Pirates Pick up Offensive Lineman

On a cold, winter weekend in Greenville, North Carolina, the East Carolina Pirates hosted at least one recruit in one of their final weekends before national signing day.

The need is there along the interior line and ECU came away with another one when 6-5 277 pound Grovetown, Georgia sleeper D'Ante Smith flipped from Appalachian State to East Carolina Saturday night.

The snow held off in Greenville and that proved to be a blessing for new ECU head coach Scotty Montgomery along with Smith's recruiters at ECU in new offensive line coach Geep Wade and running backs coach Antonio King.

"After much thought and decision making I have decided to commit to East Carolina University #GoPirates"

Smith, a Rivals.com 2-star ranked prospect was named to this past season's Border Bowl squad. Grovetown went 5-5 last season.

He also played defensive end for the Warriors.

With the commitment, the Pirates have picked up a total of three offensive linemen including offensive tackle Jack Doyle, a 6-6, 240 pounder who could project as a possible tight end and 6-6, 332 pound offensive tackle Cortez Herrin from Saluda, South Carolina who is already enrolled for the 2016 spring semester at East Carolina.