East Carolina football’s 2016 signing class includes 11 from North Carolina
Scottie Montgomery wanted to add size and weight on both offense and defense in his first recruiting class as East Carolina’s head coach.
The former Duke offensive coordinator, who took over for Ruffin McNeill in December, had only a little more than a month to recruit - but says he struck a balance with his 22-member 2016 signing class that includes 11 from North Carolina. Eleven of the 22 signees are projected to play offense, the other 11 defense.
“We thought it was imperative to offer balance in this first group,” Montgomery said in a press release. “Offensively, we signed to the needs of the unit with program-type players who we expect to develop and are here for the duration, while on defense, our objectives were addressed with the addition of strong defensive backs and front seven personnel.”
ECU expects to have five offensive and six defensive returning starters at the start of spring drills on March 16. The Pirates open their season Sept. 3 at home against Western Carolina.
Here’s a look at ECU’s 2016 signee roster:
NAME | POS | HT | WT | CLASS | HOMETOWN (Previous School) |
Sean Bailey | OL | 6-6 | 335 | Fr. | Cumming, Ga. (Lambert High) |
Keyshawn Canady | DB | 6-0 | 185 | Fr. | Wallace (Wallace-Rose Hill) |
Tahj Deans | WR | 6-2 | 185 | Fr. | Bailey (Southern Nash) |
Jarred Dorton | OL | 6-6 | 345 | Jr. | Bakersfield, Calif. (North High/ Bakersfield College) |
Jack Doyle | OL | 6-4 | 260 | Fr. | Wake Forest (Heritage) |
Kendall Futrell | LB | 6-2 | 215 | Fr. | Winterville (South Central High) |
Johnnie Glaspie | RB | 5-11 | 180 | Fr. | Rose Hill (Wallace-Rose Hill) |
Colby Gore | DB | 5-11 | 170 | Fr. | Little River, S.C. (North Myrtle Beach High) |
Cortez Herrin | OL | 6-3 | 330 | Fr. | Saluda, S.C. (Saluda High) |
Reid Herring | QB | 6-3 | 175 | Fr. | Raleigh (Millbrook) |
Hussein Howe | RB | 5-9 | 175 | Fr. | Jacksonville, Fla. (University Christian High) |
Emmanuel Jones | DB | 6-0 | 175 | Fr. | Asheboro (Asheboro High) |
Jalen Price | DL | 6-2 | 290 | Fr. | Williamston (Riverside High) |
Chance Purvis | LB | 6-4 | 220 | Fr. | Meridian, Miss. (Lamar School) |
Raequan Purvis | DL | 6-2 | 270 | Fr. | Plymouth (Plymouth High) |
Aaron Ramseur | LB | 6-1 | 215 | Fr. | Shelby (Crest) |
D’Ante Smith | OL | 6-4 | 310 | Fr. | Grovetown, Ga. (Grovetown HS) |
Javontay Smith | DB | 6-0 | 180 | Fr. | Columbus, Ga. (Carver HS) |
Kenyon Taylor | DB | 6-2 | 170 | Fr. | High Point (South Guilford) |
Alex Turner | DL | 6-2 | 290 | Fr. | Houston, Texas (Jersey Village HS) |
Anthony Watley | TE | 6-3 | 240 | Fr. | Jacksonville, Fla. (Atlantic Coast HS) |
Eric Weber | TE | 6-2 | 220 | Fr. | Blythewood, S.C. (Blythewood HS) |
NOTE: Colby Gore and Cortez Herrin enrolled at ECU in January.
This story was originally published February 3, 2016 at 3:28 PM with the headline "East Carolina football’s 2016 signing class includes 11 from North Carolina."