11  Richard Koonce
	Class: Senior Hometown: Jacksonville, N.C. High School: Southwest Height / Weight: 6-0 / 235 Position: Linebacker Birthdate: 06/28/1983 Experience: 3L

Will enter senior campaign as a Conference USA honors candidate ... Possesses an unmatched work ethic, high level of maturity, continuous drive and exemplary leadership skills which visibly impressed new coaching staff ... Has enjoyed a significant level of growth and improvement each season ... One of the strongest and quickest players in the ECU program who subjects himself to rigorous workout regiments ... Labeled by pro scouts as having an "NFL body" ... Penciled in as the projected starter at one of the outside linebacking slots to open fall camp ... Will open senior season with 12 career starts ... Compiled a game-high 10 tackles, one fumble recovery and a pass breakup during the Purple-Gold Spring Game.

2004: Established himself as ECU's sack leader (6.0) as a junior ... Played in 11 games (nine starts) ... Opened games against West Virginia, Wake Forest, Cincinnati, Louisville, Tulane, Southern Miss, Army, Memphis and N.C. State ... Totaled 50 stops (36 solo) and 13 tackles for lost yardage (team-best -63 yards) ... Registered a pair of sacks against Cincinnati and Tulane (one each vs. West Virginia and N.C. State) ... Also produced one pass break-up (N.C. State), one quarterback pressure (Memphis) and one recovered fumble (Wake Forest) ... Recorded first career interception vs. West Virginia during season opener ... Owner of ECU's only blocked kick of season, knocking down a Houston PAT ... Four tackles came as member of special teams ... Posted five or more stops in six games ... Made a season-high eight stops vs. West Virginia before adding six hits against Wake Forest ... Recorded six tackles and sacked Bearcat quarterback Gino Guidugli twice in second half against Cincinnati for 23 lost yards ... Collected two tackles vs. Louisville ... Matched career-high with a pair of sacks (-15 yards) in win over Tulane ... Logged seven tackles (five solo) vs. Southern Miss ... Recorded three tackles, two for losses, against Houston off the bench, snapping streak of seven straight starts ... Also came off the bench against USF to book seven tackles (five solo, one TFL) ... Made five solo stops against Memphis after regaining starting position before ending season with three tackles (two for lost yardage and a sack) against the Wolfpack.

2003: Played in all 12 games with three starts (West Virginia, Miami, Wake Forest) as a sophomore ... Finished seventh on the team in total tackles with 48 ... Forced two fumbles and recovered another ... Recorded a career-high 13 tackles at the Orange Bowl against Miami (Fla.), including nine solo stops ... Tallied seven tackles in the season finale against Southern Miss at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium ... Also posted five stops in only win at Army.

2002: Played in all 12 games as a redshirt freshman ... Experienced extensive playing time at inside linebacker and on special teams ... Tenth on the team in total tackles with 46, including six for lost yardage and one-half sack ... Produced a season-high 11 stops against Tulane ... Posted nine tackles at West Virginia ... Made collegiate debut at Duke and recorded two tackles for lost yardage ... Also logged a pair of TFLs and knocked down a pass at Wake Forest. 2001: Redshirted ... Member of Pirates' defensive scout team which prepped offensive unit during high-scoring season which resulted in ECU's last bowl appearance (GMAC Bowl vs. Marshall).

High School: A three-year starter at outside linebacker for Coach Phil Padgett at Southwest High School ... Selected as the area's defensive player-of-the-year ... A two-time all-conference and all-area performer ... Chosen as the "Offensive MVP" of 2000 State Class 2-A Championship Game (won by Southwest) ... Played key role in SHS's 15-1 record and state runner-up status as a junior ... Also lettered in basketball and as track & field standout ... Earned Conference MVP honors for field events as a senior, specializing in shot put.

Personal: An industrial distribution major ... Named to the 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 ECU Athletics Director's Honor Roll ... Son of Frances and Richard Koonce, Sr. ... Born June 28, 1983 in Heidelberg, Germany.