Analyzing East Carolina’s 2026 transfer portal gains/losses

The East Carolina Pirates are fresh off one of their best stretches in recent memory, faring 14-5 since promoting Blake Harrell to head coach in October 2024.

Over that span, ECU has claimed two Military Bowl victories over ACC opponents, downing rival NC State in a 2024 thriller and defending its crown as heavy underdogs vs. Pittsburgh in December.

However, this newfound stretch of success under Harrell is coming with a price this offseason. ECU landed three First Team All-American Conference selections

in 2025, and all three (offensive tackle Jimarion McCrimmon, defensive tackle Zion Wilson, and free safety Ja’Marley Riddle) will suit up elsewhere in 2026. The Pirates lost several other key contributors to the portal this offseason, but Harrell’s staff replenished the roster with 22 incoming transfers.

Here’s what happened this offseason in Greenville, NC from a portal perspective:

Quarterback

Outgoing transfers: Katin Houser (Illinois), Chaston Ditta (North Texas), Raheim Jeter (TBD)

2025 production lost: 281 completions, 432 attempts, 3,515 pass yards, 22 pass TD, 6 INT, 180 rush yards, 9 rush TD

Incoming transfers: Mitch Griffis, (Texas Tech), Emory Williams (Miami (FL))

2025 production gained (FBS): 39 completions, 55 attempts, 513 pass yards, 2 pass TD, 0 INT, 48 rush yards, 1 rush TD

Losing a veteran two-year starting quarterback is never an easy obstacle to overcome. Katin Houser’s presence was one reason ECU entered the 2025 season with a ton of confidence, assured it had one of the conference’s top passers. Houser finished 21st nationally in passing with 3,300 yards, but he’ll head to Illinois to continue an impressive 2-year run by the Fighting Illini. Even backup Chaston Ditta — who started and won the Military Bowl over Pitt — is headed elsewhere, onboarding at North Texas this winter. That leaves ECU with two new (but veteran) quarterbacks to compete for the starting role. Mitch Griffis logged nine starts at Wake Forest in 2023, briefly retired from football, and returned in a backup role at Texas Tech last year. Emory Williams started two contests at Miami (FL) in 2023 and looks for an increased role after serving as the Hurricanes’ backup for three years.

Running back

Outgoing transfers: London Montgomery (Florida), Parker Jenkins (Lamar [FCS])

2025 production lost: 231 rushes, 998 rush yards, 9 rush TD, 24 receptions, 145 receiving yards, 0 receiving TD

Incoming transfers: Ashton Gray (North Texas), Michael Allen (Marshall)

2025 production gained (FBS): 135 rushes, 762 rush yards, 9 rush TD, 13 receptions, 148 receiving yards, 1 receiving TD

ECU knew it was loaded at running back heading into 2025 with three different Doak Walker Award watchlist candidates. Of the three, London Montgomery proved to be the top option, shining during the second half of the year en route to a 742-yard, 7-touchdown season. In addition to Montgomery, ECU also loses its fourth-leading rusher in Parker Jenkins, who started at Houston as a true freshman. The Pirates should feel comfortable about their reloads at this position, as they add Ashton Gray from North Texas and Michael Allen from Marshall. Gray’s transfer portal stock skyrocketed during the New Mexico Bowl where he capped his freshman campaign with a career-high 152 yards and two touchdowns on a 9.5 average. Meanwhile, Allen was an effective back at Marshall, hitting 138 yards and two scores in a double-overtime thriller vs. Louisiana. ECU will mark his fourth school in four years (with previous stops of NC State and UNLV).

