EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY
1998 Pirate Football Signees

With the 1998 signing period under way, head coach Steve Logan sat down with the media on the campus of East Carolina University to discuss the recruits who had signed their national letters of intent on the first possible date. The following are selected quotes from that press conference along with bios of each player signed. NOTE: The list of players includes only those who had returned their letters of intent during the day today. While most of the letters have been received, there may other signings to come in the near future.

QUOTES FROM EAST CAROLINA HEAD FOOTBALL COACH STEVE LOGAN:
"We got a lot of guys we went after, so we'll find out in two or three years what kind of evaluators of talent we were. I've always taken a realistic view of recruiting. I don't get taken up with high school All-Americans and what have you. They've all got to come in and make some plays first and then we'll see who is and isn't a player. But we got a bunch of young men that I think can come in, and with commitment and perseverance, become good football players."

"These kids are going to come in and redshirt, most probably. I don't really get to work with them until the spring of their freshman year. So all the focus this spring is getting ready for Virginia Tech next year. That's what we're talking about right now; in three-a-days we'll be talking about Virginia Tech. So these kids have got to come in and learn how to be college students and players first."

On recruiting specific areas (positions)...
"Two or three years ago we began to tinker with attempting to recruit to specific needs, and in retrospect I think that may have, in some cases, gotten us in a little bit of trouble. I have gone back to doing what I had a little bit of success with earlier. There are two kinds of players out there - big kids and fast kids. I'm going to sign a lot of big kids and a lot of fast kids and they will be what they will be. Some kids, like Phoenix Evans down at Kinston High School; he is going to be an offensive lineman for us. Now whether he's a center, guard, or tackle, I don't know. You can pick out some of these other kids, they could be many different things. Quarterbacks, wide receivers, flankers, and I just think that's a better way for us to be, is just to recruit the best athlete available. That's what we've gotten back to here."

On in-state and eastern North Carolina recruiting...
"If there are some good things happening in a program, the one thing that better be happening is you need to have a base from which to begin. If we, every year, can go out and get anywhere from eight to 12 kids that are within an hour drive of Greenville, I want to do that. Then from there you have a foundation, you start recruiting out from there. That's the way I want it. That's the way it should be. If there's a kid in eastern North Carolina who wants to play big time Division I football, he's got to get in the car, drive 45 minutes and tee it up. That's a big deal that we continue to do that and it just puts so much fabric in our program that used to not be there. I'm really proud of that."

On West Craven wide receiver Kenyatta Campbell...
"The offense we are running is a model we've tinkered with, I have tinkered with since 1986. There was a time, as recently as five or six years ago, that I would have preferred to have three of three wideouts at 5-10, 175 and run as fast as they can run. Like Mitch Galloway - I'd take three of them like that. Things have changed on the other side of the ball that's it's imperative now, in my opinion, that the two widest receivers be 6-2 plus. There's a place for the little guy, but not like it used to be. So we are actively hunting big, tall, rangey wide receivers. Kenyatta Campbell is a full grown man. I want to see him do the things Larry (Shannon) did for us."

On signees making an immediate impact...
"Hey if they can do it, I'll let them play. I'm not a prophet, I say this to the staff, and I say it to the kids: if they can help us win a game next year, they will play. They don't have to help us win nine games, if they can help us win a football game, if I'm convinced of that, during the week, we'll put them in the game, playing. If they do help us win a game, that will be well worth it."

On ease of recruiting this year...
"I didn't get on a jet one time this year. Now, next year I will because we have a class of 24 or 25 getting ready to come out this next year. This year we only had 11 seniors, so this is a relatively small class. This next year we will probably get need to get two signees out of New Jersey, two out of South Carolina, we'll need two out of Virginia, and we'll need 15 out of North Carolina. We'll have a 25 signee class next year."

On Football Camp's impact in recruiting...
"Our camp has become a real recruiting tool for us suddenly. This next year we may have about 680 campers. Those kind of things are happening. (Eric) Hines is good signee; we've worked him out. We put him through the paces and I know what we're getting, as much as you can know what you're getting. Bennie Cameron as well. So our football camp is contributing as well to the recruiting. This is a new experience for us, over the last two or three years. All of a sudden we're getting kids in the camp, getting them evaluated, and getting a commitment. Particularly at defensive back; that's something that's been an advantage."

