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PiKappWags Offline
Capt'n Pabst
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Posts: 2,095
Joined: Nov 2003
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I Root For: East Carolina
Location: Shallotte, NC
Post: #1
New Football Roster
The Depth Chart after Sping Drills

ECUpirates.com recently updated our rosters & I have now Messed with it about as much as anyone could.

I have absolutely no inside connections here fellas: If you know something I dont, let me know.

This List Now Includes RECRUITS
Those Listed on 2006 Roster in Purple
(some exceptions here: DBs Reynolds & Simmons, DL Mitchell, WR Brumsey, TE Bryant & more were with team but absent from '06 roster) I made them Purple to indicate they Redshirted or took year off due to transfer and are good to go now.
* Given to those who saw playing time
All Those in Black are New Faces I'll start Looking Further Into

**UPDATE Players who have been cut will appear in Green

Tight Ends
Senior:
*Jay Sonnhalter 6-5/262 Cary, N.C. (Wingate)
Juniors:
*Davon Drew 6-4/247 New Bern, N.C. (New Bern)
J.R. Kraemer 6-5/237 Wildwood, Mo. (Illinios)
Stanley Bryant 6-5/265 Goldsboro, N.C. (Elizabeth City State)

Sophomore:
Martin Tanski 6-3/257 Raleigh, N.C. (Wakefield)
Freshmen:
Michael Byrd, TE, 6-4, 226, Fr., Thomasville, N.C. (Thomasville)
Will Towery, TE, 6-5, 255, Fr., Asheville, N.C. (A.C. Reynolds)


Defensive Backs
Seniors:
*Travis Williams 5-10/182 Daytona Beach, Fla. (Atlantic)
Brandon Edmundson 5-7/199 Wilson, N.C. (Fike)
Juniors:
*J.J. Milbrook 5-9/203 JR Miami, Fla. (Pace)
*Leon Best 6-0/200 JR Kinston, N.C. (North Lenoir)
*Jerek Hewett 5-11/184 Shallotte, N.C. (West Brunswick)
Stacy Walls 5-9/186 JR Sandersville, Ga. (Washington County)
Kurtis von Bargen 5-10/194 Midlothian, Va. (Benedictine)

Charles Sparrow 6-1/206 Bayboro, N.C. (Pamlico)
Shawntez Jones 5-11/200 Raleigh, N.C. (Elizabeth City State)
Sean Nunnally 6-0/206 Petersburg, Va. (Virginia Union)
Sophomores:
*Ronald Wright 6-1/187 Kernersville, N.C. (Hunt)
*Van Eskridge 6-0/206 Shelby, N.C. (Shelby) {LB to Safety}
*Chris Mattocks 6-0/206 New Bern, N.C. (New Bern)
*Kris Bell 6-0/195 Raleigh, N.C. (Sanderson)

Jeremy Bullock 6-0/182 Littleton, N.C. (Northwest Halifax)
Freshmen:
Melvin Patterson 6-3/215 Alachua, Fla. (Santa Fe) R/S
Dekota Marshall 6-1/189 Jacksonville, N.C. (Southwest Onslow) R/S
Travis Simmons 5-10/175 Tallahassee, Fla. (Florida A&M HS) R/S
Darryl Reynolds 6-1/185 New Bern, N.C. (New Bern) R/S
Spencer Hampton 5-10/205 Greenville, N.C. (D.H. Conley) R/S

---Class of 2005 (Also Played Baseball) Going into Senior Year projected as #7 NC TE
----- All-Area Tight End with 368 receiving yards, 4 receiving touchdowns in Junior Year

Michael Warren 5-9/164 Dudley, N.C. (Wayne CC)
---Transfer from Wayne CC in Goldsboro, NC (Not a JUCO School)
-----Attended Southern Wayne HS

