Zech Byrd, TE, 6-7, 265, Soph., Millbrook, Ala. (Garden City CC) Junior College: Helped lead Garden City to a 10-1 overall record and a perfect 7-0 mark in the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference (KJCCC) as a redshirt freshman in 2018 … Part of a Broncbuster program which advanced to the ‘18 NJCAA eTeamSponsor National Championship Game at Carnie Smith Stadium in Pittsburg, Kan. (before falling 10-9 to East Mississippi CC on Nov. 29) … Made two receptions for 20 yards and was credited with one tackle (Butler CC) for coach Jeff Sims … Made catches vs. Iowa Western CC (7 yards) and Coffeyville CC (13 yards) … Suffered foot injury during true freshman campaign in 2017 and was redshirted while Garden City produced an 8-4 record (5-2 KJCCC) and made an appearance in the CHAMPS Heart of Texas Bowl … Was a teammate of current ECU defensive back Warren Saba while with the Broncbusters in 2017 … A three-star JuCo prospect according to 247Sports.com … Also recruited by Auburn, Louisville and Utah out of junior college. High School: A two-sport (football, basketball) standout at Stanhope Elmore High School … Was a tight end and receiver for coach Jeff Foshee … Rated as four-star recruit by ESPN, while earning three stars from Rivals.com, Scout.com and 247Sports.com at the prep level … Played in nine games for the Mustangs (4-6) as a senior in 2016 and made 27 receptions for 376 yards and two touchdowns … A first-team selection to the American Family Insurance All-USA Today Alabama Football Team following senior campaign … Also invited to represent Alabama in the 30th annual Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Football Game (Dec. 10) at Montgomery’s Cramton Bowl … Was listed as the state’s No. 1 tight end (No. 31 nationally) in the 2017 class according the 247Sports Composite, an industry generated average … Overall, considered Alabama’s 19th-best overall prospect following high school career … Had offers from Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, Michigan, Ole Miss, Virginia Tech and many others before initially committing to the Gators’ program. Personal: Son of Jonathan and Lillian Byrd … Full name is Zechariah Byrd. Rick D’Abreu, DL, 6-2, 240, Fr., Chester, Va. (Thomas Dale HS) High School: Earned three football letters for coach Kevin Tucker at Thomas Dale … Completed prep career with a total of 141 tackles (83 solo), 28.0 TFLs, 15.0 sacks and 22 quarterback pressures in 24 games … Senior season was limited to just three games because of injury, but still was credited with 31 solo stops, 13.0 TFLs, 7.0 sacks (-18 yards) and 10 pressures in 2018 … Part of a Knights’ program that went 9-3 overall (5-1 region) and advanced to the second round of the state playoffs after a 7-0 victory over Cosby in the postseason opener … Produced a season-high 13 tackles (4.0 for lost yardage) and 2.0 sacks vs. Bird, while turning in 10 hits (5.0 TFL, 2.0 sacks) in a regular season matchup against Cosby and eight more stops, including a personal best 3.0 sacks, vs. Hermitage … Played in 10 contests as a junior in 2017, logging 72 total tackles (14 solo), 7.0 sacks and six QB hurries to help TDHS to similar 9-3 and 5-1 marks and a playoff triumph (50-0 vs. Franklin County) … Netted 12 stops in each of the first three outings (Cosby, Bird, Hermitage) before racking up nine in a matchup vs. Petersburg … Recorded at least one sack in six games with a season-high of two (Bird) … Also helped lead Knights to a 9-3 record, which included a 33-9 first-round playoff victory over James River, during his first full-time varsity campaign as a sophomore in 2016 … Appeared in 11 games and booked 38 stops, 2.0 TFL, a sack and six pressures … Turned in a season-best 10-tackle effort vs. Petersburg, added six against Prince George and five each in matchups vs. Colonial Heights and Matoaca … Invited to play for the U.S. National Team in the International Federation of American Football U-19 World Championship in