East Carolina has infused some local talent into its lineup just in time for the upcoming season through the transfer portal.
A former offensive lineman from Charlotte and a Greenville native who once starred at DH Conley High School, has officially joined ECU’s roster. Although he’s been attending practices as a spectator for the past two days and classes are set to start on Monday, he hasn’t participated in drills yet. He is expected to be cleared for practice later this week.
Askew is the second former DH Conley lineman to join the ECU team, joining redshirt freshman Bryce Weaver, who signed with ECU as a three-star recruit in the 2023 class and sat out last season. Despite having been in college for four years, Askew, an interior offensive lineman, still has two years of eligibility remaining. After starting for Charlotte under the previous coaching staff, Askew played in just two games last season before redshirting and then entering the transfer portal in April. According to Pro Football Focus, he has made 16 career starts and logged 1,197 FBS offensive snaps.
The local talent has been committed to ECU for several months, according to sources familiar with the situation, but had to complete some classwork late this summer to finish his degree and officially enroll. Although he’s missed preseason camp and is catching up, Askew brings valuable experience to the offensive line, particularly at guard and center, and is expected to contribute soon.
Recruited by ECU out of high school in the 2020 class, Askew ultimately chose Charlotte after receiving a full scholarship offer. He made an immediate impact with the 49ers, playing in five games as a true freshman, including one start, and logging 147 snaps. In 2021, he played a more significant role, starting seven games and appearing in ten, helping the offense secure five wins and setting school records for passing touchdowns and yards. Askew played 483 snaps that season. In 2022, he continued as a starting guard for an offense that surpassed the previous season’s passing records, playing 558 snaps and earning a Pro Football Focus run-blocking grade of 67.0.
Joining an ECU offensive line that features solid experience and size but lacks depth beyond the starters, Askew, listed at 6-3 and 291 pounds on his most recent Charlotte profile, was initially overlooked by some schools due to his size. However, his above-average agility and athleticism allowed him to excel early in his college career. ECU has seen several standout players from DH Conley in recent years, including quarterback Holton Ahlers and wide receiver C.J. Johnson.
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