RICHARD ALSTON -- QB, 6-2, 215
Warrenton, N.C. (Warren County HS)
Intelligent player with strong arm and speed ... led team to a 12-1 mark and conference championship as a senior ... also helped team to conference title in junior campaign ... finished 1997 season with 48 percent (88-184) completion rating for 1,778 yards passing and 24 TDs ... averaged 20.2 yards per completion ... added 994 yards rushing on 107 attempts and 24 TDs on the ground ... also returned punts and kickoffs ... named to the all-conference and New & Observer All-Area team as a senior ... also named conference player-of-the-year and team MVP as a senior ... three-year starter for Warren County ... runs a 4.48 40-yard dash and benches 325 pounds ... High school coach: Morton Jones.

ZACH BISHOP -- OL, 6-3, 240
Raleigh, N.C. (Wake Forest-Rolesville HS)
Strong blocker and technician ... top run blocker on the line that helped team's best running back to a 2,000-yard season ... earned spot in 1997 Shrine Bowl ... helped team reach first round of state 4A playoffs in first season after moving up from 3A ... team went 6-5 on the year ... also a long and short snapper for Wake Forest-Rolesville ... team captain in 1997 ... received team's best lineman award after senior campaign ... named All-Tri 7 (class 4A) as a senior and All-Tri 7 (class 3A) as a junior ... also one of the top wrestlers in the state at heavyweight ... High school coach: Rock Harrison.

IVAN BUTLER -- LB, 6-1, 245
Alexandria Va. (West Potomac HS/Fork Union Military Academy)
Played last season at Fork Union Military Academy where he was the leading tackler ... attended West Potomac High School and was a three-year starter on varsity squad ... recorded 58 solo tackles, five sacks and caused four fumbles at West Potomac in 1996 ... was teamÕs leading tackler all three years ... also played offensive guard as junior and fullback as senior ... named first-team all-state as junior, as well as all-district and all-region ... was named district and region player-of-the-year as junior ... a second-team all-state choice as senior and also was district player-of-the-year ... team finished 9-3 both sophomore and junior seasons and lost in regional finals ... was awarded West PotomacÕs Top Tackler Award and Outstanding in '96 was named the Alexandria Journal Defensive Player-Of-The-Year..uns the 40-yard dash in 4.8 seconds...has a 28-inch vertical jump. Butler squats 565, and benches 365 pounds...head coach at Fork Union was John Schuman...West Potomac HS coach: Dale Eaton.

BENNIE (B.J.) CAMERON -- DB, 6-1, 185
Hillsborough, N.C. (Orange Senior HS)
Aggressive defensive player ... versatile enough to play corner or safety as well as linebacker ... led team with 103 tackles in senior campaign ... added three fumble recoveries and forced five ... had four interceptions on the year ... helped team to a 4-7 record ... named PAC 6 Defensive Player-of-the-Year in 1997 ... two-time all-conference selection ... earned All-Triangle Area honors following senior season ... team's defensive MVP as well ... three-year starter in the defensive backfield ... also played basketball and ran track ... High school head coach: Mike Stewart.

KENYATTA CAMPBELL -- WR, 6-4, 210
Vanceboro, N.C. (West Craven HS)
Regarded as one of the top receivers in the state ... had 37 receptions and nine touchdowns as a senior, and caught 106 receptions for 289 touchdowns during his entire prep career ... a first-team 3-A All-Coastal Conference selection as a junior and senior ... knee injury forced him to miss final two games of senior season and pass up a Shrine Bowl invitation ... named to the Greenville Daily Reflector All-Area team as a junior...named West Craven's Offensive MVP as a junior ... helped the Eagles post a 13-2 record and an appearance in the Eastern 3A Finals in 1996 ... 1997 squad finished with record of 6-4 ... High school coach: Clay Jordan.

