ECU Offers 2026 North Pitt Standout Ethan Wilson

Picture Credit: Joshua Graham

East Carolina has been circling North Pitt defensive lineman Ethan Wilson for a while, and on Wednesday the Pirates finally made it official. The Class of 2026 prospect announced he’s picked up an ECU offer, giving him a chance to stay home and play in Greenville.

Wilson’s recruitment has picked up steam over the last month. He didn’t land his first FBS offer until Aug. 31, when Hawaii came through. Since then, the list has grown to include Missouri State, Middle Tennessee, Eastern Michigan, Delaware — and now the Pirates.

The ECU ties here are hard to miss. Wilson plays his high school ball in Pitt County at North Pitt, but the family connections run even deeper. His father, Amos Wilson, is on ECU’s strength staff. His cousin, Zion Wilson, is currently a starter on the Pirates’ defensive line. And his uncle, CJ Wilson, is not only the head coach at North Pitt but also a former ECU star who went on to play in the NFL.

Still, this wasn’t a free pass offer. The Pirates have taken their time with evaluations, watching Wilson closely this season and studying his film. At 6-foot-3, 240 pounds, he’s put together an impressive year for the Panthers with 55 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, and six sacks. He’s also been a factor on offense, hauling in five catches for 113 yards and a touchdown.

Wilson projects right now as a down defensive end but has the frame to potentially grow into an interior role at the next level. If he ends up in Greenville, he’d join a 2026 defensive line group that already includes Kelton Smith and Michael Foster.

For ECU, the offer makes sense on every level — he’s local, he’s proven himself, and his family is already deeply tied to the program. Now the question becomes whether the Pirates can finish the job and keep another Pitt County standout home.