A determined walk-on whose throwback mentality and tenacity have been rewarded with a firm position on the Pirates' defensive chart ... Flexibility and quick study habits have enabled shuffling between the tackle and end positions during first active year in program ... Closed first active campaign at end but was moved back to the interior during the spring ... An intense, passionate and physically strong athlete who continues to impress coaches with developing fundamentals ... Will open second season at ECU listed as Jay Ross' top backup on the inside and should experience action on special teams as well ... Participated in walk-on tryouts prior to spring practice in 2008 and made squad after getting released during fall tryouts in 2007 ... ...Tallied four stops during first spring scrimmage (4/4) before logging two, including one for lost yardage, in second tilt (4/8) ... Booked six tackles, two behind the line of scrimmage, during Purple-Gold Game (4/18) ... Cited by position coach Rock Roggeman as the unit's recipient of the "most improved" award at the close of spring practice. 2008: A transfer who made an immediate impact for the Pirates during his first season on East Carolina's active roster ... Played in 11 games, all as a reserve defensive lineman ... Opened the campaign as a tackle but was moved to the end position prior to the Virginia game in early October ... Credited with a total of 18 tackles, eight solo hits ... Made two stops behind the line scrimmage (West Virginia and Virginia), one coming as a pair of half sacks of Mountaineer quarterback Pat White ... Also logged one quarterback hurry against N.C. State ... Turned in a career-high tackle performance vs. Wolfpack with five stops ... Racked up at least one tackle in eight games, with multi-stop efforts against West Virginia (four), Virginia Tech (two), Memphis (two) and Tulsa (two) in the C-USA Championship Game ... Also served role on special teams squad during season ... Missed three games (Marshall, Southern Miss and UAB) because of a neck injury. 2007: Attended ECU but did not earn roster position with football program ... Participated in walk-on tryouts in August. 2006: Attended Western Carolina University and experienced action with Catamount program ... Played in seven games as a top reserve (Chowan, Eastern Kentucky, Furman, Georgia Southern, Elon, The Citadel, and Wofford) ... Logged 19 total tackles (10 solo), including one for lost yardage (Furman) ... Top effort of campaign came during season opener vs. Chowan with six stops (five solo) ... Also recorded four hits each against the Colonels and Paladins before adding four against the Phoenix. 2005: Played football at the Naval Academy Preparatory School in Newport, R.I. ... Originally signed a national letter-of-intent with the Naval Academy but was also recruited by John Thompson's staff at East Carolina. High School: A three-year starter and two-time All-Triangle Alliance 4-A Conference selection at Garner High School ... As a junior, tallied 163 tackles, including five sacks, with two interceptions and a blocked punt to earn Co-Defensive Player of the Year honors in the Triangle Alliance ... Led Garner to a league regular season title in 2003 ... A two-time all-state selection. Personal: Full name is Joshua Chadwick Smith ... Born February 28, 1987 ... Major is communications. |
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