East Carolina is now less than 70 days away from kickoff, with the Pirates set to face Norfolk State at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium on August 31st, marking the start of the sixth season under coach Mike Houston in Greenville. As we count down to game day, we will highlight players on the Pirates’ roster in numerical order, starting from the highest number.
Today, with 61 days remaining until kickoff, we feature No. 61, offensive lineman Jayson Tarpeh.
SINCE COMING TO ECU:
East Carolina needed immediate help on the offensive line after last season’s inconsistent performance. They brought in reinforcements from junior colleges and Division I programs, including Tarpeh, who transferred from Lackawanna Community College in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Despite a late recruitment effort by Appalachian State, Tarpeh committed to ECU. Ranked as the No. 19 junior college offensive tackle by 247Sports, he attended Woodbridge High School and began his college career as a backup lineman at VMI before transferring to Lackawanna, where he developed into a full-time left tackle.
Tarpeh made a strong impression upon his arrival in the spring. Initially recruited by former offensive line coach Allen Mogridge, Tarpeh remained with the team following the hiring of new position coach Matt Mattox, who valued his size and athleticism. Although he needed time to adapt to the physical demands of Division I football and the team’s scheme, Tarpeh showed improvement throughout the spring. By the end of the spring practices, he was working as the top backup left tackle behind senior Parker Moorer and performed well in the spring Purple-Gold game.
EXPECTATIONS FOR 2024:
Tarpeh is expected to be a crucial component of the Pirates’ 2025 offensive line. With limited experienced tackles on the roster, Tarpeh’s role is significant, even as he continues to adjust to the higher level of competition. Ideally, Tarpeh will provide reliable backup at left tackle and compete for a position at right tackle, where younger players Emmanuel Poku and Jimarion McCrimon are currently projected to start. Tarpeh’s size, length, and power offer a unique advantage to the offensive line. While he still has areas to improve within ECU’s offense, his progress so far indicates he will be a valuable rotational player in 2024.