Tyson Stewart 6-0/193 Greensboro, N.C. (Northwest Guilford)
Jacob George 5-11/160 Fayetteville, N.C. (Fayettville Christian)
Derek Blacknall, DB, 5-11, 168, Fr., Greensboro, N.C. (Dudley)
Julian Carter, DB, 6-2, 180, Fr., New Bern, N.C. (New Bern)
Emanuel Davis, DB, 5-11, 190, Fr., Manteo, N.C. (Manteo)
DeAndre' Jones, DB, 6-1, 180, Fr., New Bern, N.C. (West Craven)
Matt Thompson, DB, 6-2, 195, Fr., Mebane, N.C. (Eastern Alamance)
Devon Wallace, DB, 6-2, 195, Fr., Burlington, N.C. (Southern Alamance)


Wide Receivers
Seniors:
*Phillip Henry 6-0/180 Elizabeth City, N.C. (Elizabeth City State)
*Chris Johnson 5-11/200 Orlando, Fla. (Olympia) {RB to WR}
*Juwon Crowell 6-2/190 Winston-Salem, N.C. (Carver)
*Steven Rogers 6-0/186 Augusta, Ga. (Evans)

Juniors:
Jeremy Bullard 6-1/200 Raleigh, N.C. (Hudson Valley CC)
Ricky Johnson 6-5/202 Newport News, Va. (Hudson Valley CC)
T.J. Lee, WR, 6-0, 200, Jr., Raleigh, N.C. (Bakersfield Junior College)
Sophomores:
*Jamar Bryant 6-2/205 Hamlet, N.C. (Richmond County)
*Alex Taylor 6-4/215 Greensboro, N.C. (Southwest Guilford)
*Kyle Johnson 6-3/209 Charlotte, N.C. (Hopewell)
Erik Nowell 5-9/160 Charlotte, N.C. (West Mecklenburg) {John to Erik}

Freshmen:
Dwayne Harris 6-0/190 Stone Mountain, Ga. (Tucker) R/S {QB to WR}
Javon Brumsey 6-4/190 Elizabeth City, N.C. (Northeastern) R/S
Demorio Waymon 6-3/185 Tallahassee, Fla. (Rickards) R/S

Troken Williams 6-0/189 Henderson, N.C. (Vance)
Ryan Weymann 5-11/178 Charlotte, N.C. (Myers Park)
Colton Miller 5-10/183 Monroe (Coastal Carolina)
Steven Regensburg 5-11/165 Kill Devil Hills (Paul VI/Va.)
Anthony Green 6-2/180 Concord, N.C. (Central Cabarrus)
Melvin Moore 6-1/186 Williamston, N.C. (Pitt CC)
Nick Adams, WR, 6-1, 184, Fr., Walterboro, S.C. (Colleton County)
Darryl Freeney, WR, 5-11, 185, Fr., Suffolk, Va. (Nansemond River)


Quarterbacks
Junior:
*Patrick Pinkney 6-0/195 Fayetteville, N.C. (Pine Forest)
Sophomores:
*Brett Clay 6-0/207 Concord, N.C. (Robinson)
*Rob Kass 6-4/250 Longwood, Fla. (Lake Highland)
Joseph Sloan 5-11/180 Chester, Va. (Thomas Dale)
Wayne Hunter 5-11/189 Manteo, N.C. (Air Force) {WR to QB}

Taylor Mazzone 6-1/195 Raleigh N.C. (Mississippi State)
Freshmen:
D.J. McFadden, QB, 6-2, 210, Fr., Charlotte, N.C. (Independence)
Rodney Cox, ATH, 6-6, 230, Fr., Angier, N.C. (Harnett Central)


Running Backs
Seniors:
Michael Hickman 6-1/212 Greenville, N.C. (D.H. Conley) should be r/s Jr.
???Kristopher Bland 5-8/171 Havelock, N.C. (Craven CC) {Will to Kris}???
Juniors:
*Dominique Lindsay 5-10/212 Charlotte, N.C. (Independence)
*Brandon Simmons 6-1/223 Newton Grove, N.C. (Elizabeth City State)
Ryan Onofrio 6-0/249 Newport, N.C. (Croatan)

