By By BRIAN HAINES, Sports Writer
GREENVILLE — The difference between a salesman and an advocate is that the advocate believes wholly in what he is speaking about.
For the last two weeks no one has been a bigger advocate for East Carolina University than Ruffin McNeill, an ECU alum and former player.
The recently named head coach of the Pirates wrapped up a frantic cross-country recruiting process in which he applied Band-Aids to as many potential players as possible in an attempt to heal wounds left from the departure of former ECU coach Skip Holtz.
When he was done, McNeill hauled in 18 of the rumored 22 prospects for the class of 2010, seven of which were rated three-star players by Rivals.com, who ranked the Pirates’ class 80th overall.
McNeill’s strategy for keeping Holtz’ recruits was simple: Meet them, greet them, and speak from the heart.
“I’ve been coaching 29 (years) total, five high school, 24 college. I have been a part of 3,000 football players’ lives. I have been in a lot of homes, there is probably not a state I haven’t been to,” McNeill said. “This last week was the most comfortable delivery, pitch, sale job that I could every possibly have. … What I have the opportunity and chance to be a part of and be the ambassador of — and I take that responsibility seriously – It was easy to sell this university because this is my school too.
“So going into the home, I was selling something that I could speak about degree-wise and from a player’s seat. … I can tell that recruit that I have been on that side of the fence and this side of the fence. But it was an easy pitch because it was from the heart and what I believe in.”
Of the class of 18, noticeably absent was former Boston College attendee Dominique Davis, who transferred from BC to Fort Scott Community College in Kansas and signed a National Letter of Intent to play for ECU next season.
McNeill said this about Davis in a prepared statement, “As you know we had a JC (junior college) sign a National Letter of Intent (NIL) in December. The NIL was for spring 2010, the quarterback did not enroll at East Carolina for the spring semester. As a result the NIL is null and void. The quarterback is now considered a recruit. With that said, NCAA regulations prohibit and further discussions or comments about this young man.”
Of the 18 recruits, nine are projected to play on defense, while seven will play on offense and two were recruited as athletes.
2010 East Carolina signee bios
Detric Allen, DB, 6-0, 180, Fr., Norwood, N.C. (South Stanly)
High School: A three-year varsity starter for coach Luke Little … Named to the NCPreps.com 1A All-State team as a defensive back senior year … Named to the All-Yadkin Valley team on defense and special teams following his final campaign … As a junior, threw for 1,000 yards and had more than 500 yards receiving and rushing despite being slowed by an ankle injury … Also picked off four passes as a safety in 2008 … Ranked among ESPN.com’s top 130 (128) best athletes in the nation.
Desi Brown, QB/ATH, 6-2, 190, Fr., Webster Groves, Mo. (Webster Groves)
High School: Scored the game-winning touchdown in Webster Groves’ Class 5 Missouri State Football Championship victory over Fort Osage last November … Helped the Statesmen finish with a flawless 13-0 mark and first state title since 2002 … Described as a “pro-style” passing quarterback with a strong and accurate arm.
Shane Carden, QB, 6-3, 205, Fr., Bellaire, Texas (Episcopal)
High School: Three-year starting quarterback and senior captain at Episcopal … Led the Knights to their first Southwest Preparatory Conference (SPC) title since 1994 during final prep campaign … Completed 16-of-24 passes for 260 yards and three touchdowns, leading Episcopal to the 52-7 victory against Kinkaid in the SPC State Championship Game … A two-time all-state selection who guided an offense that averaged 382 yards and 35 points per contest.
Maurice Falls, DE, 6-2, 210, Fr., Belmont, N.C. (South Point)
Officially enrolled early at ECU in January of 2010 and will join Pirates for spring drills, thus signed a grant-in-aid with the program instead of a letter-of-intent (per NCAA policy) … A December, 2009 graduate of South Point High School. High School: A two-year starter and three-year letterwinner for head coach John Devine’s varsity squad … Helped South Point to three consecutive conference championships, starting as a sophomore … Booked 118 total tackles as a senior, leading Red Raiders to the North Carolina 3AA Championship – the program’s first since 2003.
Anthony Garrett, OL, 6-5, 305, Jr., Prairie Village, Kan. (Fort Scott CC)
Officially enrolled early at ECU in January of 2010 and will join Pirates for spring drills. Junior College: Helped Greyhounds to No. 2 national ranking in the final National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA)/JCFootball.com poll after his team completed the year with an 11-1 mark … Guided Fort Scott to an 11-game winning streak to start the season and its first regular season Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference (KJCCC) title since 1974.
Jacob Geary, LB, 6-3, 220, Fr., Hillsborough, N.C. (Cedar Ridge)
High School: A four-year letterwinner and three-year starter for the varsity unit at Cedar Ridge … Tallied 162 tackles as a senior … Booked 133 stops and nine sacks as a junior … Credited with 21 tackles and had a fumble return against Burlington Cummings during junior campaign … Ranked as the No. 53 inside linebacker nationally by ESPN.com … Coached by his father, Lou Geary, at CRHS … Also competed on the Red Wolves’ track team, finishing as the runner-up in the discus at the 2009 state meet.