Wide receiver

Outgoing transfers: Yannick Smith (SMU), Jyron Waiters (Campbell [FCS]), Malik Leverett (West Georgia [FCS]) Trenton Cloud (TBD)

2025 production lost: 51 receptions, 660 receiving yards, 5 receiving TD

Incoming transfers: Landon Sides (North Texas), Ray Ray Joseph (Miami (FL)), Jeremiah Melvin (Wake Forest), Ja’Keith Hamilton (Furman [FCS]),

2025 production gained (FBS): 39 receptions, 513 receiving yards, 2 receiving TD

East Carolina must operate in 2026 without its Smith tandem, as Anthony Smith is headed to the waters of the NFL Draft, while Yannick Smith transferred to SMU. Yannick was a third team all-conference selection and is a notable loss, but the Pirates at least retained their other receivers such as Brock Spalding, Tyler Johnson, and Jaquaize Pettaway. Those familiar faces will be joined by four transfers, headlined by Landon Sides who logged 449 yards and 34 receptions in North Texas’ No. 1 offense. Ray Ray Joseph and Jeremiah Melvin were seldom utilized receivers in ACC country, looking for a breakout in Greenville, while Ja’Keith Hamilton rounds out the group after manufacturing 545 receiving yards and five touchdowns at FCS program Furman in 2025.

Tight end

Outgoing transfers: Desirrio Riles (Florida State), Jayvontay Conner (Vanderbilt)

2025 production lost: 51 receptions, 695 receiving yards, 5 receiving TD

Incoming transfers: Ismael Smith Flores (UTRGV [FCS])

2025 production gained (FBS): N/A

East Carolina utilized a solid two tight end system in 2025, and Desirrio Riles and Jayvontay Conner starred as 1A and 1B options in a deep receiving corps. Both put up similar numbers with Riles tallying 28 catches for 362 yards, while Conner attained 23 and 333. They were the only two tight ends to catch a pass all year for ECU, so reloading is a must for the purple and gold. Ismael Smith Flores arrives as an intriguing redshirt junior from new FCS school UTRGV, with a previous 2-year stint at Nebraska. In 2025 at UTRGV, the 6’5”, 255 pound Smith Flores finished with 227 receiving yards and six touchdowns and could shape up to be the new No. 1 tight end.

Offensive line

Outgoing transfers: Jimarion McCrimon (NC State), Emmanuel Poku (South Carolina), Sam Riddy Jr. (UAB), Leivi Semaia (Midwestern State [Division II]), Dru McClough (TBD)

2025 production lost: 25 starts

Incoming transfers: Brandon Best (Kennesaw State), Hayes Creel (Southern Miss), Ethan Kramer (Northern Arizona [FCS])

2025 production gained (FBS): 27 starts

ECU lost its top two linemen to other schools in Carolina region. First Team All-American Conference left tackle Jimarion McCrimon flipped to rival NC State after protecting the blindside for 12 of 13 games, while Second Team All-American Conference right guard Emmanuel Poku is off to South Carolina. McCrimon and Poku formed a solid unit which ranked top 25 in the FBS in fewest sacks allowed at 1.4 per game. ECU must restock and the Pirates at least landed two starters — one guard and one tackle — to replace their all-conference standouts. Brandon Best should step into a starting guard role after manning it the entire season for a 10-win Kennesaw State team, while Hayes Creel led a revitalized Southern Miss squad at right tackle. Ethan Kramer is another newcomer, and a versatile one — bringing in 25 collegiate starts from FCS Northern Arizona (left guard and right tackle), with an all-conference nod to his name.

Defensive line

Outgoing transfers: Zion Wilson (Virginia), Justin Benton (North Texas), Xavier McIver (TBD)

2025 production lost: 67 tackles, 13.5 TFL, 8.5 sacks, 1 PBU, 0 INT, 0 FF, 0 FR, 0 TD

Incoming transfers: N/A

2025 production gained (FBS): N/A

In terms of loss-to-gain deficits, defensive line might feature ECU’s most crushing transfer portal blow. The d-line was instrumental to the Pirates’ nine wins in 2025, as ECU ranked fourth nationally in tackles for loss per game at 7.8 and 26th in rushing defense at 120 yards allowed per game — with the front leading the effort. Zion Wilson earned First Team All-American Conference honors after notching team-highs in sacks (7.0) and tackles for loss (10.0), while Justin Benton and Xavier McIver were recurring contributors. While ECU doesn’t have portal replacements for those three, the team did at least retain Jasiyah Robinson, Kendrick DuJour, Rion Roseborough, Preston Carr, and Kieren Davis — the top five leading sack-getters behind Wilson.