Melvin Elam 5-11/203 Chester, S.C. (Vermilion CC)
Justin Brockmeyer 5-10/190 Pasadena, Md. (McDaniel College)
Tobias Hilliard 6-0/225 Rocky Mount, N.C. (NC Wesleyan)
Derrick Jones 6-1/226 Elizabethtown, N.C. (Louisburg)
J.R. Rogers, RB, 5-11, 190, Jr., Raleigh, N.C. (Bakersfield Junior College)
Sophomores:
Darnell Ballard 5-7/192 Fayetteville, N.C. (Cape Fear)
Jon Castillo 5-8/198 Jacksonville, N.C. (White Oak)

Freshmen:
Norman Whitley 5-9/185 Hamlet, N.C. (Richmond County) R/S
Travis Brake 5-10/232 Rocky Mount, N.C. (Northern Nash)
Justin Lee 5-8/170 Fayettteville, N.C. (Fayettteville Christian)
Mike Hazel 6-1/221 Charlotte, N.C. (Hargrave Military)
DaRonte McNeil, RB, 6-2, 217, Fr., Elizabeth City, N.C. (Northeastern)
Jonathan Williams, RB, 6-1, 190, Fr., Greenville, N.C. (J.H. Rose)
Tyrell Worthington, RB, 6-0, 180, Fr., Greenville, N.C. (South Central)


Linebackers
Seniors:
*Danny Muhwezi 6-3/233 Germantown, Md. (Lackawanna)
*Durwin Lamb 6-1/245 Opa-Locka, Fla. (Pace)
*Fred Wilson 6-2/250 Cross, S.C. (Georgia Military CC)
Orlando Farrow 6-3/221 Georgetown, Del. (Lackawanna College)

Juniors:
*Pierre Bell 6-2/238 Vanceboro, N.C. (West Craven)
*Quentin Cotton 6-2/224 High Point, N.C. (Glenn)
*Jason Simmons 6-0/228 Newton Grove, N.C. (Elizabeth City State) {FB to LB}
Jarrett Wiggins 6-5/225 Camden, S.C. (Camden)

Dalvon Mack 6-0/243 Fayetteville, N.C. (Livingston)
Juan Quintanilla 6-0/241 Mount Olive, N.C. (Sprunt CC)
Tyler Stull 5-10/178 Bunn, N.C. (Wake Tech)
Sophomores:
*Nick Johnson 6-1/226 Charlotte (East Mecklenburg)
*Lorenzo Osborne 6-3/188 Atlanta, Ga. (Mays)
*Pete Proukou 5-11/228 Burgaw, N.C. (New Hanover)
*Jeremy Chambliss 6-0/222 Tyrone, Ga. (Douglass)

Freshmen:
A.J. Johnson 6-2/245 Atlanta, Ga. (Southside) R/S
Brock Hadelman 6-0/239 Raleigh, N.C. (North Carolina Central)
Austin Haynes, LB, 6-2, 210, Fr., Jacksonville, N.C. (Southwest Onslow)
Cliff Perryman, LB, 6-1, 218, Fr., Richmond, Va. (Hermitage)
Steve Spence, LB, 6-2, 221, Fr., Norfolk, Va. (Maury)


FullBacks
Junior:
David Ward 5-11/234 Raleigh, N.C. (Elon)
Freshmen:
Kevin Gidrey 6-2/250 Virginia Beach, Va. (Kempsville) R/S
Ben Herlocker, FB, 6-0, 206, Fr., Charlotte, N.C. (Charlotte Catholic)

Defensive Line
Seniors:
*Mark Robinson 6-3/286 Longwood, Fla. (Lyman)
*Wendell Chavis 6-2/280 Ahoskie, N.C. (Hertford County)
Craig Harper 6-4/265 Rocky Mount, N.C. (Rocky Mount)
Nweike Osemene 6-5/285 Columbia, S.C. (A.C. Flora)

James Graham 6-1/255 Elizabethtown, N.C. (St. Augustines College)
Juniors:
*Marcus Hands 6-5/277 Wilmington, N.C. (Laney)
*Zach Slate 6-5/227 Melbourne, Fla. (Melbourne)
Khalif Mitchell 6-6/297 Jackson, N.J. (North Carolina)

Sophomores:
*Jay Ross 6-3/315 Wilmington (New Hanover)
*Scotty Robinson 6-4/247 Salisbury, N.C. (Salisbury)
*Doug Palmer 6-3/315 Fayetteville, N.C. (Byrd)
*C.J. Wilson 6-4/265 Belhaven, N.C. (Northside)

