ECU depth chart loaded with talent from top to bottom

As Skip Holtz and company continue to prepare for kickoff against Appalachian State on Sept. 5, we figured it would the perfect time to break down the roster and give you names to look out for in 2009.

Quarterbacks

The Pirates return two-year starting quarterback Patrick Pinkney for the 2009 season.

Pinkney, who was granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA, enters this season at the helm of the Pirate offense. The 6-foot signal caller has been in every kind of situation in his two years as ECU's starter and there will not be much opposing defenses can throw that he will not be able to react to.

Pinkney passed for 2,675 yards and 14 touchdowns last season.

Backing up the talented senior is a job that is up in the air with the departure of Rob Kass, who has made the switch to tight end. Redshirt freshman Josh Jordan and true freshman Rio Johnson have battled throughout summer practice.

Neither has taken a snap in a live college football game but whoever is named the Pirates second-string quarterback will be more than capable to step in and relieve Pinkney.

Running back

No other position player besides the quarterback touches the ball more than the running back and the Pirates' backfield is loaded with talent for the upcoming season.

The Pirates' running backs that are vying for playing time are senior Dominique Lindsay, sophomore Brandon Jackson, junior Jonathan Williams, junior Norman Whitley, senior Darnel Ballard and junior college transfer Giavanni Ruffin.

All six running backs will compete for carries this season and all are very talented.

Even though Whitley led the Pirates in rushing yards last season, accumulating 722 yards, he enters the season behind Lindsay and Jackson on the depth chart due to injuries.

Lindsay and Jackson emerged from camp as the projected starters for week one against Appalachian State but the other five will likely also see action against the Mountaineers.

Wide Receiver

The Pirates look to be as talented at wide receiver as they are at running back. Offensive coordinator Todd Fitch will have a sleuth of weapons at his disposal for the upcoming season.

Junior all-purpose wide receiver Dwayne Harris, seniors Reyn Willis, Alex Taylor and Jamar Bryant will highlight the Pirates wide receiver core.

Harris led all Pirate wide receivers last season in receiving yards hauling in 654 yards.

Along with their solid group of seniors, wide receiver coach Donnie Kirkpatrick is going to use sophomores Darryl Freeney and Joe Womack, who both had stellar freshman years for the Pirates in 2008.

The combo gathered in 582 yards combined in their respective rookie seasons.

One player that may surprise Pirate fans is redshirt freshman Andrew Bodenheimer. The 6-foot-3 wide receiver could have a break out as a freshman and develop into a valuable asset for the Pirates in the future.

Tight End

The loss of star tight end Davon Drew is one of a few key loses for Coach Holtz and his staff entering this season. Drew was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2009 NFL draft and is about to get his professional career under way.

Senior Kevin Gidrey gained valuable experience last season as Drew's backup and he looks primed to take over the reigns as the Pirates go to tight end.

Sophomore Michael Byrd will also take some reps with the first team, as he is one of two returning tight ends from last year's team.

The Pirates have a lot of new faces at tight end this year looking to make an immediate impact. Senior Rob Kass moved over from quarterback to tight end in the offseason and he has been impressive throughout pre-season practice.

Offensive Line

Over the past few years there have been a few players that have become common faces on the ECU offensive line.

When someone thinks of the Pirates offensive line names such as Cory Dowless, D.J. Scott, Terrance Campbell, Doug Palmer and Sean Allen come to mind.

Some younger lineman such as sophomore Steven Baker and juniors Willie Smith and Doug Polochak need to contribute in the upcoming season if the Pirates are going to have another successful season.

Seniors T.J. Harper and Stephen Heis will also play key roles as backups in the upcoming season.

Defensive Line

The performance of ECU's defensive line led by Defensive Line Coach Rock Roggeman and Defensive Coordinator Greg Hudson over the past few years has been stellar and this year's group looks like it will keep the tradition going.

Led by preseason Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year C.J. Wilson, the Pirates defensive line is going to be tough to crack in 2009.

On the opposite side of the line defensive end Scotty Robinson enters his senior campaign as the other starting defensive end.

Along with Robinson and Wilson, two talented defensive tackles in Jay Ross and Linval Joesph highlight the defensive line. Ross recorded 48 tackles and five sacks as a junior.

The talent level doesn't drop off much after the starters with senior Josh Smith, sophomores Antonio Allison and Maurice Mercer and converted former linebacker Cliff Perryman all projected to play key roles on the line.

Linebacker

The Pirates linebacker core features a group of players that played key roles in last years Conference USA championship run. The trio of seniors that enter the 2009 season as starters are Nick Johnson, Jeremy Chambliss and Chris Mattocks.

This is going to be the first full season at linebacker for Mattocks who switched from safety to linebacker in the middle of last season.

Chambliss and Johnson have been mainstays on Coach Hudson defense throughout their entire career at ECU.

Johnson led the Pirates defense in tackles last season recording 102 tackles playing in all of the Pirates fourteen games, while Chambliss recorded 60 tackles in 14 games last season.

Key reserves for the 2009 season include sophomores Matt Thompson, Austin Haynes, Steve Spence and juniors Dustin Lineback and Melvin Patterson.

Defensive Backfield

One of the strengths of the 2009 ECU football team is their experienced defensive backs and safeties.

Juniors Dekota Marshall and Travis Simmons have contributed over the past few years and the dynamic duo enter the season as the starting defensive backs.

2008 Conference USA All-Conference First Team selection Van Eskridge returns for his senior season will hopes of having a better season than his all-conference junior campaign.

The Shelby native led the Pirates in interceptions as a junior and will be a great leader on the defense during his senior season.

N.C. State transfer Levin Neal enters his senior year as the projected starter at strong safety. Neal has yet to wear the purple and gold in a game but his experience playing in the ACC is a valuable commodity for the Pirates defensive backfield in 2009.

Some vital players that will come off the bench and significantly contribute are junior Darryl Reynolds, sophomores Emmanuel Davis, Devon Wallace and Derek Blacknall as well as redshirt freshman Justin Venable, Leonard Paulk and Rahkeem Morgan.

Special Teams

The Pirates return both their starting kicker and punter for the second consecutive season.

Senior Matt Dodge will handle the punting duties again and he was selected as a member of the Ray Guy Award Watch List, which is given to the nation's top punter.

Senior Ben Hartman enters his senior campaign after a solid junior season where he connected on 68 percent of his field goals.

The Winston-Salem native was selected as a member of the Lou Groza Award watch list, which is given to the nation's top placekicker.

Junior long snapper William Smith will replace long time starter Wilson Raynor and handle the snapping duties for the 2009 season.