ECU Lands FIU Cornerback Transfer Ashton Levells

East Carolina continues to reshape its secondary through the transfer portal, landing former FIU cornerback Ashton Levells as the latest addition to the Pirates’ defensive back room.

Levells arrives in Greenville with plenty of experience and will enter his redshirt senior season after spending the last two years at FIU following a junior college stint. His addition comes at an important time for the East Carolina Pirates, who lost several veteran defensive backs this offseason, including starters and rotational contributors.

During the 2025 season, Levells appeared in nine games for the Panthers and made three starts on an FIU team that finished 7–6. He logged 313 defensive snaps, primarily working on the outside at cornerback. Levells finished the year with 20 tackles and four pass breakups, showing his ability to contribute in both coverage and run support.

According to Pro Football Focus, Levells posted a 62.7 overall defensive grade, including a 66.5 grade against the run and a 62.9 coverage grade. He was targeted 38 times in coverage, allowing 23 receptions for 329 yards and three touchdowns. While not a shutdown corner, Levells brings meaningful in-game experience and has consistently faced live action against FBS competition.

Levells’ commitment helps address a clear need for ECU, which is retooling its cornerback depth after the departures of Tymir Brown, Rasheed Reason, and Chance Graves. With a new defensive staff taking shape and competition expected across the secondary, Levells adds an experienced option capable of competing immediately for snaps.

As ECU continues to reload through the portal, Levells becomes another piece in what is shaping up to be a heavily revamped defensive backfield heading into the 2026 season.