??Matt Newman 6-4/290 Newport, N.C. (Croatan) ??
Ray Tyson 6-2/230 Midlotian, Va. (John Tyler CC)
Luke Danso 6-6/338 Kumasai, Ghana (Opuku Ware)
Freshmen:
Travis Melvin 6-6/265 Fayetteville, N.C (Cape Fear) R/S
Joe Council 6-4/230 Walterboro, S.C. (Colleton County) R/S
Chris Atkins 6-3/222 Chattahoochee, Fla. (West Gadsden) R/S
Willie Smith 6-6/242 Kenly, N.C. (North Johnston) R/S

Antonio Allison, DL, 6-4, 300, Fr., Statesville, N.C. (West Iredell)
Steven Baker, DL, 6-8, 315, Fr., Rocky Mount, N.C. (Northern Nash)
Linval Joseph, DL, 6-6, 308, Fr., Alachua, Fla. (Santa Fe)
Antwan Jones, DL, 6-6, 320, Fr., Pinnacle, N.C. (West Stokes)
Maurice Mercer, DL, 6-5, 245, Fr., Nashville, N.C. (Nash Central)


Offensive Line
Seniors:
*Matt Butler 6-4/309 Salisbury, N.C. (Salisbury)
*Josh Coffman 6-7/300 Palmetto, Fla. (Palmetto)

Juniors:
*Brandon Setzer 6-6/303 Thomasville, N.C. (Hargrave Military) {DL to OL}
*Paul Walsh 6-5/324 Tallahassee, Fla. (North Florida Christian)
*Fred Hicks 6-0/306 Seffner, Fla. (Armwood)
Willie Barton 6-5/350 Palmetto, Fla. (Georgia Military CC)

??Raphael McNair 6-5/385 Goldsboro, N.C. (Goldsboro)??
Matthew Rukasuwan 6-1/278 Charlotte, N.C. (East Mecklen)
Sophomores:
*Sean Allen 6-3/303 Wilson, N.C. (Hunt)
*Terence Campbell 6-5/332 Maxton, N.C. (Purnell Swett)
INJURY!!
*Cory Dowless 6-5/313 Franklinville, N.C. (Eastern Randolph)
*Stephen Heis 6-5/292 Cincinnati, Ohio (Anderson)
Jonathan Battle 6-3/307 Lovejoy, Ga. (Lovejoy)
Josh Stahl 6-4/333 Jacksonville, N.C. (Jacksonville)

Freshmen:
Andrew Farr 6-4/285 Pell City, Ala. (Hargrave Military) R/S
Doug Polochak 6-4/283 Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. (Nease) R/S
Travis Bastin 6-1/304 Newport, N.C. (East Carteret) R/S
D.J. Scott 6-6/307 Green Cove Springs, Fla. (Clay) R/S
Larry Lease 6-2/283 North Fort Myers, Fla. (North Fort Myers) R/S {DL to OL}

Jeffrey McElray 6-4/284 Pinetown, N.C. (Northside)

Deep Snapper
*Wilson Raynor 6-2/229 JR Dunn, N.C. (Hargrave Military)
Corey Bass 6-0/240 JR Raleigh (Mississippi State)


Placekickers:
*Ben Hartman SO Winston-Salem, N.C. (North Davidson)
Paul Neimeister JR Shamona, N.J. (Shawnee)
Matt Dodge SO Morehead City, N.C. (Appalachian State)
Stephen Stackhouse SO Goldsboro, N.C. (Eastern Wayne)
Charles Paderick FR Sanford, N.C. (Lee County)
Austin Kingrey FR Cape Hatteras, N.C. (Cape Hatteras)
Jon-Michael Broyles FR Albemarle (Albemarle)

Punter
Nathan Przestrzelski 6-5/175 Punter FR Black Mountain, N.C. R/S

Missing From Last Year's Roster: (Neither had seen Playing time in 2006)
Freshman LB Mike Caple 6-1/225 FR Wadesboro, N.C. (Anson)
Freshman DL Johnnie McCoy 6-3/248 Fayetteville, N.C. (Seventy-First)


