<body><div><a href="https://247sports.com/college/east-carolina/">East Carolina</a> is nearing the halfway point of the 2024 season, with game number six this Saturday inside Jerry Richardson Stadium on the campus of UNC Charlotte. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPNU.The Pirates are off to a 3-2 start, including a 1-0 beginning in American Athletic Conference play with a 30-20 win over <a href="https://247sports.com/college/utsa/">UTSA</a> this past weekend. Much of that success has come on the backs of veteran players. But there have also been some young Pirates who have stepped up in the early going, making their presence known. Below, we dive into a handful of true freshmen that have already played the first half of the 2024 season, with seven games left to play, and take a look a the status of their potential redshirts. Players can participate in up to four contests over the course of the season, while preserving their redshirt and full eligibility, according to NCAA rules.WR <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/yannick-smith-46138606/">YANNICK SMITH</a>GAMES PLAYED: 5REDSHIRT STATUS: BurnedA four-star recruit out of Summerville High School in <a href="https://247sports.com/college/south-carolina/">South Carolina</a>, Smith always seemed destined to play right away given his talent level. The physical wide out has yet to start a game, but has played in all five contests on offense, totaling 93 snaps. Smith has caught five passes on five official targets for 107 yards. He's also drawn a pass interference penalty and is averaging 21.4 yards per catch overall. Smith should continue to get more involved in the offense as the season progresses.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4K6Pdj_0vtRuoyC00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4K6Pdj_0vtRuoyC00" width="620" height="320" ><figcaption>(Photo: Savanna Elkins, 247Sports)</figcaption></figure>LB <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/kevon-merrell-46139329/">KEVON MERRELL</a>GAMES PLAYED: 5REDSHIRT STATUS: BurnedMerrell was one of ECU's highest-rated recruits out of Crisp County for the 2025 recruiting class, and it hasn't taken him long to display why. The speedy linebacker has played in all five games defensively (46 snaps), with appearances in the last three games on special teams (15 snaps). Merrell has notched five tackles total on defense with a 77.4 overall defensive grade. He's currently the third-string nickel behind senior <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/kingston-mckinstry-46052890/">Kingston McKinstry</a> and junior <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/gavin-gibson-46110617/">Gavin Gibson</a>, but looks like a key part of the team's future.S <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/jamarley-riddle-46142487/">JA'MARLEY RIDDLE</a>GAMES PLAYED: 5REDSHIRT STATUS: BurnedRiddle emerged as a candidate to play at safety early in camp and has not looked back since, playing in all five games defensively, including an increase in snap counts each of the least three weeks. The Camden County product from <a href="https://247sports.com/college/georgia/">Georgia</a> played a career-high 39 defensive snaps in the win over UTSA. He's accumulated 11 tackles with one pass breakup, and has given up four catches for 45 yards. Overall, Riddle is grading out at 65.9 defensively, per Pro Football Focus. Riddle has also played 41 snaps on special teams with a 72.5 grad there.S <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/demarius-hines-46141623/">DEMARIUS HINES</a>GAMES PLAYED: 4REDSHIRT STATUS: Intact (No more games left to play)Hines is another talented safety from Georgia who the Pirates believe is good enough to play right away. The depth at boundary safety has kept him off the field defensively, but he's played in four of five games on special teams, logging 29 snaps, with the majority coming on kickoff return. Hines didn't play in the ODU game, but has seen action in every other contest, including snaps across kick return, kick coverage and punt return versus UTSA. If Hines plays in one more game, he will lose a potential redshirt to preserve eligibility this season.WR <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/jyron-waiters-46134386/">JYRON WAITERS</a>GAMES PLAYED: 1REDSHIRT STATUS: Intact (Three games left to play)Waiters is a young freshman out of Wilson High School in South Carolina. He's played two snaps, seeing action in the season-opening blowout win over <a href="https://247sports.com/college/norfolk-state/">Norfolk State</a>, but not recording an official statistic. Waiters is pretty deep on the depth chart at a veteran-laden slot receiver position, so he's likely looking at a redshirt campaign.K EVERETT SCOTTGAMES PLAYED: 1REDSHIRT STATUS: Intact (Three games left to play)<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=34fkAT_0vtRuoyC00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=34fkAT_0vtRuoyC00" width="620" height="320" ><figcaption>(Photo: Savanna Elkins, 247Sports)</figcaption></figure>Scott is a walk-on specialist out of Weddington High School in North Carolina. He made his NCAA debut in the win over UTSA as the team's kickoff specialist and performed well, kicking off seven times for an average of 62.6 yards in the air. His seven kickoffs resulted in three touchbacks, three fair catches, and one 21-yard return. <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/andrew-conrad-46115531/">Andrew Conrad</a> has been serving as the team's kickoff specialist, but is currently dealing with an injury. So Scott may continue on kicking for the time being.</div></body>

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True Freshman Tracker: First-year Pirates who have appeared in the first five games

East Carolina is nearing the halfway point of the 2024 season, with game number six this Saturday inside Jerry Richardson Stadium on the campus of UNC Charlotte. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPNU. The Pirates are off to a 3-2 start, including a 1-0 beginning in American...

True Freshman Tracker: First-year Pirates who have appeared in the first five games

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