Chalk up another potential immediate impact player for East Carolina's safety room. On the heels of landing North Carolina graduate transfer D.J. Ford and three-star junior college safety Kingston McKinstry, the Pirates have picked up another top target in Blinn College safety Julius Wood. The 6-foot-2, 196-pounder's lone offer came from ECU in recent days, but Mississippi State showed heavy interest in recent days, and New Mexico State, Houston, Cincinnati and Washington State coaches have also been in contact.
Wood, who was recruited by safeties coach Tripp Weaver, was offered on Dec. 8 by the Pirates. He took a virtual official visit in recent days and decided on Saturday evening to give his verbal commitment to the staff.
"They offered a few days ago, but I've been talking to them for about a month," Wood said. "That offer, it meant a lot to me because it was my first JUCO offer. They really stuck out with how much they were reaching out to me, showing how they wanted me as a player and how I could go to their defense and fit in right away. All that really stuck out to me. I like East Carolina a lot."
100% COMMITTED ??#GoPirates #ALLIN ?????????????? pic.twitter.com/BgIuYHN2cR
— Julius Wood (@4thqtrWood) December 13, 2020
Wood played last season at Blinn College as a true freshman, playing in nine games with 36 tackles. Wood was utilized at safety and on special teams in his first year at Blinn. He is expected to sign in December, but will still play for Blinn in the spring. But with the JUCO season not counting against any player's eligibility, he will enroll next summer with three years of eligibility remaining.
"I'm going to bring precise tackling, I'm not going to miss any tackles," Wood said. "I feel like I can shut down the back-end of the secondary, shut down half the field. I'm a loud player, so I will bring energy and confidence to the atmosphere of the defense."
The 6-foot-2, 196-pounder will likely compete with McKinstry, Ford and returning starters Shawn Dourseau and Warren Saba for playing time upon his arrival in Greenville. His length and physicality will bring a different dimension to the secondary.
"They say I'm going to be a player that's going to instantly help the team," Wood said. "They play aggressive and they think I will fit in right good with their defense."
Coming out of high school, Wood was a highly-recruited prospect from Columbus, Ohio, who played at Walnut Ridge. He was originally committed to Kentucky before signing with Miami (Ohio), but he did not have the GPA to qualify, leading him to junior college. Wood was rated a three-star prospect (84 overall) exiting high school as part of the 2019 recruiting class. Wood is the 14th commitment of ECU's 2021 class. The Pirates also will add two transfers in Ford and Oklahoma's Ryan Jones.
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December 13, 2020 at 08:11AM
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Pirates add another talented JUCO DB in Julius Wood - 247Sports
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