Rumors: For what they're worth
NCState's Sophomore WR Geron James (6-4, 185) from Wilmington is no longer with the Wolfpack. Could he be heading here?
Oklahoma's Sophomore WR Eric Huggins (6-3, 190) from Conway, SC is no longer with the Sooners. Could he be heading here?
02-26-2007 05:06 PM
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WalkThePlank Offline
Heisman
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Posts: 5,128
Joined: Jul 2006
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I Root For: ECU
Location: Raleigh
Post: #2
 
Nice update!
02-26-2007 05:35 PM
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PiKappWags Offline
Capt'n Pabst
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Posts: 2,095
Joined: Nov 2003
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I Root For: East Carolina
Location: Shallotte, NC
Post: #3
 
Spring Football Notebook No. 2

Pirates Complete Second Workout
March 2, 2007

GREENVILLE, N.C. - The East Carolina Pirates conducted their second official spring workout with a 150-minute practice late Friday afternoon at Hight Field inside the Cliff Moore Practice Complex.


After beginning camp with a pair of introductory workouts in shorts and helmets, ECU Head Coach Skip Holtz and his staff will direct the Pirates' first full-pad session Monday afternoon.


ECU continued to stress positional fundamental work throughout Friday's practice, which was held in breezy conditions with temperatures hovering in the mid-60s. After opening the practice with traditional individual work, both units engaged in team drills for the remainder of the session and refreshed concepts of Holtz' offensive and defensive schemes.


"I thought we got a lot of work done in our first two days in shorts," Holtz said. "I like the energy out there and everyone appears to have an extra bounce in their step. We'll move on to pads Monday, and while it would be natural for things to slow down a little, I think we're all looking forward to getting to the next phase and seeing where we are."


Before closing the practice with a brief special teams kicking period, the Pirates wrapped up the team portion of the workout with a crisp 11-on-11 drill which featured all three returning quarterbacks on ECU's active roster participating in short-to-mid-range passing exercises along with the unit's running backs and receiver corps.


East Carolina will open its second week of workouts with a 4:00 p.m. practice Monday before following with sessions Wednesday and Thursday before departing for Spring Break next Friday.


NOTES: East Carolina sophomore offensive lineman Terence Campbell, who underwent an emergency surgical procedure early Tuesday morning, was released from Pitt County Memorial Hospital Friday afternoon ... East Carolina hosted its annual Coaches Clinic Friday, which included high school staffs from all over the state of North Carolina.
03-02-2007 11:42 PM
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PiKappWags Offline
Capt'n Pabst
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Posts: 2,095
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I Root For: East Carolina
Location: Shallotte, NC
Post: #4
 
Spring Football Notebook No. 3

ECU Conducts First Full-Pad Workout

March 5, 2007

GREENVILLE, N.C. - After two non-contact orientation sessions in shorts and helmets, third-year head coach Skip Holtz and the East Carolina Pirates began their spring practice schedule in earnest Monday afternoon by working two-plus hours in full pads on Hight Field inside the Cliff Moore Practice Complex.


Holtz guided ECU's first full-pad practice after pair of introductory workouts last week. The contact session was the first of 12 which will be conducted in full gear, including a pair of scrimmages and the Purple-Gold Spring Game on April 14.


"We are continuing to work hard but we're still a long ways away," Holtz said. "I had hoped for a little more intensity today considering it was our first day in pads but instead we looked tentative as things began moving at a much faster pace."


Despite the addition of equipment, Holtz and his staff spent the majority of the session stressing fundamentals while continuing the review process of the Pirates' offensive and defensive playbooks.


ECU also worked through various team sessions towards the end of the practice period which included a traditional three-on-three drill which featured matchups between the Pirates' tight ends, offensive and defensive lines, wide receivers and defensive backs, running backs and linebackers at point-blank range on a shortened field.


"Offensively, we're still in the individual development stage on the line," Holtz added. "It's been difficult to put it together with any sort of consistency. As is typically the case this time of year, the defense is a little ahead of the game. They've done some good things and are running around the football pretty well."


