ECU Picks Up Commitment From UCF Defensive Back Christian Peterson

East Carolina Pirates football added another piece to its retooled secondary this week, landing a commitment from former UCF Knights football defensive back Christian Peterson.

Peterson arrives in Greenville at an important time, as ECU looks to rebuild depth and flexibility in the defensive backfield following a wave of offseason departures. The Pirates are set to lose starting nickel Jonathan Jean and veteran safeties Teagan Wilk and Ja’Marley Riddle, making Peterson a timely addition with positional versatility.

Projected to compete at nickel or safety, Peterson brings developmental upside and special teams experience to a room that will feature several new faces in 2026.

During the 2025 season at UCF, Peterson appeared in all 12 games, carving out a consistent role on special teams while also seeing spot duty on defense. He logged 109 total snaps, 79 on special teams and 30 on defense, and finished the year with a 64.2 Pro Football Focus defensive grade, along with a 59.6 PFF grade on special teams.

While his defensive reps were limited, Peterson’s experience in multiple phases of the game fits what ECU has prioritized under head coach Blake Harrell: versatility, effort, and competition across the roster. His ability to contribute immediately on special teams should give him a clear early path to snaps, while he continues to develop defensively.