(Photo Credit: Benjamin Solomon – Getty Images)
2021 East Carolina Pirates Preview and Predictions
Key Players Returning:
QB Holton Ahlers, RB Rahjai Harris, RB Keaton Mitchell, WR C.J. Johnson, WR Audie Omotosho, WR/RS Tyler Snead, OC Fernando Frye, OG Avery Jones, OT Justin Chase, OT Walter Stribling, DT Rick D’Abreu, LB Bruce Bivens, LB Aaron Ramseur, LB Xavier Smith, LB Jireh Wilson, CB Malik Fleming, CB Nolan Johnson, CB Ja’Quan McMillan, FS Shawn Dourseau, SS Warren Saba, and SS Juan Powell.
Key Players Departing:
WR Blake Proehl, OT D’Ante Smith, DE Chris Willis, FS Davondre Robinson, PK Jake Verity, and PT Jonn Young.
Top 10 Recruits:
4 Star Recruits: LB Ryan Jones (Oklahoma transfer), and WR Ray Rose (North Carolina transfer).
3 Star Recruits: WR Jhari Patterson (Marshall transfer), WR Tyree Saunders (Virginia Tech transfer), ATH Jacob Coleman (Chesterfield, Virginia), QB Walter Simmons (Orange Park, Florida), S Jalen Clyatt (Sandy Spring, Maryland), RB Joseph McKay (Phenix City, Alabama), DE Jasiyah Robinson (Michigan State transfer), and OG Kyjuan Phillips (Orlando, Florida).
2020 Results:
G01 #13 UCF L 28-51
G02 at Georgia State L 29-49
G03 at USF W 44-24
G04 NAVY L 23-27
G05 at Tulsa L 30-34
G06 TULANE L 21-38
G07 at #7 Cincinnati L 17-55
G08 at Temple W 28-3
G09 SMU W 52-38
Team Info:
2020 Record: 3-6 (9th in American)
Home: 1-3
Away: 2-3
Neutral: 0-0
AAC: 3-5
Non-AAC: 0-1 Head Coach: Mike Houston
East Carolina: 7-14
Career: 87-36
Bowls: 0-0
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Holton Ahlers (165-269, 1927 yards, 61.3.%, 7.2 avg., 18 TD, 9 INT)
Rushing: Rahjai Harris (128 car., 624 yard, 4.9 avg., 4 TD)
Receiving: Tyler Snead (53 rec., 530 yards, 10.0 avg., 5 TD)
TDs Scored: Tyler Snead (7)
Sacks: Jireh Wilson (3.5)
Tackles: Xavier Smith (72)
Interceptions: Ja’Quan McMillian (4)
Pass Deflections: Xavier Smith (6)
Tackles For Loss: Xavier Smith (8)
Forced Fumbles: Xavier Smith/Jireh Wilson (2)
Kick Returns: Tyler Snead (18 ret., 409 yards, 22.7 avg., 1 TD)
Punt Returns: Tyler Snead (12 ret., 144 yards, 12.0avg., 0 TD)
Kickers: None
Punters: John Young (28 punts, 1171 yards, 41.8 avg., 10 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 12 Holton Ahlers (JR)
RB: 47 Rahjai Harris (FR)
WR: 5 C.J. Johnson (SO)
WR: 22 Tyler Snead (RS SO)
WR: 82 Taji Hudson (FR)
TE: 80 Shane Calhoun (FR)
LT: 73 Nishad Strother (RS FR)
LG: 54 Avery Jones (RS SO/TR)
OC: 66 Fernando Frye (GR/TR)
RG: 75 Sean Bailey (RS SR)
RT: 71 Bailey Malovic (RS JR/TR)
KR: 22 Tyler Snead (RS SO)
PK: 41 Owen Daffer (RS FR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 97 Immanuel Hickman (RS FR)
DT: 45 Rick D’Abreu (SO)
DT: 90 Elijah Morris (FR)
DE: 40 Chad Stephens (RS FR)
LB: 5 Bruce Bivens (SR)
LB: 12 Xavier Smith (JR)
LB: 00 Jireh Wilson (RS SO)
CB: 21 Ja’Quan McMillian (SO)
CB: 4 Malik Fleming (SO)
FS: 27 Shawn Dourseau (RS SO/TR)
BS: 9 D.J. Ford (GR/TR)
PR: 22 Tyler Snead (RS SO)
PT: 43 John Young (RS SR/TR)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: B
Running Backs: B
Wide Receivers: B
Offensive Line: B
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: B
Secondary: B
Special Teams
Kick Returners: A
Punt Returners: A
Kickers: C
Punters: C
Schedule:
09/02 vs. Appalachian State Mountaineers | East Carolina trails the series 12-19. The Pirates won (35-13) the last meeting between schools in 2012.
09/11 SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS | East Carolina trails the series 5-14. The Pirates lost (15-20) the last meeting between schools in 2016.
09/18 at Marshall Thundering Herd | East Carolina leads the series 10-5. The Pirates lost (28-59) the last meeting between schools in 2013.
09/25 CHARLESTON SHOUTHERN BUCCANEERS | First meeting between schools.
10/02 TULANE GREEN WAVE | East Carolina leads the series 11-6. The Pirates are 3-4 since 2011, and their last series win (34-6) was in 2014.
10/09 at UCF Knights | East Carolina leads the series 10-9. The Pirates are 2-7 since 2011, and their last series win (44-7) was in 2015.
10/23 at Houston Cougars | The series is tied 7-7. The Pirates lost (20-42) the last meeting between schools in 2018, and their last series win (48-28) was in 2012.
10/30 USF BULLS | East Carolina trails the series 2-9. The Pirates are 2-5 since renewing the series in 2014, and their last series loss (20-45) was in 2019.
11/04 TEMPLE OWLS | East Carolina trails the series 8-10. The Pirates are 1-6 since renewing the series in 2020, and last season’s 28-3 victory was their first series win since 1995.
11/13 at Memphis Tigers | East Carolina leads the series 15-8. The Pirates lost (41-59) the last meeting between schools in 2018, and their last series win (41-7) was in 2012.
11/20 at Navy Midshipmen | East Carolina trails the series 1-7. The Pirates are 1-5 since 2011, and their only series win (38-35) was in 2011.
11/27 CINCINNATI BEARCATS | East Carolina leads the series 13-11. The Pirates are 1-6 since renewing the series in 2014, and their last series win (48-20) was in 2017.
Predictions:
Home: 3-3
Away: 2-2
Neutral: 0-1
AAC: 4-4
Non-AAC: 2-2
Overall: 6-6 (6th in AAC)
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