Monday's practice opened the second week of workouts for the Pirates, who will return to the practice facility Wednesday and Thursday afternoons before taking a week off to enjoy Spring Break, which begins Friday afternoon. Upon its return to campus Monday, March 19, ECU will have just two sessions to prepare for the first scrimmage of camp scheduled for Friday, March 23 at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.
03-06-2007 05:01 PM
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PiKappWags Offline
Capt'n Pabst
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Posts: 2,095
Joined: Nov 2003
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I Root For: East Carolina
Location: Shallotte, NC
Post: #5
 
Spring Football Notebook No. 4

Pirates Return To Work With Another Full-Pad Session Wednesday
Pirate linemen participate in drills Wednesday

March 7, 2007

GREENVILLE, N.C. - After enjoying a day off Tuesday, East Carolina Head Football Coach Skip Holtz and his Pirate football program resumed its spring practice schedule Wednesday afternoon. The two-and-half hour workout, conducted on Hight Field inside the Cliff Moore Practice Complex, was the Pirates' fourth overall and second in full pads.


While continuing focus on the delivery and execution of offensive and defensive fundamentals through different assignments such as a full-speed simulated 11-on-11 controlled scrimmage drill, Holtz and his staff continued the process of developing the program's first official depth chart, which will be released after the playing of ECU's initial full intra-squad scrimmage, scheduled for Friday, March 23.


Holtz would like to identify the Pirates' top two units after the first two weeks of work in order for selected personnel to take the majority of the repetitions during the last three weeks of drills, including the Purple-Gold Spring Game April 14.


"We had a much better effort today," Holtz said. "Our attention to detail was at a higher level and we came out more focused. It's important for us to get five good days in prior to the break with a lot of work in the fundamental, drill and team aspect of the spring."


One of the areas hardest-hit by personnel losses is ECU's defensive secondary, where only senior cornerback Travis Williams returns as a starter off a unit which helped the Pirates to a No. 35 national standing in pass defense (184.2 ypg) and a No. 21 rating in interceptions with 16 in 2006. On the other hand, in addition to Williams, East Carolina does welcome back a total of six lettermen who experienced game-day action as a defensive back a year ago. In addition, Holtz has moved sophomore Van Eskridge from linebacker to one of the safety positions to bolster ECU's depth. Eskridge finished his freshman campaign as the Pirates' fifth-leading tackler with 60 stops last year after playing in all 13 games and making six starts.


"Getting reps is our main priority at this stage with the amount of redshirts, walk-ons and other young players we currently have in our program," Holtz added. "I'm certainly pleased we're making progress, but again, we have got a lot of work in front of us."


East Carolina will return to work Thursday beginning at 4:45 p.m. before taking a week off to enjoy Spring Break March 12-16.
03-07-2007 08:28 PM
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PiKappWags Offline
Capt'n Pabst
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Posts: 2,095
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I Root For: East Carolina
Location: Shallotte, NC
Post: #6
 
Newcomer proud to wear purple and gold
Defensive lineman Khalif Mitchell drops the Carolina blue


Jared Jackson
Posted: 3/7/07

Khalif Mitchell walked across the turf at the Pirates football practice complex with a gigantic smile that makes his presence heavily felt among the other players. The 6-foot-6, 320-pound transfer from the University of North Carolina couldn't be any happier.

Mitchell, a Virginia Beach native who didn't start playing football until his junior year of high school, started two games for the Tar Heels as a freshman, recording 15 tackles [4.5 which were for loss], 1.5 sacks and one forced fumble. As a sophomore in 2005, he tallied 13 tackles, two fumble recoveries, and four quarterback hurries.

Perhaps Mitchell's biggest contribution to the North Carolina program came on Oct. 9, 2004 as the UNC defense lined up against rival N.C. State on its own one-yard line. As Jay Davis took the snap and handed off to T.A. McClendon, Mitchell burst through the Wolfpack's front seven and hit McClendon in midair forcing a fumble and sealing a Tar Heel win. "The Play" as it's referred to is one of the most significant in the North Carolina football program's history.

