East Carolina enters 2026 as one of the most intriguing teams in the American. The Pirates are coming off a breakthrough season, but are also reloading at many of the positions that fueled that success. Blake Harrell’s team went 9–4 overall and 6–2 in league play in 2025, tying for fourth in the conference, and closed the year with a 23–17 Military Bowl win over Pitt. More telling than the record, ECU wasn’t just strong by AAC standards—it ranked in the national top 30 in scoring offense, total offense, scoring defense, red-zone defense, third-down defense, tackles for loss, and several other categories.
The primary question now is roster continuity. ECU opened spring practice with only seven returning starters from that Military Bowl championship team and 28 returning letter-winners overall, while adding 40 new players, including 22 portal players. As a result, 2026 is less about whether the Pirates have enough talent and more about whether they can quickly blend a proven defensive core with a rebuilt offense to remain in the AAC title race.
Table of Contents
Quarterback – 6.5/10
Quarterback is where East Carolina suffers its greatest production loss. Star signal-caller Katin Houser has departed for Illinois, and Military Bowl outstanding player Chaston Ditta has transferred to North Texas. That attrition immediately raises concerns about depth, with only four quarterbacks on the roster entering the spring. The starting job will likely be decided between spring ball and fall camp in a competition between incoming transfers Emory Williams (Miami) and Mitch Griffis (Texas Tech). Both were rated as three-star prospects in the portal and have very limited game experience, leaving plenty of question marks surrounding the Pirates’ quarterback room.
Projected Depth Chart:
QB1 Battle: Mitch Griffis (RS-Sr, Texas Tech) or Emory Williams (RS-Jr, Miami)
QB3: Cole Hodge (RS-Fr, Returner)
Running Back – 7/10
A common theme seen throughout the offense, running back is another position losing significant production. Their top two options from 2025, London Montgomery and Marlon Gunn Jr., are gone, and RB3 Parker Jenkins also entered the portal. The only real returning 2025 production comes from TJ Engleman Jr., who rushed for over 300 yards last season in ten games. The Pirates replenished the room with solid additions from fellow G6 programs: Michael Allen (Marshall) and Ashton Gray (North Texas), both rushed for nearly 400 yards and four-plus touchdowns. In my opinion, this will definitely be a committee backfield heading into 2026.
Projected Depth Chart:
RB1 A/B: Michael Allen (RS-Sr, Marshall) and Ashton Gray (RS-So, North Texas)
RB2: TJ Engleman Jr. (RS-So, Returner)
RB3: DeJuan Lacy (RS-So, Returner)
Wide Receiver – 7.5/10
There is significant turnover in the wide receiver room, with top targets Anthony Smith and Yannick Smith both leaving the program. Some continuity remains in the form of Brock Spalding, who recorded over 500 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in 2025. The Pirates also add several intriguing, high-upside receivers for next season. Ray Ray Joseph, Landon Sides, Ja’Keith Hamilton, and Jeremiah Melvin are the names to watch. The blend of former Power Four experience and emerging young talent suggests the Pirates’ weapons could once again be productive in 2026.
Projected Depth Chart:
WR1: Brock Spalding (RS-Sr, Returner)
WR2: Ray Ray Joseph (RS-Jr, Miami)
WR3: Landon Sides (SR, North Texas)
WR4: Ja’Keith Hamilton (RS-Jr, Furman)
WR5: Jeremiah Melvin (RS-So, Wake Forest)
Tight End – 7/10
The Pirates’ top two tight end options, Desirrio Riles and Jayvontay Conner, have departed the program, but they’ve added some solid production through the portal. Ismael Smith Flores posted strong numbers at the FCS level last season, and Kanen Hamlett saw significant playing time for Appalachian State. Combined with promising young depth in the room, this group could be very solid in 2026.
