Draft Scout East Carolina Player News, College Football: East Carolina

2024 CFB/2025-2028 NFL Draft Scout

- Draft Scout Front Page Draft Scout Top 12 NFL Prospect Teams for 2025 (Based on NFL Team Preseason Scouting Grades)

- #1 Oregon (17 players in Top 350 Overall) - #2 Michigan (14) - #3 Ohio State (14) - #4 Georgia (13) - #5 Texas (11) - #6 Notre Dame (11) - #7 Penn State (10) - #8 Iowa (10) - #9 Mississippi (9) - #10 Florida State (9) - #11 Virginia Tech (9) - #12 Miami (9) - 2024-2028 CFB 5* Star Recruits - 2024-2028 FBS/FCS Team Lists/Rosters - CFB's Best Player Names By Year/Position - Draft Scout Player Directory A-Z - Players by School/College List A-Z - End of 2023 Season Risers - End of 2023 Season Fallers - CFB Player News & Notes - Draft Scout Rokfin Football Channel - Draft Scout Weekly - Phil Steele/Draft Scout - Contact Draft Scout Player Rankings by Conference: -ACC- | -American Athletic- | -Big 12- | -Big Ten- | -Conference USA- | -Independent- | -Mid-American- | -Mountain West- | -Pac-12- | -SEC- | -Sun Belt-

2023 CFB/2024-2027 NFL Draft Scout

- Draft Scout Front Page - 2024 NFL Draft Tracker/Results - 2024 Pro Timing Days/Results - 2024 Pro Timing Day Risers by Position - 2024 Pro Timing Day Fallers by Position - 2024 NFL Combine - Josh Buchanan's 2024 Top 100 Small School Prospects - End of Season Risers - End of Season Fallers - 2024 NFL Draft Underclassmen - 2024 Senior Bowl - 2024 East-West Shrine - 2024 Hula Bowl - 2024 HBCU Legacy Bowl - 2023 CFB Bowl Games/Playoffs - CFB Player News & Notes 12/03 Final CFB Playoff Top 12
- #1 Michigan - #2 Washington - #3 Texas - #4 Alabama - #5 Florida State - #6 Georgia - #7 Ohio State - #8 Oregon - #9 Missouri - #10 Penn State - #11 Mississippi - #12 Oklahoma - 2023-2027 FBS/FCS Team Lists/Rosters - CFB's Best Player Names By Year/Position - Draft Scout Player Directory A-Z - Players by School/College List A-Z - Draft Scout Rokfin Football Channel - Draft Scout Weekly - Phil Steele/Draft Scout - Contact Draft Scout Player Rankings by Conference: -ACC- | -American Athletic- | -Big 12- | -Big Ten- | -Conference USA- | -Independent- | -Mid-American- | -Mountain West- | -Pac-12- | -SEC- | -Sun Belt-

NFL Draft Scout History

- 1997 Coach Bill Walsh Draft Insider (First/Early NFL Draft Scout) - 2023 NFL Draft Tracker/Results - 2023 Undrafted by Position - 2023 Pro Timing Days/Results - 2023 Pro Timing Day Risers by Position - Draft Scout Evolve: Player Rating Changes - 2023 NFL Combine - Draft Scout CFB Risers - Draft Scout CFB Fallers - 2023 NFL Draft Underclassmen - 2023-26 #1 Georgia Bulldogs - 2023-26 #3 TCU Horned Frogs - 2022-23 CFB Bowl Schedule - EA College Football Game Pushed Back to 2024 - CFB Schedule/Roster/News Links - CFB Player Injury News & Notes - CFB Injuries by Year/Position

2022 Draft Scout

- 2022 NFL Draft Tracker - 2022 Pro Timing Days/Results - 2022 Pro Timing Day Risers by Position - 2022 NFL Combine/Results - 2022 NFL Combine Risers by Position - 2022 NFL Draft Underclassmen - 2021 Draft Scout Top 100

