Fall Camp Report: Suspended Trio Returns, Secondary Showing Signs, and O-Line Starts to Take Shape
East Carolina got back to work Monday, and the energy was noticeably high — especially with a few familiar faces rejoining the mix.
Formerly suspended players J.D. Lampley, Preston Carr, and Brock Spalding were full participants for the first time this fall, each stepping into meaningful roles right away. Lampley rotated in with the first-team defense on the interior line, Carr was getting second-team reps at linebacker, and Spalding made one of the standout plays of the day — a leaping sideline grab from Mike Wright during tempo drills.
There’s a real sense of urgency out there now, especially with the cornerback room starting to show big-time improvement from the spring. It feels like a completely different unit. There’s strength in numbers, and new corners coach Tarron Williams has the whole group locked in. The competition is fierce — the two-deep could flip at any moment, and everyone knows it. What’s most encouraging is how battle-tested they’re becoming. They’re lining up every day across from arguably the deepest wide receiver group ECU’s had in years, and it’s showing in their growth.
Head coach Blake Harrell also gave shoutouts to a pair of players who are quietly putting together strong camps. Offensive lineman Panda Askew is pushing Maryland transfer Kyle Long for a starting spot at guard — and might be playing at a first-team level right now. Harrell mentioned Askew as one of the most improved guys on the roster so far.
On the defensive side, DJ Johnson continues to flash. The linebacker is flying around and starting to make a legitimate case to crack the starting lineup. Harrell noted Johnson’s energy and ability to trigger quickly during drills, which is exactly what you want to hear this early in camp.
As for the offensive line, the first-team unit on Monday featured Jimarion McCrimon at left tackle, Kyle Long at left guard, Darius Bell at center, Emmanuel Poku at right guard, and Cooper Trnavsky at right tackle. There’s still room for shuffling, but that’s the group currently leading the charge up front.