East Carolina lost its first commitment in the Class of 2027 on Saturday but quickly responded by adding five new pledges during a busy official visit weekend in Greenville – including one of South Carolina’s most dynamic athletes.
The Pirates saw quarterback James Perrone from St. Thomas Aquinas in Miami flip his commitment from East Carolina to Pittsburgh on Saturday, June 13.
Coach Blake Harrell and staff immediately began restocking, adding a rash of new prospects, including two with ties to North Carolina high school football.
The most intriguing commitment of the bunch is Xavier Means from Northwestern High in Rock Hill, SC. Means committed to ECU as an athlete/quarterback after piloting Northwestern to a AAAAA Division II state championship in 2025.
Means is a bit undersized for a typical FBS quarterback but is a “freak athlete,” according to 247Sports’ Stephen Igoe.
Means threw for 2,873 yards and 25 touchdowns while rushing for 1,239 yards and 27 more scores during Northwestern’s state championship season in 2025. He also posted a laser-timed 4.33-second 40-yard dash, per reports, and averaged 35 yards per punt.
Perrone, who initially pledged to ECU on June 3, was a tough commitment to lose. He’s thrown for more than 7,700 career yards for a top-level south Florida prep program. He was ranked the No. 66 player in Florida and the No. 39 quarterback nationally.
But Means could provide different types of answers if the Pirates choose to use him at quarterback. Most of his offers at this point have been from FCS schools. ECU will be betting on his upside and ability to contribute in a variety of ways.
Coming out of Saturday, East Carolina’s 2027 recruiting class is ranked 129th in the nation, per 247Sports.
Here is more information on all five of ECU’s June 13 commits:
Phoenix Barnes, TE, Fayetteville, NC (Jack Britt HS)
- 6-4, 215-pound tight end
- Committed during official visit weekend on June 13
- Picked the Pirates after taking visits to Appalachian State and Charlotte earlier in the spring. Listed App State, Charlotte, Coastal Carolina and ODU in his top five with ECU.
- Made eight catches for 170 yards and three touchdowns for Jack Britt in 2025.
- Boasted 14 Division I offers per 247Sports and social media: Charlotte, App State, Army, Coastal Carolina, FAU, James Madison, Liberty, Navy, ODU, UMass, Western Kentucky, Campbell, North Carolina A&T, Youngstown State.
- Also runs track for Jack Britt,
- 247Sports Evaluation: “Barnes is a fluid athlete on film, showing breakaway speed and excellent burst as a tight end prospect. He will undoubtedly need to develop his body from a strength perspective over time to handle the blocking rigors of playing tight end.” – Stephen Igoe, Hoist the Colours
Cash Freeman, OL, Arden, NC (Christ School)
- 6-3, 285-pound interior offensive lineman
- Started on the offensive line for the Baylor School – a private prep school in Chattanooga, TN – that won a state championship in 2025.
- Played both center and tackle as a junior. Projects as a center/interior linemen for ECU, per 247Sports.
- Started his high school football career at Christ School in Arden, NC before transferring to Baylor School in 2025.
- Held offers from Charlotte and Tulane, which compete in ECUs conference, as well as D1 schools like Marshall, Arkansas State, Toledo, Troy, Bowling Green, Middle Tennessee and others.
Xavier Means, ATH, Rock Hill, SC (Northwestern HS)
- 6-0, 170-pound athlete/quarterback
- Has blazing speed, clocking a laser time of 4.33 seconds in the 40-yard dash and 10.68 time in the 100.
- Completed 258-of-341 passes for 2,873 yards, 25 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 2025 for South Carolina power program.
- Also rushed for 1,239 yards and 27 more scores in 2025.
- Had 15 offers, per 247Sports, mostly from FCS schools including North Carolina Central.
COMMIT: Pirates land dual-threat QB/ATH Xavier Means@Means2X https://t.co/mi6BwAN6VY pic.twitter.com/IdkfyZowus
— Hoist The Colours (@HTC247) June 14, 2026
Jael Hester, SAF, Toms River, NJ (Donovan Catholic)
- 6-1, 160-pound safety
- Made 97 tackles in 2025, including 51 solo stops, while breaking up 19 passes over 12 games
- Blocked two punts and one field goal attempt in 2025
- Another prospect ECU likes for his speed, Hester finished second in the state in the 110 hurdles this spring
- Held offers from Temple, Army, Buffalo, James Madison and Navy among FBS programs as well as multiple FCS teams from the northeast.
- 3.8 GPA
Ira Dale Jr., RB, Venice, FL (Venice HS)
- 5-11, 200-pound running back
- Dale served as the No. 2 running back on one of Florida’s top programs, helping Venice High School reach the 7A state semifinals. He finished with 342 rushing yards and six touchdowns, per MaxPreps stats.
- Good size and speed, posting a recent 4.51 time in the 40-yard dash, per 247Sports
- Also had offers from American Conference rival Memphis as well as Toledo, Jacksonville State, Liberty and Sacramento State.
- 247Sports Evaluation: “Shows above average speed for a 200-pound back, with the ability to hit the home run if given a crease.”
What It Means
East Carolina is recruiting winners and athletes with its latest class. Consider the list of weekend commits:
- Means — state champion QB
- Freeman — state champion OL
- Dale — powerhouse Florida program
- Hester — track athlete and special teams contributor
- Barnes — developmental multi-sport athlete
While none of the new commitments currently carry the pure recruiting profile of Perrone, a common thread runs through the group: speed, versatility and upside.
Quarterback-athlete Xavier Means may be the best example. The South Carolina state champion combines elite speed with prolific production and could develop at multiple positions.
Safety Jael Hester is a state-level hurdler. Running back Ira Dale Jr. brings breakaway speed in a 200-pound frame. Tight end Phoenix Barnes and offensive lineman Cash Freeman both come from strong programs and offer developmental potential at premium positions.
Rather than replacing Perrone with another traditional quarterback prospect, ECU appears to be betting on athletic traits and long-term development as it builds the foundation of its 2027 class.
👉 ECU Recruiting Hub: Read more about ECU’s recruiting and transfer portal efforts from NC Football News
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