Draft Scout by Conference

2023 Draft Scout Offense

2023 Draft Scout Defense

2022 Draft Scout Offense

2022 Draft Scout Defense

Draft Scout College Football Player News: East Carolina

Previous 15 Notes

Next 15 Notes

11/13/21 - *Keaton Mitchell, rSo/2023, East Carolina + More +

Keaton Mitchell scored on a 24-yard run in overtime then the Pirates broke up a conversion pass to send East Carolina to a 30-29 win over Memphis on Saturday. After Rodrigues Clark scored on a 20-yard run for Memphis, the Tigers went for two. Seth Henigan rolled to the left and, under pressure, threw into a crowded end zone where the pass was easily batted down. The win gave East Carolina bowl eligibility for the first time since 2015 and its highest overall win total (6-4, 4-2 American Athletic Conference) since 2014. It was also the Pirates’ third straight win.

The Tigers (5-5, 2-4) rallied to tie in regulation when David Kemp made a 24-yard field goal as time ran out. The kick capped a 15-play, 69-yard drive that included two fourth-down conversions. ECU’s Rahjai Harris scored from a yard out with 1 1/2 minutes remaining to finish a 16-play, 75-yard drive that took nearly seven minutes and gave the Pirates a 23-20 lead. East Carolina outgained the Tigers 502-341 and rolled up 32 first downs to Memphis' 15. The Pirates' scoring drives in regulation were 65 yards or longer. But the Tigers turned two interceptions by Jacobi Francis into scoring passes and their defensive line had six sacks, led by Wardalis Ducksworth with 2 1/2. - East Carolina/AP College Football

rSo/2023

RB *Keaton Mitchell, East Carolina
News Source: East Carolina/AP College Football
Share/Comment: Here

11/08/21 - Holton Ahlers, rSr/2023, East Carolina + More +

NOV 8 AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE HONOR ROLL: Holton Ahlers, Sr., QB, East Carolina,...Completed 16 of 24 passes for 191 yards and three touchdowns and added a rushing touchdown in a 45-3 win against Temple. - American Athletic Conference Football

rSr/2023

QB Holton Ahlers, East Carolina
News Source: American Athletic Conference Football
Share/Comment: Here

11/06/21 - Holton Ahlers, rSr/2023, East Carolina + More +

Holton Ahlers threw for three touchdowns, Keaton Mitchell rushed for 146 yards and two scores and East Carolina beat Temple 45-3 on Saturday. Ahlers connected with Ryan Jones on touchdowns of 33 and 28 yards for a 13-0 lead and Shane Calhoun's only grab went for a 9-yard score to make it 20-0 with 1:33 left before halftime. Temple was held to 11 first downs and 168 total yards, and got on the board with 6:55 remaining in the fourth quarter on Rory Bell's 46-yard field goal. Ahlers was 15 of 23 for 191 yards for East Carolina (5-4, 3-2 American), which extended its conference home winning streak to four in a row. Jones had six catches for 102 yards. D'Wan Mathis and Justin Lynch combined to complete just 13-of-33 passes for 57 yards for Temple (3-6, 1-4). Lynch had a team-high 54 yards rushing. - East Carolina/AP College Football

rSr/2023

QB Holton Ahlers, East Carolina
News Source: East Carolina/AP College Football
Share/Comment: Here

10/28/21 - Holton Ahlers, rSr/2023, East Carolina + More +

Holton Ahlers passed for 220 yards and began a second-half comeback with a touchdown pass to Audie Omotosho as East Carolina rallied past South Florida 29-14 on a wet Thursday night. The 17-yard touchdown pass brought ECU within a point, 14-13. A second possession ended with three Ahler passes either broken up or hurried in or near the end zone, and a 39-yard field goal attempt on fourth down was wide in driving rain. However, two plays later the Pirates took a 19-14 lead when Malik Fleming jumped a route and intercepted USF's Katravis Marsh, returning it 31 yards for the go-ahead touchdown. The Pirates scored a third unanswered touchdown with Keaton Mitchell's 25-yard burst early in the fourth quarter and added a 37-yard Owen Daffler field goal. During the game ECU converted on five of six fourth-down plays. Rahjai Harris carried 22 times for a season-high 100 yards. Turnovers were a factor as ECU fumbled four times before halftime, losing three, while USF fumbled once and threw three interceptions in the second half to end drives. - East Carolina/AP College Football

rSr/2023

QB Holton Ahlers, East Carolina
News Source: East Carolina/AP College Football
Share/Comment: Here