Drew Gentry, OL, 6-6, 285, Fr., Tallahassee, Fla. (North Florida Christian)
High School: A two-year varsity letterwinner at Maclay School in Tallahassee before transferring to North Florida Christian for the 2009 season … Coach at NFC was Tim Cokely … An All-Big Bend First Team selection by The Tallahassee Democrat as a senior … Named to the 2009 SunStateFootball.com’s Preseason All-Area Team … Rated by ESPN.com as the 41st-best offensive tackle in the country.
Jeremy Grove, LB, 6-1, 231, Fr., Ijamsville, Md. (Gov. Thomas Johnson)
Officially enrolled early at ECU in January of 2010 and will join Pirates for spring drills, thus signed a grant-in-aid with the program instead of a letter-of-intent (per NCAA policy) … A December, 2009 graduate of Gov. Thomas Johnson High School. High School: A two-year starter for the Patriots’ varsity unit.
Mack Helms, DE, 6-3, 275, Fr., Tallahassee, Fla. (Leon)
High School: A three-year letterman for the Lions and head coach Bill Ragans … Started on the offensive line his junior year before starting at both offensive tackle and nose guard positions as a senior year … An All-Big Bend First Team selection by The Tallahassee Democrat as a senior … Named to the 2009 SunStateFootball.com’s Preseason All-Area Team.
Taylor Hudson, OL, 6-5, 290, Fr., Greenville, S.C. (Mauldin)
High School: A three-year starter at offensive tackle at Mauldin High School … Helped the Mavericks and head coach Doug Shaw capture a 32-21 Class AAAA Division I playoff victory over Fort Dorchester … Anchored a line that allowed MHS average 40.8 points per game … Named to the All-Greenville County First Team as a senior and junior … Rated by ESPN.com among the top 60 (55) offensive guards in the country and was labeled a three-star recruit.
Lamar Ivey, ATH, 6-1, 182, Fr., Mebane, N.C. (Eastern Alamance)
High School: As a senior, led Eastern Alamance to a 14-2 record and a runner-up finish in the 3A state playoffs … The 14 wins set the school record for victories in a season … Helped Eagles claim their first regional title in program history … As a quarterback, threw for 2,210 yards while leading the team in rushing with 1,407 yards en route to all-region offensive player-of-the-year honors.
Derrell Johnson, DE/LB,  6-1, 218, Fr., Baltimore, Md. (Wyoming Seminary)
Officially enrolled early at ECU in January of 2010 and will join Pirates for spring drills, thus signed a grant-in-aid with the program instead of a letter-of-intent (per NCAA policy). Prep School: Helped Blue Knights and coach Terry Karg to a No. 3 national ranking among the nation’s prep schools … Wyoming Seminary went 7-1 with the only loss being a 7-6 defeat at Poly Prep Country Day.
Damon Magazu, WR/DB, 5-11, 175, Fr., Charlotte, N.C. (Providence)
High School: A three-year starter and team captain for head coach Randy Long’s Panthers … Played defensive back and receiver, and added punt return duties for Providence … A three-time Southwestern 4A Conference honoree.
Alex Owah, RB, 5-11, 190, Fr., Harrisonburg, Va. (Hargrave Military)
Officially enrolled early at ECU in January of 2010 and will join Pirates for spring drills, thus signed a grant-in-aid with the program instead of a letter-of-intent (per NCAA policy). Prep School: Awarded three stars by ESPN.com … Ran the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds during timing day. High School: Stood No. 38 on The Roanoke Times’ Top 100 list of high school football prospects as senior at Harrisonburg High School.
Lee Pegues, DE, 6-2, 255, Fr., Bennettsville, S.C. (Marlboro County)
High School: A four-year starter who was a three-time all-region selection … Was credited with 90 tackles and 10 sacks as a senior… Helped Marlboro County and head coach Dean Boyd to a 13-1 record, falling just one game short of reaching the state (AAA) title game … Selected to play in the 2009 South Carolina North-South All-Star Game … Named to the High School Sports Report AAA All-State Team in 2009 … Scout.com rated him as the 34th-best prospect in South Carolina.
Torian Richardson, WR, 5-10, 169, Fr., Greer, S.C. (Byrnes)
High School: Led the Rebels with 50 catches for 962 yards and 13 touchdowns as a senior … Also returned two punts, both for touchdowns, and six kickoffs for 128 yards for coach Chris Miller … Named to the all-region team as a senior … Prior to the start of the 2009 season, The State ranked him as the 33rd-best senior in South Carolina.
Chrishon Rose, DE, 6-4, 275, Fr., Forestville, Md. (Bishop McNamara)
High School: Helped Mustangs to an 8-3 record and a league playoff berth as a senior … Part of a defense that shut out three opponents during the 2009 season … A second-team All-Washington Catholic Athletic Conference selection as a senior following an honorable mention nod as a junior … An honorable mention Big School All-State honoree following his final campaign … Named to the Gazette-Star Second Team as a senior.
Terry Williams, LB/DE, 6-1, 255, Fr., Loganville, Ga. (Grayson)
High School: Three-year starter for the Rams … As a senior captain, led Grayson to a 12-1 record with the only loss being a 9-7 setback to Newnan in the third round of the state playoffs … Helped Rams to a final state ranking of No. 5 … Was the leading tackler on a defense that allowed just 8.1 points per game and recorded five shutouts … Totaled 87 stops, four sacks and two interceptions as a senior … Named to the Associated Press All-State First Team and the Gwinnett Daily Post All-County First Team.