ECU Bolsters Linebacker Room With Addition of Brothers Crews Law, Cade Law
East Carolina continues to reshape its defense through the transfer portal, adding a unique and familiar pairing in Crews Law and Cade Law, two linebackers transferring from Memphis. The brothers reunite once again, this time in Greenville, after previously playing together in North Carolina.
Their arrival also strengthens the connection between ECU’s new defensive staff and recent portal additions, as both Laws played under newly hired defensive coordinator Jordon Hankins during his one season at Memphis. Both are expected to enter the program with at least three years of eligibility remaining, giving the Pirates long-term depth at an important position.
A Shared Path, A Familiar Destination
Although Crews and Cade Law were part of different recruiting classes, their football journeys have followed remarkably similar paths. The two began their collegiate careers at North Carolina, transferred together to Memphis last offseason, and now reunite for a third time at East Carolina.
That continuity could ease the transition, particularly as ECU replaces significant production in its linebacker room following graduation and portal departures.
Crews Law: Productive Rotation Piece Under Hankins
Crews Law arrived at North Carolina as a three-star linebacker and a Top-100 positional recruit in the 2024 class. He redshirted his first season in Chapel Hill, appearing in three games on kickoff coverage before transferring to Memphis ahead of the 2025 campaign.
At Memphis, Crews quickly carved out a role in the defensive rotation. He appeared in 10 games, playing 164 defensive snaps, and finished the season with 23 tackles, including 14 stops near the line of scrimmage. According to Pro Football Focus, Crews earned a 69.2 overall defensive grade, highlighted by a 76.4 run-defense mark. He also showed some pass-rush ability, generating three quarterback pressures on 20 rush attempts.
Crews’ experience in Hankins’ system could allow him to compete for early snaps in Greenville.
Cade Law: Special Teams Standout With Upside
Cade Law’s path to ECU has been anything but conventional. He originally enrolled at Vanderbilt as a baseball player during the 2023 season, then entered the transfer portal midyear and shifted his focus to football. He later enrolled at North Carolina ahead of the 2023 season.
Listed at 6-foot-1, 225 pounds, Cade made his mark primarily on special teams. Over two seasons with the Tar Heels, he appeared in 24 games, logging 273 special teams snaps across kickoff coverage, kick return, and punt return units. While his defensive action was limited to just 16 linebacker snaps across five games, Cade consistently earned trust as a core special teams contributor.
He missed the 2025 season due to injury, but was expected to compete for snaps at Memphis before suffering the season-ending setback. ECU will now look to reintegrate him as both a special teams asset and a developmental linebacker.
What It Means for ECU
The additions of Crews and Cade Law provide East Carolina with experience, system familiarity, and versatility at linebacker. Crews brings proven defensive production under Hankins, while Cade adds value on special teams and depth moving forward.
With a defensive staff undergoing transition this offseason, landing players who already understand the scheme could pay immediate dividends as the Pirates prepare for the 2026 season.