⚡ CFB Dashboard

- RB: RB screen pass to give him some space to work and WRs blocking for him.

- Offense: A kickoff or kickoff return.

- Alabama's defense held East Carolina to 162 total yards and just two rushing yards, the Tide's fewest rushing yards allowed since 2021. - East Carolina quarterback Mitch Griffins connected with Jeremiah Melvin for a 1-yard touchdown but later threw the interception that Pierre returned for an Alabama touchdown.

- East Carolina will be without leading returning receiver Brock Spalding for the Alabama opener because of a week-to-week upper-body injury suffered late in practice the previous week. - East Carolina is also missing North Texas transfer Landon Sides with a hamstring issue, leaving the Pirates with a new-look receiving corps against Alabama. - Miami transfer Ray Ray Joseph has worked with the first team in the slot alongside Jeremiah Melvin and Tyler Johnson, while Johnny Williams and Jason Dickerson also received extensive preseason slot looks. - Mitch Griffis is set to make his East Carolina debut as the starting quarterback at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

- Kennesaw State transfer Brandon Best has taken East Carolina's No. 1 center job after earning all-conference honors as a starting guard last season. - Best gives ECU position flexibility at center or guard, but offensive line coach Alex Huettel described him as the unit's organizing voice through whom the protections operate. - The 6-foot-4, 313-pound fifth-year lineman focused this offseason on improving his hand placement and initial strike as he transitions to snapping the ball. - ECU opens at Alabama on Sept. 5, immediately putting its rebuilt interior line and new center communication under a high-end road test.