10/05/21 - *Keaton Mitchell, rSo/2023, East Carolina + More +

OCT 4 AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE HONOR ROLL: Keaton Mitchell, Fr., RB, East Carolina,...Rushed for a career-high 222 yards and two touchdowns in a 52-29 win against Tulane. Registered his third consecutive 100-yard game and averaged 14.8 yards per carry. - American Athletic Conference Football

rSo/2023

RB *Keaton Mitchell, East Carolina
News Source: American Athletic Conference Football
Share/Comment: Here

10/03/21 - *Keaton Mitchell, rSo/2023, East Carolina + More +

Keaton Mitchell rushed for a career-high 222 yards and two touchdowns, Holton Ahlers threw for 288 yards and a pair of touchdowns and East Carolina defeated Tulane 52-29 on Saturday. Mitchell took a handoff 68 yards down the left sideline for a touchdown and also had a 62-yard gain from scrimmage on his first carry of the game. He carried the ball 15 times, averaging 14.8 yards per carry for East Carolina (3-2, 1-0 American Athletic Conference). Mitchell had performances of 125 and 135 yards in the Pirates previous two games and had gone over 100 yards twice in 2020.

The Green Wave (1-4, 0-1) came from 24-0 down with a flurry of points to get within eight, 31-23, late in the third after a Cameron Carroll touchdown and Michael Pratt ran for the two-point conversion, crashing through a defender at the goal line. Pratt was 22 of 36 passing for 268 yards but threw three interceptions. Carroll gained 80 yards rushing on nine carries. Pratt scored two rushing touchdowns. Tyler Snead had four catches for 78 yards for East Carolina, contributing to the big-play offense with a 53-yard touchdown reception. - East Carolina/AP College Football

rSo/2023

RB *Keaton Mitchell, East Carolina
News Source: East Carolina/AP College Football
Share/Comment: Here

09/27/21 - *JaQuan McMillian, rSo/2022, East Carolina + More +

SEPT 27 AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE HONOR ROLL: Ja'Quan McMillian, So., CB, East Carolina,...Had 10 tackles, tying his career high, and had a 23-yard interception return for a touchdown in a 31-28 win against Charleston Southern. - American Athletic Conference Football

rSo/2022

CB *JaQuan McMillian, East Carolina
News Source: American Athletic Conference Football
Share/Comment: Here

09/26/21 - *Keaton Mitchell, rSo/2023, East Carolina + More +

Keaton Mitchell broke loose for a 74-yard touchdown run to spark a 24-point second quarter, and East Carolina held on to beat Charleston Southern 31-28 on Saturday night. Freshman backup quarterback Mason Garcia entered for a play and ran for a 3-yard touchdown following Mitchell's score. Holton Ahlers added a 60-yard touchdown pass to C.J. Johnson to give East Carolina (2-2) a 24-14 lead with 2:31 left before halftime. Ja'Quan McMillian's 23-yard interception return for a touchdown stretched the Pirates' lead to 31-14 early in the third quarter.

But in the fourth quarter for Charleston Southern (1-2), Jack Chambers ran for an 8-yard touchdown, and then he added a 2-yard TD pass to Geoffrey Wall that capped the scoring with 1:50 to play. Mitchell carried the ball 13 times for 125 yards. Ahlers was 17-of-26 passing for 238 yards but also threw two interceptions. Malik Fleming blocked a field goal attempt with 4:03 remaining for the Pirates. Chambers completed 38 of 61 passes for 406 yards. He also threw a 38-yard touchdown pass to Kale Anderson in the first quarter. - East Carolina/AP College Football

rSo/2023

RB *Keaton Mitchell, East Carolina
News Source: East Carolina/AP College Football
Share/Comment: Here

