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VIP Intel: Quick thoughts from ECU’s first official depth chart of the 2026 season
- Mitch Griffis is listed first at quarterback with an OR designation for Emory Williams, who could play against Alabama depending on how Griffis and the offense perform early.
- Ashton Gray has led East Carolina's running backs since spring and TJ Engleman has been consistent, while Michael Allen is questionable for the opener with a recent hamstring injury and DeJuan Lacy is expected to receive carries.
- Expected contributor Landon Sides has not practiced since camp began and is absent from the depth chart, Jaquaize Pettaway may not travel, and Tyler Johnson and Jeremiah Melvin have practiced as the outside starters.
- Karson Jones returned to practice Monday and gives East Carolina six trusted offensive linemen with Bryce Weaver able to move between guard and tackle, but the next group has no live experience at this level.
- Ashton Levells and Angelo Ross will start at corner, while DeMarius Hines has recovered from last year's knee injury to start at safety in a deep rotation that also gave Myles Pollard and Kamaurri McKinley first-team camp reps.
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Beyond the two-deep: What we’re paying attention to most with ECU’s personnel as the first game day nears
- East Carolina will travel starter Mitch Griffis, Emory Williams and true freshman Trey Burke at quarterback, with Williams also a candidate to play and redshirt freshman Cole Hodge serving as a possible fourth travel option.
- Receiver Ja'Keith Hamilton returned to practice and is likely to play in the opener, while North Texas transfer Landon Sides appears unlikely to play because of a preseason hamstring injury.
- Ashton Gray and TJ Engleman project as ECU's top two running backs, while veteran Michael Allen is expected to travel but remains a game-time decision after a preseason hamstring injury.
- ECU expects six offensive linemen to play heavily, but depth behind them remains unsettled as Niko Paic returns to second-team work after missing part of camp and Christian Harris continues to deal with preseason injuries.
- Ashton Levells-Mitchell and Angelo Ross will start at cornerback with Rae'mon Mosby and Jaylen Bowden also expected to play, while Jonathan Akins' offseason improvement has strengthened his case for the remaining rotation.
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ECU Concludes Fall Camp With Scrimmage & Media Day
- – East Carolina closed out fall camp conducting its second scrimmage before participating in the Pirates Annual Media Day event.
- Second-year head coach Blake Harrell and his staff directed the team through an up-tempo scrimmage where they worked on all three phases of the game with all three levels of offense, defense and special teams.
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