Linebacker

Outgoing transfers: Kendric Davis (West Georgia [FCS])

2025 production lost: 1 tackle, 0.0 TFL, 0.0 sacks, 0 PBU, 0 INT, 0 FF, 0 FR, 0 TD

Incoming transfers: Crews Law (Memphis), Cade Law (Memphis)

2025 production gained (FBS): 25 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 1 PBU, 0 INT, 1 FF, 0 FR, 0 TD

There wasn’t much activity at the linebacker position, and East Carolina can thank Samuel Dankah for that. Dankah generated 58 tackles and 7.0 TFL in 2025 on a defensive renowned for backfield invasion and hit the portal. However, he withdrew from the portal, giving the Pirates’ much-needed stability at the position. Joining Dankah in the linebacking corps are the Law brothers — Crews and Cade. They’ve come as a package deal at three stops now, sharing a roster at North Carolina and then doing the same at Memphis. Of the Law brothers, the younger Crews has seen more playing time in the past, racking up 100 percent of the 2025 production listed above, which includes 25 tackles and 1.5 sacks.

Defensive back

Outgoing transfers: Ja’Marley Riddle (Georgia), Jordy Lowery (Florida), O’Marion Lewis (Campbell [FCS]), Bernard Lackey Jr. (TBD)

2025 production lost: 97 tackles, 6.0 TFL, 0.0 sacks, 10 PBU, 3 INT, 1 FF, 2 FR, 0 TD

Incoming transfers: Zyeir Gamble (Appalachian State), Ashton Levells-Mitchell (FIU), Rae’mon Mosby (Louisville), Christian Peterson (UCF), Myles Pollard (Memphis), Jaylen Bowden (Minnesota)

2025 production gained (FBS): 101 tackles, 4.0 TFL, 0.0 sacks, 8 PBU, 2 INT, 2 FF, 0 FR, 0 TD

Defensive back is the position group with arguably ECU’s most impressive transfer portal haul of 2026. However, it’s also the group where the Pirates lost two of their best contributors, Jordy Lowery and Ja’Marley Riddle, the latter of whom earned First Team All-American Conference honors. The SEC-bound Riddle and Lowery were key cogs of ECU’s top 25 scoring defense in 2025, but it’s time for the Pirates to unearth new talent in the secondary. The most prized portal addition defensively is strong safety Zyeir Gamble who ranked second on App State with 76 tackles, in addition to scoring 3.5 TFL and a pair of interceptions. The other new arrival that earned significant playing time in 2025 was cornerback Ashton Levells-Mitchell, who recorded 20 tackles and four pass breakups at FIU. Three other FBS portal acquisitions — Rae’mon Mosby, Christian Peterson, and Jaylen Bowden — played sparingly at their former homes, while former national champion Myles Pollard did not suit up for Memphis in 2025 and last saw action in 2024 at Michigan.

Punter

Outgoing transfers: N/A

2025 production lost: N/A

Incoming transfers: Elliot Huether (St. Thomas [FCS])

2025 production gained (FBS): N/A

Final takeaways

East Carolina lies in an unpredictable position heading into 2026. In 2023, the Pirates finished 8-5 yet lost nearly all of their starting production, causing them to follow-up their most successful campaign in years with a 2-10 record. ECU had impressive retention from 2024 to 2025, but the 2026 team will rely heavier on player development and transfer portal success than the previous year.

However, the American Conference (service academies aside) was heavily pillaged this offseason — not just in the transfer portal, but at head coach. Eric Morris, Jon Sumrall, Alex Golesh, and Ryan Silverfield were all hired elsewhere, causing heavy turnover amidst the upper echelon of the conference. Coming off a 9-4 overall season with a 6-2 finish in conference play, ECU’s goal is to find a way to sneak into that upper echelon and qualify for its first American Conference Championship since joining the league in 2014.

Most significant portal losses