Jr., South Carolina wide receiver Ethan Singletary and SC defensive lineman AJ Veal.
While the Pirates lost quarterback James Perrone to Pittsburgh, ECU quickly responded by adding a class built around speed, athleticism and developmental upside. Several of the new pledges come from winning high school programs and bring multi-sport backgrounds to Greenville.
👉 Read more on ECU’s latest additions
East Carolina Football Recruiting Headlines
2026 Transfer Portal Summary
📥 Transfers In: 23
📥 Transfers Out: 26
Key Addition: QB Mitch Griffis (Texas Tech), Ashton Gray (North Texas)
Key Departure: QB Katin Houser (Illinois), WR Yannick Smith (SMU)
2026 Transfers In
| ECU TRANSFER IN | POS | HOMETOWN | LAST SCHOOL | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashton Levells-Mitchell | DB | DeSoto, TX | Florida International | |
| Christian Peterson | DB | Dothan, AL | UCF | |
| Jaylen Bowden | DB | Charlotte, NC | Minnesota | |
| Myles Pollard | DB | Nashville, TN | Memphis | |
| Rae’mon Mosby | DB | Marrero, LA | Louisville | |
| Zyeir Gamble | DB | Sumter, SC | Appalachian State | |
| Cade Law | LB | Nashville, TN | Memphis | |
| Crews Law | LB | Nashville, TN | Memphis | |
| Brandon Best | OL | Tucker, GA | Kennesaw State | |
| Ethan Kramer | OL | Colorado Springs, CO | Northern Arizona | |
| Hayes Creel | OL | Mt Hermon, LA | Southern Miss | |
| Niko Paic | OL | Crown Point, IN | Valparaiso | |
| Elliot Huether | P | Minnetonka, MN | St. Thomas | |
| Emory Williams | QB | Milton, FL | Miami | |
| Mitch Griffis | QB | Ashburn, VA | Texas Tech | |
| Ashton Gray | RB | Marion, AR | North Texas | |
| Michael Allen | RB | Greenville, NC | Marshall | |
| Ismael Flores | TE | Crowley, TX | UT-Rio Grande Valley | |
| Kanen Hamlett | TE | Madison, AL | Appalachian State | |
| Ja’Keith Hamilton | WR | Shelby, NC | Furman | |
| Jeremiah Melvin | WR | Fayetteville, NC | Wake Forest | |
| Landon Sides | WR | Denton, TX | North Texas | |
| Ray Ray Joseph | WR | Miami, FL | Miami |
2026 Transfers Out
| ECU TRANSFER OUT | POS | NEW SCHOOL | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samuel Dankah | LB | East Carolina | Withdrew from portal |
| Jordy Lowery | CB | Florida | |
| Key Crowell | CB | Illinois State | |
| Justin Benton | DL | North Texas | |
| Xavier McIver | DL | Southern Miss | |
| Zion Wilson | DL | Virginia | |
| Kendric Davis | LB | West Georgia | |
| Dru McClough | OL | ||
| Emmanuel Poku | OL | South Carolina | |
| Leivi Semaia | OL | Midwestern State | |
| Jimarion McCrimon | OT | NC State | |
| Samuel Riddy Jr. | OT | UAB | |
| Chaston Ditta | QB | North Texas | |
| Katin Houser | QB | Illinois | |
| Raheim Jeter | QB | ||
| London Montgomery | RB | Florida | |
| Parker Jenkins | RB | Lamar | |
| Bernard Lackey Jr. | SAF | ||
| Ja’Marley Riddle | SAF | Georgia | |
| O’Marion Lewis | SAF | Campbell | |
| Desirrio Riles | TE | Florida State | |
| Jayvontay Conner | TE | Vanderbilt | |
| Jyron Waiters | WR | Campbell | |
| Malik Leverett | WR | West Georgia | |
| Trenton Cloud | WR | ||
| Yannick Smith | WR | SMU |
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