"Oh man, I remember that play like yesterday" Mitchell exclaimed with laughter

"There's one thing on the Carolina board; it's still there today because I wrote it in permanent marker," said Mitchell. "It said, if you play hard then you will win". I put "if you believe you will win".

"I just went out there and said to myself they're not going to score, and it didn't matter whether it was me or the guy across the field, they're not going to score," said Mitchell as he recalled the play he is most remembered for. "I just believed we were going to win. I didn't even know he fumbled, I just knew he didn't cross the line because I took two steps up and that's all I needed."

Mitchell appeared to be on the verge of greatness, but shortly before the 2006 season former UNC head coach John Bunting issued a statement announcing that Mitchell was no longer part of the team.

"He will not be with us this fall," Bunting said according to the statement, without providing the reason for Mitchell's departure. "Khalif's a good kid who has a lot of potential both on and off the field."

While rumors stirred around Chapel Hill and Internet message boards all across the region, Mitchell disappeared without a trace.

"I want to say factually, I didn't get dismissed from Carolina," Mitchell stated. "I left Carolina. It just wasn't for me anymore. I just felt like I needed a change."

Mitchell said a lot of thought went into the decision.

"I talked to my family about it, I made sure I took a lot of time to think about it," said Mitchell. "I love Carolina; I still love Carolina. I was there for two years so I took time to think about it. When I thought about it, it was the right thing to do."

While Mitchell eventually found his way to ECU, that wasn't always the plan.

"I was actually about to go to Arkansas," Mitchell said. "I had a good relationship with coach [Houston] Nutt.

Mitchell hesitates before revealing why he didn't end up with the Razorbacks.

"When it came down to academic credits, I had done a lot of schoolwork at North Carolina. When the credits transferred over to Arkansas, they wouldn't have transferred over to get me the amount of credits that I'd worked for.

Mitchell said that coach Nutt advised him not to come to Arkansas because of the credit situation. So Mitchell looked for a second opinion from a couple of trusted friends and mentors. He spoke to his former Hargrave Military Academy coach.

Finally he seeked advise from close friend Marcus Hands. Hands is a ECU defensive lineman who went through a very similar situation as Mitchell.

"I talked to my coach from Hargrave, then the next thing you know I talked to Marcus [Hands] and the guys," said Mitchell. "I got to talking to the coaches and the next thing you know I came here [ECU] and I'm loving it.

One person that certainly isn't upset with Mitchell's decision to transfer to ECU is Pirates Head Coach Skip Holtz. At a pre-spring football press conference, the third year head coach mentioned Mitchell as player to specifically look out for.

"He plays with a passion, an excitement, an enthusiasm and emotion. He plays the game the way it's supposed to be played," said Holtz. "He plays it and he's all heart. I'm really excited; I think he is one of the guys that has a chance to make a real splash this year."

After transferring, Mitchell has learned that Coach Holtz is totally different from what coach Bunting was like during his tenure at UNC.

"Coach Bunting was a great guy," Mitchell said of his former coach. "He was very, very different; he's from the NFL, so obviously the coaches in the NFL are a lot more stern; more business friendly."

"Coach Holtz is more of a friend to people. If I catch coach Holtz walking outside I might go jump on him or something. You know I couldn't do that with coach Bunting because he is more about business and serious," said Mitchell. "I can just come out here and relax and relate to coach [Holtz] a lot better. He understands that I came from Carolina. He understands that there is a lot of tension since [the teams are] close. So he just made the process a lot easier."

Mitchell had to sit out last year due to transfer rules and considers it a blessing.

"I had a chance to try out different moves, try out different scenarios," Mitchell said of using the redshirt time to his advantage. "I started loving practice. It was the only time I could put on pads, so I fell in love with practice. It showed me how to polish up my skills and be a better player."

When he returns to the field for the 2007 season, Mitchell wants to prove to his new, as well as old coaches, that he can bounce back.

"My personal goals for the season are just to take all the coaching I've learned from both coach Browning over at Carolina and coach Thompson over here at East Carolina and just show both of those guys that I'm the type of player that when you coach me I'm going to learn it, go ahead and get it right, and polish up on it," Mitchell said. "The one thing I want people to gain from me, if they can say something, is that "he was resilient against odds."