09/20/21 - Holton Ahlers, rSr/2023, East Carolina + More +

SEPT 20 AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE HONOR ROLL: Holton Ahlers, Sr., QB, East Carolina,...Completed 30 of 47 passes for 368 yards and two TDs in a 42-38 win at previously unbeaten Marshall. - American Athletic Conference Football

rSr/2023

QB Holton Ahlers, East Carolina
News Source: American Athletic Conference Football
Share/Comment: Here

09/19/21 - Holton Ahlers, rSr/2023, East Carolina + More +

Holton Ahlers had touchdowns passing, rushing and receiving and Ja'Quan McMillian intercepted a pass at the goal line with six seconds left and East Carolina rallied to defeat Marshall 42-38 on Saturday night. Down 38-21 entering the fourth quarter, Ahlers scored on a 5-yard run after a 78-yard drive, then capped an 80-yard drive when he hauled in a 27-yard pass from wide receiver Tyler Snead on a trick play, making it 38-35 with 2:31 left.

The Pirates (1-2) recovered the onside kick and Rahjai Harris scored on a 1-yard plunge with 55 seconds left to cap a 53-yard drive. Ahlers was 30 of 48 passing for 368 yards and two touchdowns. Rasheen Ali rushed 24 times for 189 yards and three touchdowns and Grant Wells was 24 of 39 for 433 yards with a touchdown, adding another on the ground for Marshall (2-1). Corey Gammage had eight receptions for 180 yards. Marshall piled up 647 yards but were outgained 210-101 in the final stanza before the final drive had them at first-and-10 from the 15 with 11 seconds left. East Carolina had 571 yards of offense with Keathon Mitchell picking up 135 on 13 carries with a touchdown. Shane Calhoun had 114 yards on eight catches. - East Carolina/AP College Football

rSr/2023

QB Holton Ahlers, East Carolina
News Source: East Carolina/AP College Football
Share/Comment: Here

08/26/21 - Winston Wright Jr., rSr/2025, East Carolina + More +

Winston Wright has always been on top of the speed game. The blazing Mountaineer receiver came to campus with a reputation for making tracks, and he showed his ability to run past opponents early in his West Virginia career, taking a kickoff 95 yards for a score at Baylor in his freshman season of 2019, and splitting the Oklahoma State defense for a 70-yard catch and run last season for another TD. Still, like many members of WVU's receiving corps, inconsistency in catching the ball has left potential yards on the field, rather than in his stat line or on the books for the offense.

Wright doesn't shy away from that critique and understands that even with some of the veterans that populate the receiving room, it's his time to take the next steps in becoming a complete receiver, even though he led the Mountaineers a year ago with 47 catches for 553 yards. "It's time for me to lead now," the confident Savannah, Georgia native said. "We have a unique group, and I need to speak up, and show how to work." In addition to drilling on consistently securing catches, the smallish Wright (generously listed at 5-foot-9 and 180 pounds) has put in time adding a bit more strength. "The coaches wanted me to gain a few pounds but still keep my speed," the second-team All-Big 12 selection said of one of his offseason goals. "That will allow me to block on the perimeter better. It's all about leverage, and who wants it. I need to get better as a complete wide receiver, with my route running and my blocking. It's not just my speed. I have to do the little things that are going to separate me." - Charleston Gazette-Mail

rSr/2025

WR Winston Wright Jr., East Carolina
News Source: Charleston Gazette-Mail
Share/Comment: Here

08/20/21 - Winston Wright Jr., rSr/2025, East Carolina + More +

Despite the fact that he led the Mountaineers in receptions last season, Winston Wright has been doing all he can to be even better this time around. He's done plenty of technical work this offseason to become a better receiver and he also made a change to provide a little extra mojo. "I switched to No. 1," stated the 5-foot-10, 180-pound sophomore, who has taken over the number worn the past few years by T.J. Simmons, who has since graduated. "There wasn't any big reason for the change. I just wanted a new start in year three. I felt like it's going to be a big year for us, so the number change would be unique."