Projected Depth Chart:
TE1: Ismael Smith Flores (RS-Jr, Texas Rio Grande Valley)
TE2: Kanen Hamlett (RS-Sr, Appalachian State)
TE3: Mason Brown (RS-Jr, Returner)
Offensive Line – 5/10
I am very cautious about the Pirates’ offensive line heading into 2026, as they have to replace their entire starting unit from the 2025 season. I am also hesitant to project what their starting unit will look like this spring because there are so many questions surrounding it. I expect portal additions Brandon Best (Kennesaw State), Ethan Kramer (Northern Arizona), and Hayes Creel (Southern Miss) all to be part of the starting five next season.
Defensive Line – 7.5/10
One of the units I feel most confident in for ECU this spring is the defensive line. While they do move on from their top three players from last season, I think they return enough 2025 production with Rion Roseborough, Preston Carr, Julien Davis, and Kieran Davis. With no transfer additions on the defensive line, the Pirates’ depth will have to prove itself this season.
Projected Depth Chart:
EDGE: Julien Davis (RS-Jr, Returner), Kendrick DuJour (RS-Sr, Returner)
NT: Rion Rosebourough (RS-Jr, Returner)
DT: Preston Carr (RS-Sr, Returner)
EDGE: Kieran Davis (RS-Jr, Returner), Terande Spencer (FR, Incoming)
Linebacker – 7/10
Linebacker is one of the position groups that offers a strong blend of returning and incoming talent to offset the losses from the 2025 roster. DJ Johnson Jr. and Jackson Barker headline the returning group, joined by transfer linebacker Crews Law from Memphis to join his brother Cade, and a handful of incoming freshmen who should provide valuable depth. Overall, this should be a solid unit for the Pirates in 2026.
Projected Depth Chart:
Starters: DJ Johnson Jr (RS-Jr, Returner), Jackson Barker (RS-Sr, Returner), Cade Law (RS-Sr, Returner)
Backups: Crews Law (RS-So, Memphis), Jordan Miles (So, Returner), Jayden Olden (RS-So, Returner)
Defensive Backs – 7/10
One position group with a ton of upside heading into next season and beyond is the secondary. Even after losing its top six options from 2025, ECU’s depth on the back end still looks very strong. Younger players like Kevon Marshall, Ayden Duncanson, Kamaurri McKinley, and Alex Moye were all major contributors for the Pirates last season. They’re now joined by a massive transfer-portal haul in Zyeir Gamble, Jaylen Brown, Ashton Levells-Mitchell, Christian Peterson, Rae’mon Mosby, and Myles Pollard. Altogether, this projects as a very solid unit that should help round out an above-average Pirates defense in 2026.
Projected Depth Chart:
Corners: Jaylen Bowden (Sr, Minnesota), Ashton Levells-Mitchell (RS-Sr, FIU), Rae’Mon Mosby (RS-So, Louisville)
Nickel: Kevon Merrell (Jr, Returner), Christian Peterson (Jr, UCF)
Safeties: Ayden Duncanson (RS-Jr, Returner), Zyeir Gamble (RS-Jr, App State)
Coaching Staff – 8/10
This is probably the single biggest offseason swing factor. ECU lost offensive coordinator John David Baker to Ole Miss and defensive coordinator Josh Aldridge to South Florida—two major departures coming off a 9–4 season. On offense, Harrell hired Jordan Davis from North Texas, where the Mean Green went 11–2 in 2025 and led the nation in scoring offense, total offense, and first downs. That gives ECU a new play-caller with a highly productive recent résumé, even if this will be his first time fully running his own unit in Greenville.
On defense, Harrell brought in Jordon Hankins from Memphis. Hankins coordinated a Memphis defense that finished in the national top 50 in multiple categories in 2025 and showed major run-defense improvement in 2024. ECU also added Julian Griffin as running backs coach, Alex Huettel from Old Dominion to coach the offensive line, and Juan Soto from North Texas as wide receivers coach. Huettel, in particular, looks important because ODU’s 2025 offense ranked in the top 30 nationally in rushing, total offense, and scoring offense, while Soto arrives from the same North Texas passing game that exploded under Davis.
Notable Matchups in 2026:
Week 1: at Alabama (9/5)
Week 3: at Old Dominion (9/19)
Week 8: at Memphis (10/22)
Week 9: vs Temple (10/31)
Week 10: vs USF (11/6)