ANDRE' CANNON -- LB, 6-2 1/2, 220
Thomasville, N.C. (Thomasville HS)
A 1997 North Carolina All-State selection, Cannon is one of the Pirates' most highly-touted signees in the class ... chosen as the Davidson County Defensive Player of the Year as a senior ... also named Player of the Year for the Yadkin Valley Conference ... played in the 1997 Shrine Bowl, earning North Carolina Defensive MVP honors...was Thomasville's leading tackler as a senior, averaging 12 tackles per game...a four-year starter for the Bulldogs ... earned all-conference honors three years...also a two-year starter in basketball, earning all-conference honors last season ... was a member of the 1995 squad that captured the North Carolina 2-A State Championship ... the 1997 squad, the state's top-ranked team prior to postseason, went 12-1 and advanced to the second round of the 1-A playoffs ... High school coach: Allen Brown.

SENTER CURRIN -- OL, 6-5, 285
Angier, N.C. (Harnett Central HS)
Regarded as one of the top offensive linemen in the state this past season ... selected first-team All-Five County 3-A Conference as a junior and senior ... selected to play in the Shrine Bowl Game ... also played defensive tackle as a senior ... selected First Team All-Area in '97 by Sanford Herald ... also named to the "Old Reliable Team" by the News and Observer ... blue-collar worker with strength and agility who has worked diligently in the weight room ... Harnett Central finished with 8-3 records in both his junior and senior seasons, advancing to the state 3-A playoffs each year ... excellent student who is member of Harnett Central's Beta Club and was a first-place winner on school's Ag.-Mechanics Team which won state-wide competition ... selected to Principal's List each term ... High school coach: Ed Hiatt.

PHOENIX EVANS -- DT, 6-5, 295
Kinston, N.C. (Kinston HS)
Regarded as one of the top lineman in the state ... started at defensive tackle and offensive guard for Kinston as both a junior and senior ... contributed 46 stops and recovered two fumbles in '97 on the defensive side of the ball for the Vikings ... was a key blocker for the Kinston offense which averaged over 300 yards per game in '97, and had a 1,600-yard rusher ... named by Super Prep Magazine among the Top 50 recruits in the state ... selected first-team All-Area by Kinston Free Press as both a junior and senior ... voted first-feam All-Coastal 3-A Conference this past season ... three-year starter as an offensive lineman and two-year starter at defensive tackle who helped Kinston to a 7-5 mark in '97 and an appearance in the state 3-A playoffs ... clocked at 5.2 in the 40-yard dash ... joins former Kinston HS standouts Kelvin Suggs and Kevin Ward on the East Carolina roster ... High school coach: Ralph Holloway.

CHRISTSHAWN GILLIAM -- RB, 6-0, 210
Lewiston, N.C. (Bertie HS)
One of the most talented backs in eastern North Carolina ... first-team All-Big Eight 3-A selection and a Daily Reflector first team All-Area pick as both a junior and senior ... rushed for 2,049 yards on 284 carries (7.2 yards/carry) and 21 touchdowns as a senior...led Big Eight in rushing his final two seasons ... for career, gained 4,733 yards on 695 carries (6.8 yards per carry) and 56 touchdowns ... as a sophomore gained over 800 yards, leading Bertie to a 13-2 mark and the 3-A state championship...tied state record with three touchdowns in the title game while rushing for 176 yards ... team MVP for the Falcons as both a junior and senior ... Bertie had 26-11 mark during his three seasons in the Falcon backfield...joins former Bertie standout Travis Darden on the East Carolina roster ... High school coach: Roy Bond.

REGGIE HAMPHILL -- RB, 6-2, 220
Jamestown, N.C. (Hargrave Military Academy)
A 1997 ECU signee who spent the '97 season at Hargrave Military Academy ... ran for 518 yards on 68 carries for six touchdowns at Hargrave under coach Joe Freeland ... selected as a USA Today Honorable Mention All-American ... a two-time all-conference selection out of Ragsdale HS ... selected Offensive Player of the Game in the 1996 3-A state championship ... Ragsdale finished as 3-A state runners-up in 1996 ... selected All-State by NC Prep Magazine ... an All-Guilford County selection by Greensboro Daily News and Record and All-Northwest by the Winston-Salem Journal .. .rushed for 2,173 yards as a senior on 356 carries and scored 29 touchdowns ... pronounced hamp-hill ... High school coach: Eugene Everhart.