The Tar Heels will make their way to Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium for the first time since 2003 on Sept. 9.

While having thought about the clash since transferring from UNC, Mitchell banished the thoughts from his mind as soon as spring practice began.

"I dreamt about it everyday until today," Mitchell said on the opening day of spring practice. "I'm like everybody else now; I'm not redshirting anymore so I have to worry about Virginia Tech first. That's still a rivalry for me because I'm from Virginia Beach, so that's the "boys" I worked against [in high school]. I'm just taking it a game at a time."

Mitchell added that there's no question he is looking forward to playing some of his former teammates.

"When Carolina comes around I'll tell you how I feel about that," he said.

And with that, Mitchell walks off the turf in the chill of the early spring night and is finally exactly where he wants to be; wearing the purple and gold.

This writer can be contacted at sports@theeastcarolinian.com.
03-08-2007 12:40 AM
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PiKappWags Offline
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Spring Football Notebook No. 6

Pirate Football Returns To Work After Spring Break
The Pirates went back to work Monday after Spring Break

March 19, 2007

GREENVILLE, N.C. - Head coach Skip Holtz and his East Carolina football program resumed its spring practice schedule Monday afternoon after enjoying a 10-day Spring Break layoff. The two-and-a-half hour workout, conducted on Hight Field inside the Cliff Moore Practice Complex, was the Pirates' sixth overall and fourth in full pads.


Monday's session also officially opened preparation efforts in earnest for ECU's first intra-squad scrimmage of the spring which is scheduled for Friday at 4:00 p.m. at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.


"It was good to get back into the swing of things," Holtz said. "As is the case with any young talented football team, there seems to be both good and bad elements with each practice. We'll progress in one area and perhaps take a step back in another on a certain day. However, the intensity and spirit is there and we competed, and at this point, that's certainly a positive."


Holtz and staff also continued work Monday toward the establishment of the program's initial depth chart of the season after spending the first two weeks of camp emphasizing fundamental individual drill work. The two-deep, which will be released after Friday's scrimmage, will allow the Pirates to fine-tune efforts in their respective offensive and defensive packages with the first and second units experiencing the majority of the action during the last three weeks of workouts.


"I thought we made some progress offensively today," Holtz added. "I said earlier during the first two weeks that the defense was ahead of the game, but I think we're beginning to come around on offense. We're still a long way from being where we need to be but I'm encouraged by what I see."


The East Carolina program will welcome scouts and several position coaches from over 20 different National Football League organizations to its annual outgoing senior pro-timing day Tuesday afternoon. The combine-type workout will include weight and agility sessions in the strength and conditioning center and traditional speed drills such as the 40-yard dash and various shuttle runs on the artificial surface of Hight Field.

Former Pirate regular starters such as quarterback James Pinkney, running back Brandon Fractious, offensive tackle Eric Graham, wide receiver Bobby Good, cornerback Kasey Ross, safety Jamar Flournoy, punter Ryan Dougherty and kicker Robert Lee will join approximately a dozen or more other hopefuls during the tryout. Wide receiver Aundrae Allison, projected as a possible late first-day pick by many draft publication and television experts, is scheduled to participate in an individual session with the NFL personnel but is not expected to take part in the sprint phase of the event.

After an off-day Tuesday, the Pirates will return to work Wednesday beginning at 4:00 p.m. before closing the week with Friday afternoon's scrimmage.
03-19-2007 07:26 PM
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PiKappWags Offline
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Ive updated the roster in the original topic to reflect those which are no longer on the roster... assuming theyve been cut

They are indicated in green
The ones in bold green are those which I had on last years roster.
03-29-2007 09:25 PM
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PirateTreasureNC Offline
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He PiKapp.. I think there is a new updated depth chart @ http://www.ecupirates.com
03-29-2007 10:16 PM
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PiKappWags Offline
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Post: #10
 
PirateTreasureNC Wrote:He PiKapp.. I think there is a new updated depth chart @ http://www.ecupirates.com

Its been linked at the top of the original post...
I really need to tidy up or just redo this thread
03-30-2007 08:01 AM
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