Mexico City, which went on to capture a bronze medal competing in a field that consisted of teams from Mexico, Canada, Sweden, Japan and Australia … A three-star prospect according to 247Sports.com … In addition to ECU, also recruited by FBS members Colorado, Massachusetts and Tulane. Personal: Son of Richard and Makeba D’Abreu. Immanuel Hickman, DL, 6-3, 260, Fr., Chesterfield, Va. (Matoaca HS) High School: A four-year letterman who enjoyed a standout prep career on both sides of the ball as a defensive end, linebacker and tight end for the Warriors at Matoaca … A three-time all-region performer (twice named to the first unit) and all-state selection while playing for coaches Jay Parker (2018) and Derrick Johnson … Chosen to the 2018 All-DMV Preseason Team, which consists of the top players in Washington D.C., Maryland and Virginia, by DMVStream.com … Credited with 130 total tackles, 10.5 sacks, nine forced fumbles and seven recoveries in 10 contests as a junior in 2017 … Named the Progress Index Football Athlete-of-the-Week (Oct. 31) after registering a season-high 13 stops, 2.0 sacks and a fumble recovery during the Warriors’ 28-21 win over Prince George … Before a 5-5 mark as a sophomore in 2016, helped lead MHS to a 7-4 record and playoff appearance as a freshman during first varsity season … Played at the high school junior varsity level as an eighth-grader before earning promotion a year later … A three-star prospect according to 247Sports.com, Rivals.com and ESPN … Rated as the No. 19 overall recruit in the state of Virginia by Rivals … Invited to play for the U.S. National Team in the International Federation of American Football U-19 World Championship in Mexico City, which went on to capture a bronze medal competing in a field that consisted of teams from Mexico, Canada, Sweden, Japan and Australia … Also selected to compete for the South squad in the sixth annual Big River Rivalry, an all-star game that features teams from the north and south sides of the James River … Chose ECU over Air Force, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Kent State, Marshall, Navy, Temple, Tulane and UCF (along with a multitude of others) … Played at the same high school program as current ECU inside linebackers coach Byron Thweatt. Personal: Son of pastor Derwin Hickman, Sr. and co-pastor Franswalla Hickman … Nickname is Manny … Credits older brother Derwin Jr. for introducing him to football … Also has a sister (Dymon) … Uncle played collegiate basketball. – GET SIGNEE ROSTER– 2019 ECU FOOTBALL SIGNEE ROSTER NAME POS HT WT CL. HOMETOWN (Previous School) Alex Angus* DB 6-2 190 Fr. Browns Summit, N.C. (Page HS) Zech Byrd TE 6-7 265 Soph. Millbrook, Ala. (Garden City CC) Rick D’Abreu DL 6-2 240 Fr. Chester, Va. (Thomas Dale HS) Keziah Everett DT 6-1 325 Fr. Farmville, N.C. (Central HS) Malik Fleming DB 5-9 180 Fr. Fairburn, Ga. (Hapeville Charter Academy) Alex Flinn QB 6-1 210 Fr. Fletcher, N.C. (A.C. Reynolds HS) Traveon Freshwater DE 6-1 230 Fr. Elizabeth City, N.C. (Northeastern HS) Bryan Gagg* QB 6-3 200 Fr. Bradenton, Fla. (Braden River HS) Hozey Haji-Badri* DT 6-3 270 Jr. Chantilly, Va. (ASA College) Jsi Hatfield* WR 5-9 175 Fr. Graham, N.C. (Southern Alamance HS) Immanuel Hickman DL 6-3 260 Fr. Chesterfield, Va. (Matoaca HS) Trent Holler OL 6-2 285 Fr. Latrobe, Pa. (Greater Latrobe HS) C.J. Johnson WR 6-2 220 Fr. Greenville, N.C. (D.H. Conley HS) Jeremy Lewis TE 6-3 215 Fr. Greenville, N.C. (South Central HS) Bailey Malovic* OL 6-6 260 Jr. Irmo, S.C. (Highland CC) Demetrius Mauney RB 6-0 195 Fr. Forest City, N.C. (East Rutherford HS) Ja’Quan McMillian* DB 5-9 165 Fr. Winston-Salem, N.C. (West Forsyth HS) Patrick Nations* PK 6-0 190 Fr. Tamassee, S.C. (Walhalla HS) Juan Powell* ATH 5-11 170 Fr. Atlanta, Ga. (Douglass HS) Chad Stephens LB 6-0 225 Fr. Greensboro, N.C. (Southeast Guilford HS) Nishad Strother OL 6-3 290 Fr. Havelock, N.C. (Havelock HS) bold denotes February signees; *early enrollee (January, 2019) –30– .