East Carolina Pirates News

Sorsby gambling addiction casts light on issue that could affect thousands of college athletes

Brendan Sorsby's acknowledgement of his gambling addiction this week is the latest in a series of bad headlines for college athletes

APRIL 28 • Associated Press

Cowboys' final pick in 2026 NFL Draft is a hidden gem at wide receiver The Cowboys used their final pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on ECU wide receiver Anthony Smith.

APRIL 25 • THELANDRYHAT.COM

DeJuan Lacy - Still sidelined in spring Lacy (knee) is stil sidelined in the Pirates' spring practice period, per 247Sports.com.

Impact Lacy suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 3 of the 2025 campaign with East Carolina. The tailback was used in a rotational capacity up until that point, notching 10 carries for 44 yards and a score. He's still battling his knee issue, however, and will look to be full go for fall camp.

APRIL 21 • ROTOWIRE

Emory Williams - Lands at East Carolina Williams will transfer to East Carolina, per On3.com.

Impact Williams spent three years at Miami, where he was a backup in all three seasons. He totaled 813 passing yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions. The gunslinger will have two seasons of eligibility remaining with the Pirates, where he should be slated for a starting role.

JANUARY 21 • ROTOWIRE

Jeremiah Melvin - Signs with East Carolina Melvin has signed with East Carolina, according to the team's announcement Sunday.

Impact Melvin, a native of North Carolina, will transfer in-state. Ideally for the wide receiver, transferring to a non-P4 team is how his stats improve. During 2025, as part of Wake Forest, Melvin logged 39 receiving yards and one touchdown.

JANUARY 12 • ROTOWIRE

Mitch Griffis - Announces next school Griffis is transferring to East Carolina, Chris Hummer of 247Sports.com reports.

Impact Griffis is headed back to the Carolinas after spending his first two years at Wake Forest. He spent the 2025 campaign at Texas Tech, primarily serving as a backup to Behren Morton. Griffis should immediately be in contention to take over the starting job for the Pirates next fall.

JANUARY 8 • ROTOWIRE

Michael Allen - Finds new squad Allen is transferring to East Carolina, Stephen Igoe of 247Sports.com reports.

Impact Allen has found his fourth team to play for as he approaches his fifth collegiate season. The redshirt junior logged 77 rushes for 385 yards and four touchdowns with Marshall this past campaign. He'll have one year of eligibility left to use up with the Pirates.

JANUARY 8 • ROTOWIRE

Kanen Hamlett - Transfers to ECU Hamlett will transfer to East Carolina, per 247Sports.com.

Impact Hamlett is coming off a career year with Appalachian State, catching 13 passes for 142 yards and two touchdowns. He'll have one year of eligibility remaining, and should immediately factor into the Pirates' offense.

JANUARY 7 • ROTOWIRE

Landon Sides - Joining East Carolina Sides will transfer to East Carolina, per 247Sports.com.

Impact Sides spent his first three seasons of college ball at North Texas, and was productive in each of them. However, he's coming off his best year with the Mean Green, reeling in 34 catches for 449 yards and one touchdown. With a single season of eligibility remaining, he looks poised to quickly earn snaps in the Pirates' wide receiver room.

JANUARY 7 • ROTOWIRE

Ismael Smith Flores - Signs with ECU Flores will transfer to East Carolina, he announced on his personal X account.

Impact Flores started his collegiate career with Nebraska, but didn't log any stats as a Cornhusker. He transferred to UTRGV for 2025, and logged 20 catches for 244 yards and six touchdowns. Now, he'll find his way back to FBS football with East Carolina, where he should still have three seasons of eligibility remaining.

JANUARY 6 • ROTOWIRE

Ashton Gray - Joining ECU Gray has committed to ECU, he announced via his personal X account.

Impact Gray rushed 58 times for 377 yards and five touchdowns during the 2025 season with North Texas. However, the Mean Green underwent a coaching change, and Gray will now get a fresh start with the Pirates.

JANUARY 6 • ROTOWIRE

It's a good time to be Anthony Smith. Two players with that name make AP's all-bowl team

This was a great bowl season for guys named Anthony Smith

JANUARY 5 • Associated Press

Anthony Smith - Erupts vs. Pitt Smith reeled in 4 of 6 targets for 156 yards and two touchdowns during Saturday's 23-17 win over Pittsburgh.

Impact After he was held to just one catch for nine yards in the Pirates' season finale, Smith bounced back in a big way by exploding for a season-high 156 yards and two touchdowns. That pushed the senior wideout over 1,000 yards receiving on the year, and 2025 was easily the best season yet for the 6-foot-3, 189-pound receiver. Now, Smith appears primed to look towards the NFL.

DECEMBER 30, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Chaston Ditta - Start with two touchdowns Ditta was 8-for-17 passing for 177 yards and two touchdowns during Saturday's 23-17 win over Pittsburgh. He also had 10 rushes for -17 yards.

