East Carolina Pirates News

College Football Rankings: Where All 138 FBS Teams Stand Ahead Of 2026 Kickoff

Ahead of the 2026 college football season, FOX Sports' RJ Young ranked every single FBS team — all 138 of 'em.

1 DAY AGO • FOX SPORTS

College Football Rankings: Where All 138 FBS Teams Stand Ahead Of 2026 Kickoff

Marlon Gunn Jr. - Moving toward return to ECU roster Gunn is moving toward a return to East Carolina's roster for this season, Stephen Igoe of 247Sports.com reports.

Impact Due to the recent eligibility injunction, Gunn is allowed another year, as are many of his other peers. While it's not set in stone that the leading rusher will extend his tenure as a Pirate, the team is doing what it can to get him back on the field. The season opener is now in just a little over two weeks at Alabama.

2 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Emory Williams - Competing for starting QB job Williams is currently competing against Mitch Griffis for ECU's starting quarterback job, Stephen Igoe of 247Sports.com reports.

Impact Williams is a transfer from Miami who never started a full season during his time there, primarily due to playing behind talented, soon-to-be NFL quarterbacks. The signal-caller brings valuable Power Four experience, though his competitor, Mitch Griffis, also offers Power Four experience and time as a starting quarterback during his tenure with Wake Forest. The two have been locked in a competitive battle since fall camp began, and the competition still remains neck-and-neck.

2 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Mitch Griffis - Competing for QB1 role Griffins is currently competing against Emory Williams for ECU's starting quarterback job, Stephen Igoe of 247Sports.com reports.

Impact Griffis has been battling fellow signal-caller Emory Williams for the starting job since fall camp began, and it remains a neck-and-neck competition. While both quarterbacks are transfers, Griffis may have the upper hand due to his experience as a starter at Wake Forest, though he struggled with turnovers during his time there, finishing the 2023 season with a 9:7 TD-INT ratio. If he does win the starting job, he will be tasked with leading a Pirates' wide receiver room that experienced massive turnover from last season.

2 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Michael Allen - Minor injury during scrimmage Allen suffered a minor leg injury in Saturday's scrimmage, Stephen Igoe of 247Sports.com reports.

Impact East Carolina's fall camp is underway, as the Pirates' weekend scrimmage indicates. During the session, Allen got injured on a long run after tweaking a muscle in his leg. The running back should be fine, but he'll likely be held out for at least a few days to recover fully. In the meantime, Allen's injury status is probable as the Pirates' fall camp continues.

2 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Kyler Pearson - Still not ready Pearson (foot) looks like he did not suit up for Saturday's scrimmage, Stephen Igoe of 247Sports.com reports.

Impact Pearson was expected to be available for the summer, but its latter stages have been reached, and he remains unready for East Carolina's regular-season opener. On the plus side, the running back still has several weeks to recover, and there is still a chance he can go come Week 1.

2 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Ja'Keith Hamilton - Suffers undisclosed injury Hamilton suffered an undisclosed injury during Saturday's scrimmage, Stephen Igoe of 247Sports.com reports.

Impact By suffering an undisclosed injury in Saturday's scrimmage, Hamilton is questionable for Week 1, when the Pirates will open their regular season at Alabama. East Carolina would mark the wide receiver's first FBS team, as he transferred from FCS side Furman after a terrific 2025.

2 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Landon Sides - Out for scrimmage Sides (undisclosed) did not play in Saturday's scrimmage, Stephen Igoe of 247Sports.com reports.

Impact As expected following Sides' early-January commitment, he transferred colleges from North Texas to fellow American team East Carolina. But by sitting out ECU's weekend scrimmage, the wide receiver did not immediately get to show why the Pirates were attracted to his services. Considering the magnitude of East Carolina's season-opening opponent Alabama, ECU will hope to them available come Week 1. In three seasons with UNT, Sides logged more than 20 receptions and 250 receiving yards every year.

2 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

DeJuan Lacy - Back on field Friday Lacy is back on the field after his knee injury, according to Stephen Igoe of 247asportw.com.

Impact This marks a positive step for Lacy after he missed spring practice while recovering from a knee issue. His return to the field improves his outlook for a role in East Carolina's backfield entering the season, though on paper, he's not expected to be a starter.

AUGUST 7 • ROTOWIRE

Ashton Gray - Could emerge as workhorse back Gray could be a workhorse back for East Carolina in the 2026 season, per Stephen Igoe of 247Sports (on the G5 Hive Podcast).

Impact Gray committed to ECU after spending the 2025 season at North Texas, where he rushed 58 times for 377 yards and five touchdowns. He seems to be well ahead of the pack from his teammates, and it wouldn't be shocking if he ends up being deployed as a three-down back and a regular fixture in the Pirates' offense.

AUGUST 7 • ROTOWIRE

East Carolina Downplays Bulletin-Board Talk Ahead of Alabama Opener The Pirates brush off Derrion Horsley's recent Instagram jab and focus on preparation as Week 1 nears.

JULY 24 • SI.COM

ECU Player Throws Jab at Alabama on Social Media, Crimson Tide Athletes Respond Pirates defensive back Derrion Horsley has given Alabama some bulletin-board material with a now-deleted Instagram post 44 days away from th...

JULY 23 • SI.COM

Kanen Hamlett - Will be back in fall camp Hamlett (upper body) was limited in the spring but will be back in the fall, Stephen Igoe of 247Sports.com reports.

Impact Hamlett needed to undergo upper-body surgery, which he underwent, and the procedure cost him time during East Carolina's spring camp. At the very least, Hamlett logged walkthrough work, so he should not be completely out of practice this fall. Once his health is at 100 percent, Hamlett is expected to compete for significant playing time at the tight end position.

JUNE 17 • ROTOWIRE

DeJuan Lacy - Expected to be full-go by summer Lacy (knee) is expected to be full-go by the summer, Stephen Igoe of 247Sports.com reports.

Impact After being sidelined in the spring, Lacy must wait until the summer for a potential recovery. There is a chance that Lacy can get there, and once the running back does, he should be able to carve out a significant role in East Carolina's offense come fall.

JUNE 17 • ROTOWIRE

Kyler Pearson - Expected to be back in summer Pearson (foot) is expected to be back in the summer, Stephen Igoe of 247Sports.com reports.

Impact A foot injury cost Pearson the last four games of his 2025 season. The wide receiver was caught wearing a protective boot for much of spring, but not all of it, backing up the notion that he is physically recovering well enough to be potentially available this summer.

JUNE 17 • ROTOWIRE

2026 Alabama Football Early Opponent Preview, Game 1: East Carolina BamaCentral takes a long first look at each of the Crimson Tide's upcoming opponents for Kalen DeBoer's third season, starting with the Pira...

JUNE 9 • SI.COM

NCAA baseball regionals are the 1st stop on the Road to Omaha. Here are some things to know

The 64-team NCAA baseball tournament starts Friday with first-round games in regionals

MAY 26 • Associated Press

The known and the unknowns for the Alabama Crimson Tide season opener against East Carolina The 2026 Alabama Crimson Tide football season opens with the East Carolina Pirates on September 5. There are plenty of unknowns about Alabam...

MAY 21 • BAMAHAMMER.COM

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

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College Football Rankings: Where All 138 FBS Teams Stand Ahead Of 2026 Kickoff

NCAA baseball regionals are the 1st stop on the Road to Omaha. Here are some things to know

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