ERIC HINES -- RB/DB, 5-11, 178
Norfolk, Va. (Norview HS)
A four-year starter who played various positions on offense, defense, and special teams ... selected All-Eastern District Defensive Back..received team Most Valuable Player and Coach's Award Honors ... as a senior, had 4 interceptions, returned one for a touchdown and also forced three fumbles and recovered two ... added 42 solo tackles and 18 assists ... offensively, ran for 600 yards and 8 touchdowns while going 10x16 with 180 yards and one touchdown at quarterback ... had 1,870 career yards rushing with 18 offensive touchdowns to go with 12 career interceptions...also ran track at Norview...clocked at 4.3 in 40-yard dash ... runner-up sophomore and junior years at state championships in 400 meters ... placed in top three at Penn Relays in 400 meters ... High school coach: David Heath.

ADAM LAMBERT -- OT, 6-5, 270
Greenville, N.C. (D.H. Conley HS)
A Daily Reflector All-Area selection as a senior ... a second team all-conference choice ... two-year starter at offensive tackle ... played at both offensive tackle and defensive end for the Vikings ... High school coach: Eddie Rhodes.

TRIMAINE PITTMAN -- WR, 5-8, 185
Whitakers, N.C. (North Edgecombe HS)
One of the best all-around athletes to go through North Edgecombe in years ... led team to 1A state title in 1997 with 15-0 record ... team also won state title as a freshman ... as a prep QB, threw for 1,333 yards and 17 TDs as a senior ... had 657 yards rushing and 14 TDs ... holds a career mark of 15-2 as a starter in playoff games ... three-year starter at quarterback ... led team to 14-2 record and state championship game as a junior ... collected 761 yards passing, 528 yards rushing and 24 combined TDs during junior campaign ... had four career punt returns for touchdowns ... named all-conference three consecutive years ... Tar/Roanoke Athletic Conference Player-of-the-Year in '97 ... three-time Rocky Mt. Evening Telegraph all-area pick ... three-time Tarboro Daily Southerner all-county pick ... 1997 News & Observer All-Reliable selection ... team's outstanding offensive player as a junior ... also varsity letterwinner in basketball, baseball and track ... ran on two state finals relay teams in '97 ... High school coach: Raymond Cobb.

SHAUN ROSE -- DT, 6-6, 305
Wilson, N.C. (Hunt HS)
Selected as Big Eight Conference Defensive Player-of-the-Year ... chosen for all-area and all-conference teams ... played for North Carolina in the Shrine Bowl Game ... named to Raleigh News & Observer's "Old Reliable" All-Star Team for the state ... had 85 tackles, four fumble recoveries, and six sacks as a senior ... helped Hunt HS to an 11-2 season and to the third round on the state playoffs ... High school coach: Randy Raper.

DERRICK SPENCER -- DL, 6-3, 250
Clinton, N.C. (Clinton HS)
Helped lead Clinton HS to the state 2-A championship the past two seasons ... named Defensive Player-of-the-Game in the 1997 2-A state championship game by totalling 10 tackles...Named to the all-conference squad ... selected to the all-region teamby the Fayetteville Observer-Times...rushed for 1,100 yards and eight touchdowns as a senior running back ... collected 75 tackles on defense in 1997 ... named Offensive Player-of-the-Game as a junior by rushing for 181 yards in the 1996 2-A state championship game ... clocked at 4.74 in the 40-yard dash ... High school coach: Bob Lewis.

BEN THOMAS -- LB, 6-2, 230
Reston, Va. (Dematha Catholic HS)
Recognized as a hard-nosed, tough football player ... helped lead Dematha Catholic to an 11-1 record and a trip to the state 4-A finals ... missed five games as a senior due to a broken fibula ... made 69 tackles, forced three fumbles, and intercepted two passes in his senior season ... named team co-captain in 1997 ... first cousin of Miami Dolphin middle linebacker Zach Thomas ... brother of former Virginia Tech punter John Thomas ... High school coach: Bill McGregor.