Impact For most of 2025, Ditta logged a backup role behind fellow quarterback Katin Houser, who did not play East Carolina's bowl game to focus on the transfer portal. Selected over Mike Wright, Ditta took advantage of his newfound situation by logging two touchdowns without any interceptions. Whether he retains a QB1 role remains uncertain, considering the bowl game also showed there are still improvements needed on pass accuracy (47.1 percent), pocket movement (10 carries for negative yards) and ball protection (one fumble lost).

DECEMBER 30, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

East Carolina takes advantage of 5 Pittsburgh turnovers, wins 23-17 in the Military Bowl

Chaston Ditta threw two second-half touchdown passes, and East Carolina overcame an inadvertent whistle that negated a long touchdown in a 23-17 victory over Pittsburgh in the Mili...

DECEMBER 27, 2025 • Associated Press

Long ECU touchdown negated by inadvertent whistle, but the Pirates win the Military Bowl anyway

East Carolina’s Marlon Gunn Jr. had a long touchdown run called back because of an inadvertent whistle

DECEMBER 27, 2025 • Associated Press

How to Watch East Carolina vs. Pittsburgh: Military Bowl Time, TV Channel, Live Stream – December 27, 2025

Learn which TV channel or how to live stream the East Carolina Pirates vs. Pittsburgh Panthers Military Bowl game, Saturday, Dec. 27.

DECEMBER 26, 2025 • Data Skrive

How to Watch East Carolina vs. Pittsburgh: Military Bowl Time, TV Channel, Live Stream – December 27, 2025

East Carolina is back in the Military Bowl for a 2nd straight year, this time against Pitt

It’s not always easy to sell your fans on a trip to the same bowl two seasons in a row

DECEMBER 26, 2025 • Associated Press

Pittsburgh vs. East Carolina Prediction, Odds, Picks - December 27, 2025

Preview the Dec. 27 matchup between the Pittsburgh Panthers and East Carolina Pirates with predictions, odds, over/under, spread, betting li...

DECEMBER 24, 2025 • Data Skrive

Pittsburgh vs. East Carolina Prediction, Odds, Picks - December 27, 2025

Yannick Smith - Will place name in portal Smith will enter the transfer portal, per Pete Thamel of ESPN.com.

Impact Smith was productive from the moment he stepped on campus at East Carolina. The sophomore wideout tallied 69 catches for 1,017 yards and eight touchdowns across his first two seasons with the Pirates. Now, with two years of eligibility remaining, he'll look for a new home by way of the transfer portal.

DECEMBER 15, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Jayvontay Conner - Leaving East Carolina Conner will enter the transfer portal, per Max Olson of The Athletic.

Impact Conner was East Carolina's starting tight end this season, reeling in 23 catches for 333 yards and three touchdowns. The former Ole Miss signee finally made his mark at the college level, and now, he'll look to join a bigger program for his senior season.

DECEMBER 15, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Anthony Smith - Only nine yards in season finale Smith reeled in one of four targets for nine yards during Saturday's 42-3 victory versus Florida Atlantic.

Impact In what was a career year, Smith had his worst performance of the season this week, tallying season lows in yards and receptions. The senior still put together a great year, though, leading the Pirates with 897 receiving yards to go along with five touchdowns.

DECEMBER 1, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Brock Spalding - Finishes with a touchdown in win Spalding hauled in five of six targets for 76 yards and one touchdown during Saturday's 42-3 win against Florida Atlantic.

Impact After a quiet performance a week ago against UTSA, Spalding finished the regular season on a high note, recording at least 75 yards for the fourth time this season and recording his third touchdown. The junior became a big part of the offense this season with 554 yards, after only tallying 71 in 2024, and could make an even bigger impact next year.

DECEMBER 1, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Desirrio Riles - Scores second touchdown of the year Riles caught all seven targets for 87 yards and one touchdown during Saturday's 42-3 win versus Florida Atlantic.

Impact Riles had his best outing of the season this week, recording a career high 87 receiving yards, which is more than he had all of last season. The junior had an up-and-down season, tallying 362 yards and two touchdowns on 29 receptions.

DECEMBER 1, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

London Montgomery - Leads ECU with 17 carries in win Montgomery logged 17 carries for 53 yards during Saturday's 42-3 victory versus Florida Atlantic.

Impact Montgomery was steady against FAU this week, finishing the season with at least 50 yards on the ground in six consecutive games. The sophomore made a huge jump this year, with 742 yards and seven touchdowns, and will likely be the Pirates' starting running back once again next season.

DECEMBER 1, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

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Sorsby gambling addiction casts light on issue that could affect thousands of college athletes

It's a good time to be Anthony Smith. Two players with that name make AP's all-bowl team

East Carolina takes advantage of 5 Pittsburgh turnovers, wins 23-17 in the Military Bowl

Long ECU touchdown negated by inadvertent whistle, but the Pirates win the Military Bowl anyway

How to Watch East Carolina vs. Pittsburgh: Military Bowl Time, TV Channel, Live Stream – December 27, 2025

East Carolina is back in the Military Bowl for a 2nd straight year, this time against Pitt

Pittsburgh vs. East Carolina Prediction, Odds, Picks - December 27, 2025