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Boatload of Pirates Headed to ECU

ECU Head Coach Scottie Montgomery signed a boatload of Pirates for 2017 National Signing Day.
ECU Head Coach Scottie Montgomery signed a boatload of Pirates for 2017 National Signing Day. (PirateIllustrated.com photo)

Second year head coach Scottie Montgomery and East Carolina set themselves up nicely for the immediate future signing a full batch of signees on Wednesday for the class of 2017, ten of whom were already enrolled for the spring semester.

A big need for the Pirates was in the trenches on both sides of the line. Geep Wade and ECU picked up three offensive linemen including two who are already enrolled in 6-4, 320 pound Dqmarcus Shaw out of Itawamba C.C in Fulton, Mississippi, is an MACJC North All-State first team selection. Shaw is joined by 6-5, 265 pound Matt Morgan from Corinth Holders High in Wendell and 6-1, 285 pound center John Spellacy from Cleveland, Ohio’s St. Ignatius, High.

Along the defensive line, new defensive line coach Robert Prunty will be molding a solid group of competitors that include 6-5, 275 Rivals.com three-star Tyree Owens from Copiah-Lincoln C.C. in Wesson Mississippi. He is joined by 6-5, 275 Roxboro Person strong side defensive end Keenan Solomon who committed just last night. 6-5, 270 Brandon Henderson from Georgia Military College and 6-3, 260 pound strong side defensive end Ja-Quane Nelson from High Point Central. Taijh Alston from Cameron, North Carolina is another Rivals.com three-star selection from Union Pines High chose the Pirates over N.C. State and others.

6-3, 215 pound Rivals.com three-star ranked Kingsley Ifedi is the lone quarterback entry for this season. Ifedi is of the duel-threat variety and is out of Charlotte's Vance High where he is the 35th best overall player in North Carolina. That should set things up nicely for the future if they are able to also keep Rivals three-star ranked 2018 quarterback Holton Ahlers in the fold who made his ECU verbal commitment on Monday.

Southwest Mississippi C.C. tight end Eric Webber joins Deerfield Beach, Florida Rivals 3-Star wideout Leroy Henley who is one of the gems of the class. 5-11 Jayden Borders, another 3-Star, out of Shelby, Charlotte’s Blake Proehl, son of retired NFL great Ricky Proehl. Blake's brother plays at North Carolina. Proehl is a real sleeper who runs great routes and sports great hands and should develop into a solid receiver for the Pirates. Mydreon Vines is a local Rose High product who caught the attention of Scottie Montgomery. The 6-footer sports 4.5 speed and a 35 inch vertical jump.

A pair of solid running backs include Western Alamance’s Darius Pinnix who is a real bruiser at 6-2, 210 who has good wheels. He is joined by Altamonte Springs, Florida Rivals 3-Star running back Trace Christian out of Lake Brantley High. Christian had 13 Power 5 offers among his 18 known offers and represents a solid catch for Pirate running back coach Antonio King to mold.

Rivals three-stars 6-2, 215 inside linebacker Cannon Gibbs from Jones County Junior College in Ellisville, Mississippi and 8-AAAAAA All-State linebacker Bruce Bivins along with 6-3, 220 Ben Norris from Myers Park in Charlotte represent the cream of the crop at linebacker for the ECU class of 2017.

6-1, 170 Georgia Military defensive back Marcus Holton and 6-0, 190 Davontre “Tank” Robinson are a pair of names to remember. Both should play big in the ECU secondary under new defensive back coach and former NFL and CFL great Brandon Lynch who played both in the Super Bowl and the Grey Cup in the CFL.

PirateIllustrated.com was there to bring you the latest from Ward Building on the campus of ECU from Pirate head coach Scottie Montgomery Wednesday afternoon. Catch it in it’s entirety here on Rivals.com.

MONTGOMERY RECAPS ECU RECRUITING CLASS

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