The ECU Football program added another player with a signed national letter of intent, making it 40 players in the 2026 class.
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Photo credit: (ECU Sports Information)
By ECU Sports Information
East Carolina Head Football Coach Blake Harrell announced that Meliq McGowan has signed a national letter of intent with the Pirates, pushing the final 2026 class to 40 members.
In addition to the signing of McGowan, the Pirates also received commitments from 22 mid-year enrollees as well as 15 additional freshman and two redshirt junior signees from the Dec. 3-5 signing period. Of the 40-man class, 38 members are currently on campus and will participate in spring practice, which begins the week of March 16. McGowan and OL Preston Broadway are set to officially enroll in the summer.
Meliq McGowan, RB, 6-0, 190, Fr., Stratford, S.C. (Stratford)
Verbally committed to East Carolina in January of 2026 … Will officially enroll at ECU in the summer of 2026 … High School: Played at Stratford for head coach Erik Hnatko during his senior season … Helped the Knights to a 10-2 overall record with a 5-0 conference ledger and a third round playoff appearance … Played in 12 games during senior season rushing for 1,896 yards on 200 carries (9.5 ypr) with 23 touchdowns … Tallied 10 100-plus yard rushing performances and averaged 158.0 yards per game … Caught an additional nine passes for 198 yards (22.0 ypc) with three more scores according to MaxPreps … In all, registered 2,195 all-purpose yards (182.9 pg) with 26 touchdowns … Selected to the Shrine Bowl of Carolinas where he ran nine times for 43 yards … Named Post and Courier Player of the Week on Oct. 7, 2025 after leading the Knights to a comeback win over Berkeley where he rushed for 227 yards and a touchdown … Also added a touchdown reception in a 21-17 victory … Previously spent three years at Goose Creek before transferring to Stratford HS … Also played basketball for the Gators as a sophomore and ran track … Stats from Goose Creek not available … Listed as the top running back prospect in South Carolina by PrepRedZone … Three-star prospect by ESPN, Rivals and On3 … Chose East Carolina over offers from Florida A&M, Jackson State, Norfolk State, Presbyterian and Wofford.