Wearing No. 16 the past couple seasons, Wright got off to a heck of a start for his college career. The slot receiver had 19 catches for 97 yards as a true freshman in 2019, playing in 10 of WVU's 12 games. Then, in his second season, he exploded with a team-high 47 receptions for 553 yards and two touchdowns. His performance in 2020 earned him second-team all-Big 12 recognition. But he thinks he's capable of even more. "I've tried to get better all the way around," explained Wright, who wore No. 4 in high school. "I put on some muscle (going from 180 to 185), and I've been studying the playbook way harder. It's year three for many of us, and we've put in more stuff (on offense), and everybody is more familiar with everything. I just want to be a leader all the way around." - Charleston Gazette-Mail

rSr/2025

WR Winston Wright Jr., East Carolina
News Source: Charleston Gazette-Mail
Share/Comment: Here

08/16/21 - D.J. Ford, rSr/2022, East Carolina + More +

Former North Carolina starting defensive back D.J. Ford signed with East Carolina in December to be an impact player for the Pirates, who in return, have gladly seen him emerge as a physical and mental leader already on defense. In addition to Ford's 6-foot-3 and 208-pound frame, the safety and graduate student uses his mind and past playing experience - he was part of two bowl appearances at UNC and played in 33 total games with nine starts - in helping younger Pirates during practices with any guidance or tips he might be able to provide. "Something I pride myself on is being able to help the team in any way I can," Ford said. "I feel like the more I can help the young guys, the more I can help myself and help this team take a step forward. Things happen and sometimes when the young guys get thrown out there, they need to be ready at all times. I do my part to make sure they are ready."

Ford opted out prior to last season, which essentially opened his path to transfer to another school for his final year of eligibility. "My motivation level is definitely high," he said. "I put a lot on myself. I feel like I have a lot to prove to myself, as well as other people, and that being the people on this team, my family, my people back home. I just want to make everyone proud." The Ashland, Ala., native is a serious candidate to be a starting safety for ECU against Appalachian State on Sept. 2 in Charlotte. - Daily Reflector

rSr/2022

SS D.J. Ford, East Carolina
News Source: Daily Reflector
Share/Comment: Here

08/01/21 - Holton Ahlers, rSr/2023, East Carolina + More +

East Carolina junior quarterback Holton Ahlers was named to the 2021 Wuerffel Trophy Watch List, according to an announcement by the organization Thursday. A 2021 preseason All-American Athletic Conference selection by Athlon Sports and Phil Steele's College Football Preview Magazine, Ahlers has already surpassed the 7,000-yard mark in passing in 30 career games. In three seasons with the Pirates, he has completed 556-of-974 passes for 7,093 yards and 51 touchdowns versus 22 interceptions.

Ahlers owns one 500-yard, four 400-yard and 10 300-yard passing outings and has thrown at least one TD pass in 21 of 30 games. He currently ranks fourth on ECU's career total yards (8,153) list, sixth in passing and seventh in completions. Last year, Ahlers threw for 1,921 yards (165-of-269) and 18 touchdowns with nine interceptions. He ranked 25th in the FBS in passing TDs, 26th in completions per game (20.6) and 30th in passing yards per game (240.1). - Daily Reflector

rSr/2023

QB Holton Ahlers, East Carolina
News Source: Daily Reflector
Share/Comment: Here

07/10/21 - Rahjai Harris, rSr/2025, East Carolina + More +

East Carolina averaged more than 400 yards of total offense and 30 points a game, thanks to the success of quarterback Holton Ahlers, who returns for his fourth year as the starter for ECU. The 6-foot-3, 230-pound left-hander makes everything click for East Carolina and saw his passing efficiency numbers improve. There are also plenty of talented players for him to select in the passing attack, led by Tyler Snead (53 receptions) and C.J. Johnson (21 yards per reception, six TDs). Houston also used the transfer portal to his benefit to aid in the passing game. Running back Rahjai Harris leads the rushing attack and is arguably one of the team's top talents, but that is contingent on the offensive line - which returns all five starters, including offensive tackle Walter Stribling - improving in run-blocking schemes and also protecting Ahlers. - Charleston Gazette

rSr/2025